Collaborative Studio Started by Marshall Plante, Natalie Westerfield & Justin Purser
With a future-facing ethos and rebellious spirit, hybrid studio Olio Creative opens its doors in Venice, California. Founded by colorist Marshall Plante, producer Natalie Westerfield, and director/creative director Justin Purser, this trio of homegrown partners embodies the term Olio, meaning a collection of miscellaneous things. Combining their varied skillsets, the partners are sidestepping the corporate mold to create a multi-functional space for multi-hyphenate creatives.
The collaborative spirit is felt in the unique environment they’ve cultivated at Olio HQ. Taking a departure from the sterile design of traditional post houses, Olio stands apart with its homey vintage-style décor, while the open floor plan encourages the exchange of ideas. The space is adaptable for freelancers, mobile artists, and traveling talent, with two color suites and a suite set up to toggle between editorial and flame work.
Marshall Plante is one of the most beloved colorists in the business. Over the past decade, he has forged a name for himself at shops including Digital Magic, Riot, Syndicate, and most recently, heading up the color department at Ntropic. Marshall is a trusted collaborator of top-level directors, DPs, and agency teams, who repeatedly come to him to interpret and elevate their vision. A powerhouse talent whose body of work spans all formats, Marshall’s extensive commercial credits include Samsung, Audi, Olay, Nike, Honda, Budweiser, and direct-to-brand projects for Apple and Riot Games. Recently the Nick Jr. “Girls in Charge: Girl Power” campaign he graded won an Emmy for Outstanding Daytime Promo Announcement Brand Image Campaign, and the Uber campaign he graded, “Rolling with the Champion” with Lebron James, brought home a bronze Cannes Lion.
“Being adaptable has served me well,” says Marshall. “The way the industry is shifting, creativity is coming from all sides. Why not take advantage of this moment? By opening my own shop, I want to offer a place where interesting and unexpected collaborations can happen. Color is the driving force, but the big picture is limitless.”
Helping him to realize the vision is Marshall’s long-time producer Natalie Westerfield. Natalie’s production prowess and hard-working reputation is well known, with over 10 years experience producing at companies including The Mill and Ntropic. “Natalie is the mama bird,” explains Marshall. “She genuinely cares about protecting both the client and the artist. Clients respond to her realness and honesty….and her sense of humor is just the right kind of inappropriate.” Taking the reins as Executive Producer, Natalie will use her mama-bird oversight to guide all projects that come through Olio’s pipeline.
Rounding out the crew is Justin Purser. With ‘disruptive’ being the buzzword du jour, Justin has the chops to back it up. A director first and foremost, Purser cut his teeth working at leading production companies including A Band Apart and Anonymous Content, where he was able to learn the filmmaking process from the A-list. Justin was one of the original creators and directors behind Maker Studios (acquired by Walt Disney Corp.) that pioneered the multi-channel YouTube-centric companies of today. Having directly influenced the zeitgeist of how brands advertise via social media and influencers, Justin combines production expertise with a willingness to challenge the old-school conventions of Hollywood.
The triad is eager to shake up the current landscape of post production, putting an emphasis on experimentation and collaboration. “The ability to be chameleons within the industry keeps us open to fresh ideas,” says Justin. “Our motto is ‘Try it. If it doesn’t work, pivot.’ And if we thrive in a new way of working, we’re going to share that with everyone. We want to not only make noise for ourselves, but for others in the same business.”
Each founder brings to Olio a specialized focus – Marshall’s talent, Natalie’s organization, Justin’s strategic thinking; combining disciplines, they are able to approach projects as a Voltron-like superpower. They do have a few qualities in common – they are scrappy, and a little more punk rock than most, with a whole lot of heart. “If you need a place to work or go for Thanksgiving, we’re your home away from home,” says Marshall. “Just check your ego at the door.”
Link to Olio Creative:
2024 AICP Awards Tour Concludes with Stops in Dallas and Chicago
The 2024 AICP Awards Tour concludes with stops in Dallas and Chicago this month as it wraps up its tour of cities across the U.S. The National Tour brought presentations, panels and screenings to marketers, advertising agencies, production and post production companies. The AICP Awards will be in Dallas on Thursday, November 14th, at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, followed by the Chicago event, set for Thursday, November 21st at The Old Post Office. Tickets are available now for both events at www.aicp.com. In Dallas, the program kicks off at 6:45 pm with a happy hour, followed by the screening and panel discussion at 7:30. The evening ends with a networking reception from 8:30 to 11:30. The Perot Museum of Nature and Science is located at 2201 N. Field Street in Dallas. Appearing in Dallas will be Abe Garcia, Chief Creative Officer, Dieste; Julia Melle, Director of Brand and Content, Southwest Airlines; and Isaac Pagán Muñoz, VP, Executive Creative Director of PepsiCo Foods. The panel will review selected winners from the suite of the AICP Awards programs, offering insights into what made them rise to the top of their respective categories and share their viewpoints on key trends in the industry. The Chicago stop starts at 6:00pm with a happy hour, followed by the presentation and screening at 7:00pm. A reception caps the event, starting at 8:00pm and concluding at 11:30pm. The Old Post Office is located at 433 W Van Buren Street in Chicago. The panel there will feature 2024 AICP Awards Curators and Winners from the marketer, agency, production and post production sectors who’ll highlight this year’s winners. The conversation will include a discussion about the winning work, including insights... Read More