Park Pictures has signed directing duo The Mercadantes–consisting of Daniel Mercadante and Katina Mercadante–for U.S. commercial and worldwide representation. The helming team has turned out spots and branded films for the likes of Apple, VW, Levi’s, Netflix and Chevrolet, and has collaborated with creatives at such agencies as Droga5, Anomaly, Wieden+Kennedy and R/GA.
Before joining The Mercadantes, Katina directed and produced documentaries in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas, working on international film projects for the UN. Educated at Amherst, the Mill Valley native met Daniel while making a series of documentaries. The duo has been collaborating on films and award-winning commercials ever since.
Daniel’s work has earned accolades such as a Gold Lion at Cannes, a Young Director’s Award at Cannes, a Clio and recognition at The Guggenheim Museum in New York City. The Prudential campaign, “Day One Stories,” which Daniel co-directed as founder/member of the directing collective Everynone, was awarded a Gold Lion in 2012 and was featured on TED Ads Worth Spreading. Everynone earned inclusion into SHOOT’s 2012 New Directors Showcase. Daniel, who studied film at Emerson College, first entered the directing spotlight with the Everynone films Symmetry and Words, commissioned by the popular NPR show/podcast, Radiolab. The episodes garnered millions of views online.
The Mercadantes co-directed spots and content for several years, winning a Grand Clio award for the real people “Sports Matter” campaign for Dick’s Sporting Goods. Other recent projects include the “Find Your Fitbit” campaign and the recent “Watch Together” campaign for Netflix.
The Mercadantes have worked primarily with non-actors to capture, rather than construct, their subjects and their stories. The duo’s shorts and spots reveal the beauty in the everyday, playing with the lines between documentary, fiction and experimental cinema. Along with broadcast and online commercials, the directors’ films have screened at art galleries including the Guggenheim’s YouTube Play Biennial.
The Mercadantes come over to Park Pictures from Epoch Films.
“The Mercadantes have developed a very personal form of filmmaking,” noted Jackie Kelman Bisbee, Park Pictures’ executive producer. “Their work has astonishing intimacy and a breathtaking visual style. Their process, respect and commitment for their subjects’ lives and stories raises the bar for all of us.”
“Park Pictures feels like a really good fit, and that stems from Jackie [Bisbee] and Lance [Acord],” said Daniel. “Their sensibility matches what we want to do not just in advertising but in filmmaking in general. They’re looking for the next important, powerful, beautiful story to tell.”
Katina added, “Park Pictures has a family thing going, with directors we have looked up to and respected for years.”
Sinners and Saints Adds Apple Pie To Its Branded Menu
Bicoastal Sinners and Saints--the multidisciplinary studio overseen by managing director/executive producer Heather Heller, and partners/EPs Yann Henric and Thomas Carroll--has added Apple Pie Tabletop to its roster for branded content. Known for its food and beverage content creation, Apple Pie comprises the husband-and-wife team of director/DP Gene Dubin and director/art director Alisa Volodina. In addition to representation, the move expands Apple Pie’s production capabilities through the combination of its centrally located full-service studio in New York and a newly established mobile studio in Los Angeles. Apple Pie recently teamed with Sinners and Saints on a Wienerschnitzel project created by Innocean.
“We believe that our dual studio strategy positions us uniquely in the competitive landscape of food and beverage storytelling,” said Heller. “By blending the artistry of the New York studio with the flexibility of our Los Angeles location, we can tailor our productions to meet the unique demands of each project, regardless of geography.”
“Working with Sinners and Saints in the demanding field of tabletop was an absolute pleasure,” shared Apple Pie Tabletop in a joint statement. “Warm welcome, unwavering support and dedication--everything a director can ask for. The entire experience was both enjoyable and rewarding. We will not miss an opportunity to collaborate with them again.”
“The first thing you notice is that Apple Pie has beautiful work,” Heller observed. “Having worked with them, I can say that Gene and Alisa are extremely meticulous and detail-oriented; their combination of talent and agility appeals to agencies and clients.” Also appealing to Heller is Apple Pie Tabletop’s brisk international... Read More