New Faces
Ellen Steinberg has joined McKinney, Durham, N.C., as a group creative director. She had most recently been freelancing for a variety of agencies. Prior to that she served as a creative director at Fallon New York. She established herself as a leading art director based on work for such clients as Conseco Insurance, Jim Beam, Lee Jeans, Miller Lite, Nikon, Sports Illustrated, BMW and USA Network….Neil Saunders has come aboard Ogilvy Chicago as managing partner/director of strategic planning. He most recently was senior VP/director of brand planning for Leo Burnett, Chicago. In his new role, Saunders will oversee brand development and stewardship across the office’s roster of accounts, including Dove which has attained a higher profile with its “Campaign for Real Beauty.”…..Donnie Williams has joined Ignited Minds, Marina del Rey, Calif., as interactive associate media director. He comes over from Carat Fusion and prior to that Lowe Worldwide, New York. Ignited Minds has also promoted Dave Martin to associate media director….Art directors Allison Hayes and Ryan Stotts have joined Boston agency Fort Franklin….
Disney Pledges $15 million In L.A. Fire Aid As More Celebs Learn They’ve Lost Their Homes
The Pacific Palisades wildfires torched the home of "This Is Us" star Milo Ventimiglia, perhaps most poignantly destroying the father-to-be's newly installed crib.
CBS cameras caught the actor walking through his charred house for the first time, standing in what was once his kitchen and looking at a neighborhood in ruin. "Your heart just breaks."
He and his pregnant wife, Jarah Mariano, evacuated Tuesday with their dog and they watched on security cameras as the flames ripped through the house, destroying everything, including a new crib.
"There's a kind of shock moment where you're going, 'Oh, this is real. This is happening.' What good is it to continue watching?' And then at a certain point we just turned it off, like 'What good is it to continue watching?'"
Firefighters sought to make gains Friday during a respite in the heavy winds that fanned the flames as numerous groups pledged aid to help victims and rebuild, including a $15 million donation pledge from the Walt Disney Co.
More stars learn their homes are gone
While seeing the remains of his home, Ventimiglia was struck by a connection to his "This Is Us" character, Jack Pearson, who died after inhaling smoke in a house fire. "It's not lost on me life imitating art."
Mandy Moore, who played Ventimiglia's wife on "This Is Us," nearly lost her home in the Eaton fire, which scorched large areas of the Altadena neighborhood. She said Thursday that part of her house is standing but is unlivable, and her husband lost his music studio and all his instruments.
Mel Gibson's home is "completely gone," his publicist Alan Nierob confirmed Friday. The Oscar winner revealed the loss of his home earlier Friday while appearing on Joe Rogan's... Read More