Creative services company BigStar has added creative director John Leamy to its team. Leamy is an award-winning, multidisciplinary creative who is best known for his design, live show graphics, film, and print work. He brings more than two decades of experience in shaping advertising, marketing, and branding campaigns for such clients as ABC, Red Bull, MGM Grand, and LG. Leamy is currently working on the title design and branding for the upcoming PBS series, Chasing the Moon.
Entering its 15th year of business, BigStar with its hiring of Leamy rounds out a benchmark 2018 in which the company has expanded its footprint as an entertainment marketing and branding partner of major TV networks and OTT content providers, tallying blockbuster show launches and campaigns for FX, HBO, ABC, Amazon, AMC, Turner, and Syfy. Meanwhile, BigStar continues to increase its slate of feature film and documentary series work. The team recently made waves with the 2018 top-grossing indie, Free Solo, from National Geographic, creating the documentary’s main titles, VFX sequences, and graphics package.
Leamy has a history with BigStar founder/ECD Josh Norton. Their relationship began more than 20 years ago when the two were freelancers, working side-by-side at various creative studios. Since then, the two have stayed in touch and were waiting for the right opportunity to work together again. Most recently, Leamy was ECD at Leroy & Clarkson, serving at the helm of projects for clients such as National Geographic, Nasdaq, Nickelodeon, and ABC News. Prior to that, he was creative director at Spontaneous, a position he held for eight years while leading projects for a wide variety of clients, such as AT&T, Wendy’s, Maybelline, and Lockheed Martin. In addition, he was a long-time creative partner of U2 creating live concert visuals, music video, film, and print content for the seminal rock band. Leamy started his career as a freelance artist at Imaginary Forces, RadicalMedia, Freestyle Collective, and MTV, among others.
Sinners and Saints Adds Apple Pie To Its Branded Menu
Bicoastal Sinners and Saints--the multidisciplinary studio overseen by managing director/executive producer Heather Heller, and partners/EPs Yann Henric and Thomas Carroll--has added Apple Pie Tabletop to its roster for branded content. Known for its food and beverage content creation, Apple Pie comprises the husband-and-wife team of director/DP Gene Dubin and director/art director Alisa Volodina. In addition to representation, the move expands Apple Pieโs production capabilities through the combination of its centrally located full-service studio in New York and a newly established mobile studio in Los Angeles. Apple Pie recently teamed with Sinners and Saints on a Wienerschnitzel project created by Innocean.
โWe believe that our dual studio strategy positions us uniquely in the competitive landscape of food and beverage storytelling,โ said Heller. โBy blending the artistry of the New York studio with the flexibility of our Los Angeles location, we can tailor our productions to meet the unique demands of each project, regardless of geography.โ
โWorking with Sinners and Saints in the demanding field of tabletop was an absolute pleasure,โ shared Apple Pie Tabletop in a joint statement. โWarm welcome, unwavering support and dedication--everything a director can ask for. The entire experience was both enjoyable and rewarding. We will not miss an opportunity to collaborate with them again.โ
โThe first thing you notice is that Apple Pie has beautiful work,โ Heller observed. โHaving worked with them, I can say that Gene and Alisa are extremely meticulous and detail-oriented; their combination of talent and agility appeals to agencies and clients.โ Also appealing to Heller is Apple Pie Tabletopโs brisk international... Read More