Over two decades ago, director Melanie Bridge, producer Sharlene George, and chairperson Paul Prince started the New Zealand-based production house, The Sweetshop. Since then, the company has grown in prominence and impact, picking up such honors as multiple Cannes Lions and D&AD Pencils, and extending its global reach with offices in L.A., London, Shanghai, Bangkok, Sydney, Melbourne and the Auckland flagship.
Founding partners Bridge and George are now charged with ushering The Sweetshop into a new era, becoming global co-CEOs of the company. They succeed Wilf Sweetland who’s been with The Sweetshop for 12 years, having started out by overseeing the company’s Australian business. As he departs to achieve a more apt work-life balance, Sweetland said, “It has been such a pleasure to be involved with everyone at The Sweetshop and to play a part in this great company, producing some of the best work in the world. I thank Paul dearly for his support and guidance over the years, and I’m thrilled that my successors Sharlene and Melanie are leading as co-CEOs into the next chapter.”
Splitting the responsibilities is a strategic set-up for Bridge and George, and their complementary skillsets enable them to drive the company forward more effectively. “Sharing the CEO job plays to each of our strengths perfectly,” said Bridge. “Sharlene’s skills are more in the production areas, while mine focus more on the creative. My experience as a director is a wonderful asset, as every executive decision comes through this filter.” ”
George has recently been harnessing her production skills on longer-form content and will now bring that in-house. The Sweetshop will continue to produce crafted commercials and expand into documentary and scripted feature films, digital and television series, and ambitious, outside-of-the-box branded content. George and Bridge aim to support the directors on their roster who have their eyes set on the long-form as well as those who already have a knack for critically acclaimed features.
Introduced by a mutual acquaintance some 20-plus years ago, Bridge and George forged a relationship that along with The Sweetshop has been grounded in warmth, mutual respect, breakthrough creativity, and feminine fierceness. “As we step up to co-CEOs, I feel incredibly lucky to have my friend and business partner Sharlene by my side and be the yin to my yang,” shared Bridge. ”I feel that this is the perfect time to step back from directing and return to the forefront of the company.
George said, “Our global reach allows us access to the best the industry has to offer–but we are still the same Kiwi Company that started in 2001, one that upholds values of kindness, inclusion, sustainability and ingenuity. Our heritage as a brand is important to us, and we’re also really mindful about keeping the company modern and fresh.”
Their most ambitious (and well-underway) endeavor is seeking the prestigious B-Corp certification. This hard-to-achieve designation indicates that a business meets the highest performance, ecological accountability, diversity, equity and inclusion standards–yet another way The Sweetshop is stepping boldly into a new era.
“I am very excited to circle back to where we started and reconnect with the company’s roots. Sharlene and Melanie are two of the most experienced, passionate, hardworking and smart people I know,” commented Prince, who will continue to serve as board chairman. “Of course, I have so much gratitude for Wilf and everything he has done for The Sweetshop. A global production company has many moving parts, and his strength in production and relationships has been an enormous asset. We wish him the best of luck with his future endeavors.”
New Zealand’s Commercial Communications Council via its CAANZ Axis Awards has designated The Sweetshop as Production Company of the Year 10 times.
“Heretic” and “Maria” Set As Red Carpet Premieres At AFI Fest
The American Film Institute (AFI) has announced that Heretic, the psychological thriller starring Hugh Grant, and Maria, based on the life of opera singer Maria Callas starring Angelina Jolie, will round out the Red Carpet Premieres section at this yearโs AFI Fest. The Heretic Gala Screening will take place on Thursday, October 24, and the Maria Gala Screening will be held on Saturday, October 26. The complete Red Carpet Premieres section includes the world premieres of Music By John Williams, Robert Zemeckisโ Here, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl and Clint Eastwoodโs Juror #2. All Red Carpet Premieres will take place at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre. The full lineup for AFI Fest 2024 will be unveiled on October 1.
โAt the heart of AFI Fest is an unwavering dedication to celebrating the best in global cinema--together,โ said Bob Gazzale, AFI president and CEO. โWe look forward to uniting artists and audiences once again to be inspired by the art form in a powerful sense of community.โ
Heretic follows two young missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) who are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed (portrayed by Grant), becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse. The film is directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods and produced by Stacey Sher, Beck, Woods, Julia Glausi and Jeanette Volturno. The film will be released nationwide by A24 on November 8.
Directed by Pablo Larraรญn, Maria presents a tumultuous and beautiful depiction of one of the worldโs most renowned artists and reimagines the legendary soprano in her final days in Paris, as Callas (Jolie)... Read More