Last month’s 50th Anniversary Issue of SHOOT included assorted reflections on mentorship. Consider this column an addendum to that coverage, the bookends being the induction back in March of Mike Hughes into The One Club’s Creative Hall of Fame, and last month’s hiring of Fabio Costa, formerly a creative director at Ogilvy Paris, to serve as a senior VP/creative director at The Martin Agency in Richmond, Va.
Costa said he was drawn to his new roost in part by the chance to work with and learn from Hughes, president of The Martin Agency, and chief creative officer John Norman.
Costa is joining a long line of those who look to learn a lot from Hughes, which brings us to a college campus where a telling event took place between those two figurative bookends.
On Oct. 27, the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Brandcenter building was formally named Mike Hughes Hall. Hughes has served as chairman of the VCU Brandcenter board since the inception of the school in 1995. He was instrumental in helping the school’s founder, Diane Cook-Tench, create and build a graduate program that’s now a leading advertising school.
“Without his support, leadership and dedication, the school would simply not exist,” said Rick Boyko, director of the Brandcenter. “…It is only fitting to have the building that houses the Brandcenter named in his honor.”
Dr. Michael Rau, VCU president, described Hughes as being “one of the industry’s most progressive change agents–His leadership as chairman of the VCU Brandcenter board resulted in a premier graduate advertising program. VCU is grateful for Mike’s commitment and thought leadership throughout the years, and is proud to name the building for him.”
Hughes has touched numerous lives through the Brandcenter and his daily work at The Martin Agency where he’s spent most of his career, starting there as a copywriter in 1978 and moving up the ranks.
Just prior to becoming the 47th person inducted into the Creative Hall of Fame, Hughes told SHOOT about his mentors. He first cited his predecessor at The Martin Agency, “the man who hired me–Harry Jacobs who is already in the Hall of Fame. He stands out but I’ve had so many heroes. In the 1970s, I’d look to Ed McCabe and David Abbott. In the ’80s, Lee Clow and Tom McElligott. I always kept tabs on what those people were doing. They were pure advertising people. I studied them. I could recite McCabe’s ads. I’d look through awards journals for their work.
“Later on,” continued Hughes, “I had the privilege of getting to know some of these people. From afar in Richmond, I had thought they were perfect. Now that I know them, I realize that they are just crazy. But it’s the kind of crazy that creates great work.”
As for an area in today’s evolving media landscape where a mentor could make a mark, Hughes related, “One thing I hope we can lead the way back to is craftsmanship. There isn’t as much craftsmanship in the business now as there was years ago. Things like design online, marketing in the digital space and social media haven’t been quite figured out yet. Those things haven’t had their Bernbach. This means there are opportunities for people to rise up and show how those things should be done.”
Director Sebastian Brune Joins Storyform For His 1st U.S. Commercial Representation
Production and development company Storyform has added filmmaker Sebastian Brune to its roster for his first U.S. representation spanning commercials and branded content.
The Berlin-based photographer and director started his career as an art director for the German basketball brand KIX, creative director for DEF, and creative producer for car-sharing company ShareNow. He later became a freelancer, working with brands like Volkswagen and Nike. His ability to shoot street culture led him to work with Adidas, Puma, and Cupra. Brune’s talents as a photographer and filmmaker quickly made him a highly sought-after commercial collaborator, directing spots for brands including New Balance, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Prada, Red Bull, Harper’s Bazaar, and Under Armour, among many others. His short documentaries “Ocean Front Walk” and “Way Out” artfully depict streetball and skateboarding culture in Los Angeles and have been screened at museums worldwide.
Brune’s immersive storytelling sensibilities are drawn from the creativity and authenticity of urban culture. Influenced by rap music, graffiti, basketball, and the bold visuals of ‘90s commercials and films, Brune adds an elevated cinematic vocabulary to his daring and naturalistic visuals, capturing the rougher edges of reality. Brune sees films as critical to inspiring new perspectives and processing new, deeper ideas.
“Beyond Storyform’s proven success as a leading production company, what truly resonates with me is their creative vision and approach to storytelling,” said Brune. “From my first conversation, I felt understood and supported on a level beyond business. It was about shared passion and perspective. Their wealth of experience, remarkable talent, and invaluable guidance... Read More