Client Decision To Change Ad Agencies Won't Impact This Year's Slate Of Short Films By Spot Directors Using 24p HD Cameras
By Robert Goldrich
NEW YORK --Despite the recent parting of ways between Sony Electronics and Young & Rubicam (Y&R), New York–with the account rumored at press time to be heading to Fallon Worldwide, Minneapolis–the 2005 “Dreams” project is proceeding as originally scheduled. According to a Sony Electronics’ spokesperson, the company’s Broadcast and Production Systems Division will continue to work with Y&R on the fourth annual “Dreams” program, which turns noted spot directors loose to reflect their creative vision in shorts lensed with Sony 24p HD cameras.
Several of the “Dreams” shorts have already been wrapped, with others in various stages. For example, director Jesse Dylan of Los Angeles-based Form has completed his short. Dylan succeeded Fredrik Bond of bicoastal/international MJZ who had to pull out of “Dreams” due to a scheduling conflict. (Bond was recently nominated for the coveted DGA Award for best commercial director of 2004. Noam Murro of Biscuit Filmworks wound up winning the DGA honor on January 29–SHOOT‘s e.dition, 2/4, p. 1.)
The ’05 lineup of “Dreams” directors consists of: Dylan; Samuel Bayer of bicoastal RSA USA; James Gartner of Santa Monica-based GARTNER; Alison Maclean of Park Pictures, New York; Doug Nichol of bicoastal/international Partizan; Hank Perlman of bicoastal/international Hungry Man; Jeffery Plansker of Supply & Demand, New York; Baker Smith of Santa Monica-based harvest; Charles Stone III of Brown Bag Films, New York; and the StyleWar collective, represented by bicoastal Smuggler.
This year’s series of “Dreams” shorts is slated to debut next month at the Ziegfeld Theater, New York. The ’05 “Dreams” theme is “Flight,” which was chosen by Ken Yagoda, who last month left his staff position as managing partner/director of broadcast production and creative resources at Y&R, New York (SHOOT‘s e.dition, 1/21, p. 1). Yagoda chose “Flight” because it has “more kinetic energy than our previous themes.” He said that this new thematic direction has provided a creatively inspiring change of pace as reflected in the shorts completed thus far.
Yagoda has been the point person on “Dreams” since its inaugural year of 2002. He continues to work on select assignments for Y&R, including “Dreams.”
As earlier reported, Rich Rosenthal assumed the Y&R, New York, director of broadcast production mantle from Yagoda. Rosenthal was promoted from associate director of broadcast production at the agency.
Additional reporting by Carolyn Giardina
SCHROM x Yacht Club and Be Electric Studios Launch Electric XR for Virtual Production
SCHROM x Yacht Club, a full-service live-action, tabletop, and postproduction company, has teamed with Be Electric Studios, a soundstage, equipment rental, and virtual production company, to launch Electric XR, a virtual production collective.
Industry veteran Thomas Rossano will lead the new venture, which provides advanced virtual production solutions across multiple facilities. He brings over 25 years of experience in live-action, tabletop, postproduction and talent curation to enhance Electric XR’s offerings as a resource for brands and agencies, as well as other production companies in need of virtual production solutions. Additionally Rossano continues to serve as EP at XR New York (XR-NY), a role he’s held since December 2022. SCHROM x Yacht Club originally established XR-NY to help provide XR services for third-party rentals. While XR-NY will continue to function independently for SCHROM X Yacht Club, it now operates under the Electric XR umbrella.
Rossano’s expertise spans producing live-action commercials, branded content, interactive and experiential content. In addition to leading Electric XR, he holds responsibilities at SCHROM x Yacht Club which include driving business development, collaborating with sales reps and expanding the company’s creative talent network. Rossano’s career includes serving as an exec producer at Hungry Man for about 11 years, right from that company’s inception. He then went on to become a partner at Station Film where he also had a lengthy tenure. Later he was a partner at PRISM. Then after the pandemic hit, he became a freelance EP for nearly two years, looking into opportunities in virtual production, which led him to XR NY and now Electric XR. Over the years, he has produced high-profile... Read More