Advertising creatives Steven Bennett-Day and Aaron Howard have launched Few & Far, a venture designed to work with clients’ in-house capabilities by providing creative ideas, departing from the traditional ad agency processes. Bennett-Day was most recently chief creative officer at Feed in London. Before joining Feed in 2017, he spent three years as group executive creative director at Havas helia, London. It was during this time that he met Howard, who had previously cut his teeth at EHS Brann, Havas’ direct, digital and data marketing group in London. Howard was most recently working as creative director at Havas London. While Few & Far specializes in ideas, it also has a network of curated experts in disciplines including production, strategy, design, technology, PR and editorial, with whom the studio can collaborate as needed. Bennett-Day and Howard believe this style of agency taps into the need for clients to seek best-in-class creative offerings from wherever they can find them. The Few & Far team will avoid the expense and restrictions of a formal headquarters and will base themselves wherever best to serve the client and inspire creativity. Bennett Day noted that a number of clients are taking their work in-house and seeking good ideas without having to engage in a complicated agency relationship. Few & Far launches with two clients: Vivobarefoot and Gail’s Bakery. Bennett-Day and Howard have previously worked across a range of clients including Ella’s Kitchen, Dove, Tesco Clubcard, Adidas and Heinz, and they have produced everything from digital firsts–such as the first ever beer created from A.I.–through data, social and film….
Review: Director Jon M. Chu’s “Wicked”
It's the ultimate celebrity redemption tour, two decades in the making. In the annals of pop culture, few characters have undergone an image makeover quite like the Wicked Witch of the West.
Oh, she may have been vengeful and scary in "The Wizard of Oz." But something changed — like, REALLY changed — on the way from the yellow brick road to the Great White Way. Since 2003, crowds have packed nightly into "Wicked" at Broadway's Gershwin Theatre to cheer as the green-skinned, misunderstood Elphaba rises up on her broomstick to belt "Defying Gravity," that enduring girl-power anthem.
How many people have seen "Wicked"? Rudimentary math suggests more than 15 million on Broadway alone. And now we have "Wicked" the movie, director Jon M. Chu's lavish, faithful, impeccably crafted (and nearly three-hour) ode to this origin story of Elphaba and her (eventual) bestie — Glinda, the very good and very blonde. Welcome to Hollywood, ladies.
Before we get to what this movie does well (Those big numbers! Those costumes!), just a couple thornier issues to ponder. Will this "Wicked," powered by a soulful Cynthia Erivo (owner of one of the best singing voices on the planet) and a sprightly, comedic, hair-tossing Ariana Grande, turn even musical theater haters into lovers?
Tricky question. Some people just don't buy into the musical thing, and they should be allowed to live freely amongst us. But if people breaking into song delights rather than flummoxes you, if elaborate dance numbers in village squares and fantastical nightclubs and emerald-hued cities make perfect sense to you, and especially if you already love "Wicked," well then, you will likely love this film. If it feels like they made the best "Wicked" movie money could buy — well, it's... Read More