Kristen Bedard Johnson joins New York-based Lively Group. Bedard Johnson’s diverse expertise in film production, talent management, post-production and live entertainment will support her new role in managing sales for Lively Group, as well as creating the groundbreaking division of Lively Experience that will serve to create meaningful brand relationships both on and offline.
Bedard Johnson began her career in the theatre world before transitioning into advertising. Most recently, she spent three years as Head of East Coast Sales and Development for Furlined. Prior to Furlined, Bedard Johnson acted as East Coast Sales Rep for New York-based VFX studio Gravity, and held the same position for global production studio @radical.media.
As the media landscape has evolved, Lively Group has consistently readjusted their multidisciplinary DNA, assembling the right teams and tools to offer clients the most effective creative solutions across various platforms. In her new role, Bedard Johnson will be poised to offer the breadth of services provided by the Lively Group network of companies – creative editing company BlueRock; design and animation studio Spontaneous; luxury, lifestyle and fashion specialists Scarlett; finishing house Ballistic; and digital partner Rain – in a combination of infinite possibility.
“The fit with Lively Group is natural and effortless for me,” remarks Bedard Johnson. “With our combination of world-class capabilities and talent, we’re able to create a cohesive brand story across visual and experiential platforms in one fluid, collaborative process. With the resources of the group behind us, Lively Experiential can take the seed of an idea and make it grow to infinite heights.”
With Lively Experience, Bedard Johnson will be working with celebrated artists from outside the traditional advertising space to create narrative brand experiences that engage the consumer in an innovative, authentic and profound way.
The arrival of Bedard Johnson is the latest move for a company with adaptation and reinvention at its core. Recently Spontaneous hired branding expert Darryl Mascarenhas in the role of Executive Creative Director, and BlueRock added accomplished editor Jim Helton and rising star J.P. Damboragian to their award-winning roster.
Kevin Costner to receive MPSE Filmmaker Award; Greg Hedgepath named recipient of MPSE Career Achievement honor
Motion Picture Sound Editors (MPSE) will present Oscar®-winning filmmaker and actor Kevin Costner with the 2025 MPSE Filmmaker Award, bestowed annually to a filmmaker of distinction. And supervising sound editor Greg Hedgepath will receive the Career Achievement Award for his prolific career in sound editing. Both awards will be presented during MPSE’s 72nd Annual Golden Reel Awards Gala on February 23, 2025 at the Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles.
The MPSE Filmmaker Award is bestowed upon an individual outside the sound community whose career has demonstrated a great appreciation and understanding of the impact of sound editing. The MPSE Career Achievement Award is presented to a person whose career has made a significant impact on the sound community through exemplary work, service or leadership.
“Kevin Costner has captivated audiences with his powerful storytelling throughout his illustrious career,” said MPSE president David Barber. “From epic Westerns to poignant dramas, his use of sound as an integral component of his cinematic storytelling has stirred our emotions and immersed viewers in the worlds he’s created for decades. This passion for sound is abundantly clear in his latest ambitious project, the Horizon saga. We are thrilled to honor him with the Filmmaker Award, recognizing his exceptional contributions to the art of storytelling through sound in film and television.”
Barber added, “Greg Hedgepath is a true titan in the world of sound. His contributions to cinema are immense, spanning decades and encompassing a remarkable range of genres. From the heart-pounding intensity of ‘Speed’ and ‘Twister’ to the nuanced drama of ‘Selma’ and ‘Straight Outta Compton’, Greg’s work has consistently elevated... Read More