NY-based mixed media production company 1stAveMachine has rolled out a West Coast office and expanded content division. Based in the new Santa Monica shop will be executive producers Andrew Geller and Garrett P. Fennelly, director of development Jordan Stone, and director of digital content Alexander Schepsman. They are part of a team led by 1stAveMachine partners Arvind Palep, Serge Patzak and Sam Penfield. They will focus on film, TV, online, and branded content with special access to servicing clients in the “Silicon Beach” tech sector.
Fred & Farid has added a second office in China, launching a shop in Beijing to go with its ongoing operation in Shanghai. Founded by Frรฉdรฉric Raillard and Farid Mokart in 2007, independent digital creative group Fred & Farid also maintains offices in Paris and New York….
Eleanor Adds Director Candice Vernon To Its Roster For Spots and Branded Content
Director Candice Vernon has joined production house Eleanor for U.S. representation spanning commercials and branded content. She has already wrapped several jobs at Eleanor, which waited to announce her until they had a body of work together.
Via Eleanor, Vernon made history as the first Black director on a Febreze commercial. The โSmall Spacesโ campaign marks a major departure from Febrezeโs typical blue-and-white world. The home of the โRevolving Doorโ commercial is a beautiful array of bold sunset hues, African prints, and African art.
Vernon said, โI asked myself, what feels right to me? What feels new? I wanted to bring an essence of not just Black Americans but the full diaspora. I wanted to make a statement that weโre not a monolith.โ
Following the success of the โSmall Spacesโ campaign, Febreze brought Vernon back for a comedy-infused trifecta exploring the hilarious situations that call for an air freshening hero.
Febreze Brand VP Angelica Matthews said, โAbout two years ago, we realized the consumers that were the most loyal to Febreze were the African American consumers. And the more we learned, the more we realized the richness that we were really missing. So we said we have to go beyond just Black casting, we need to get Black directors that truly understand the culture that truly understand how to bring authentic performances out on screen. We really looked around the industry and noticed thereโs actually a shortage of African American directors who have experience doing commercials. When we all saw Candiceโs reel, we could all tell the passion for the craft, passion for really trying to help us from where we are to where weโre trying to go.โ
Vernon brings a unique lens to... Read More