RSA Films has brought L.A.-based comedy directing duo Peter Martin, aka Peter Livolsi and Martin Dix, aboard its roster for commercials. Peter Martin are behind Little Caesars most recent crowd pleaser, “Lucky Chair” via McKinney, which features NFL superfan Darryl, the 49ers George Kittle and Darryl’s clingy lucky chair. Peter Martin have also brought their sensibility for observational comedy to funny campaigns for Fanta, Ubisoft, FedEx, Cheetos, BBC, Xfinity and many other brands.
“I got my start producing for Peter Martin so linking back up is incredibly meaningful for me,” said Luke Ricci, president, RSA Films US. “Over the years, I’ve watched their reel evolve with a tremendous amount of admiration and respect for their film craft and comedic chops. One of our current objectives at RSA is to build a stronger foothold in the U.S. comedy landscape and Peter Martin is an important part of that effort. I’m absolutely thrilled to be working with Peter Martin and see a fruitful (and fun) future ahead of us.”
“Our history with Luke Ricci is built on trust and friendship,” read a joint statement from Peter Martin. “Luke was a young and hungry producer at AFI who helped us build our spec reel and we gave him his first producing job! His relentless drive and positivity haven’t changed since we first worked together. We’re thrilled to be at RSA and our goal now is to make Ridley Scott laugh at one of our spots.”
Peter Martin bring their award-winning pedigree in entertainment and advertising to their current partnership. Livolsi is a Sundance Lab and AFI alum and director of award-winning shorts such as Duncan Removed and the feature film The House of Tomorrow (Asa Butterfield, Ellen Burstyn, Nick Offerman) which nabbed honors across the film festival circuit. Dix is an award-winning writer and creative director at agencies including Deutsch and TBWA/Chiat/Day. Livolsi and Dix as Peter Martin are alums of SHOOT’s 2006 New Directors Showcase. Prior to joining RSA, the duo had most recently been with The Corner Shop.
“Whether it’s a Key and Peele sketch, Kristen Wiig and Will Ferrell at an awards show, or a Coen Brothers classic, our favorite comic voices often come in pairs,” said Peter Martin. “Which makes sense to us, because being a team lets us be each other’s audience. We don’t always agree on what’s going to kill, but because we both keep an open mind as we chase a laugh, those debates about gags, shots or casting almost always result in the funniest version of an idea.”
Is “Glicked” The New “Barbenheimer”? “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” Hit Theater Screens
"Barbenheimer" was a phenomenon impossible to manufacture. But, more than a year later, that hasn't stopped people from trying to make "Glicked" — or even "Babyratu" — happen.
The counterprogramming of "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" in July 2023 hit a nerve culturally and had the receipts to back it up. Unlike so many things that begin as memes, it transcended its online beginnings. Instead of an either-or, the two movies ultimately complemented and boosted one another at the box office.
And ever since, moviegoers, marketers and meme makers have been trying to recreate that moment, searching the movie release schedule for odd mashups and sending candidates off into the social media void. Most attempts have fizzled (sorry, "Saw Patrol" ).
This weekend is perhaps the closest approximation yet as the Broadway musical adaptation "Wicked" opens Friday against the chest-thumping sword-and-sandals epic "Gladiator II." Two big studio releases (Universal and Paramount), with one-name titles, opposite tones and aesthetics and big blockbuster energy — it was already halfway there before the name game began: "Wickiator," "Wadiator," "Gladwick" and even the eyebrow raising "Gladicked" have all been suggested.
"'Glicked' rolls off the tongue a little bit more," actor Fred Hechinger said at the New York screening of "Gladiator II" this week. "I think we should all band around 'Glicked.' It gets too confusing if you have four or five different names for it."
As with "Barbenheimer," as reductive as it might seem, "Glicked" also has the male/female divide that make the fan art extra silly. One is pink and bright and awash in sparkles, tulle, Broadway bangers and brand tie-ins; The other is all sweat and sand, blood and bulging... Read More