Doug Stivers, who’s spent the last three years overseeing content as an executive producer at Coca-Cola’s headquarters in Atlanta, has joined production company Untitled Inc. in an EP capacity.
The senior-level hire for Untitled comes as the marketing landscape is being redefined and the role of production companies evolves. Stivers said “agencies and brands are now working with production companies to develop and create original content, commercials, social and digital media campaigns and other marketing projects.”
At Untitled, Stivers aims to boost the company’s profile as a turn-key content creator, recruiting more exceptional talent to the roster and leading new ventures “that redefine storytelling.”
Stivers noted that he and Untitled founder Jim Evans have been working together for a number of years and that joining him at the company was “a natural extension of that experience.” Stivers added, “Over the coming months, you will find we will continue to offer our award-winning roster of directors to agencies, but we will also plan to engage with agencies in new ways. We will also continue to work directly with brands, media companies, publishers and a host of new partners, where our expertise in content development is needed.”
Stivers, a longtime creative executive and freelancer for such agencies as Bartle Bogle Hegarty, BBDO, Mother, TBWAChiatDay and JWT, started in public relations and ad copywriting more than 15 years ago, moving full-time into the agency producer role for accounts such as HBO, FedEx, Stella Artois, Sony Playstation and Rubbermaid. (As it happens, Stivers has both brands and advertising in the blood. His father worked for Nabisco and was an archivist and historian for advertising’s memorable art and imagery.)
During his stint at Coke, Stivers shepherded creative work for the brand’s sizeable portfolio of products across film production, branded entertainment, digital and interactive content, out-of-home, print and experiential marketing.
Stivers will be based in the New York area and will split time between N.Y. and Untitled’s offices in Los Angeles and Atlanta.
“Untitled’s roster of talent, vision for the future and creative reputation, made my decision an easy one.” said Stivers. “I look forward to helping to lead our East Coast operations, talent diversity and continued commitment to branded content.”
Rom-Com Mainstay Hugh Grant Shifts To The Dark Side and He’s Never Been Happier
After some difficulties connecting to a Zoom, Hugh Grant eventually opts to just phone instead.
"Sorry about that," he apologizes. "Tech hell." Grant is no lover of technology. Smart phones, for example, he calls the "devil's tinderbox."
"I think they're killing us. I hate them," he says. "I go on long holidays from them, three or four days at at time. Marvelous."
Hell, and our proximity to it, is a not unrelated topic to Grant's new film, "Heretic." In it, two young Mormon missionaries (Chloe East, Sophie Thatcher) come knocking on a door they'll soon regret visiting. They're welcomed in by Mr. Reed (Grant), an initially charming man who tests their faith in theological debate, and then, in much worse things.
After decades in romantic comedies, Grant has spent the last few years playing narcissists, weirdos and murders, often to the greatest acclaim of his career. But in "Heretic," a horror thriller from A24, Grant's turn to the dark side reaches a new extreme. The actor who once charmingly stammered in "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and who danced to the Pointer Sisters in "Love Actually" is now doing heinous things to young people in a basement.
"It was a challenge," Grant says. "I think human beings need challenges. It makes your beer taste better in the evening if you've climbed a mountain. He was just so wonderfully (expletive)-up."
"Heretic," which opens in theaters Friday, is directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, co-writers of "A Quiet Place." In Grant's hands, Mr. Reed is a divinely good baddie — a scholarly creep whose wry monologues pull from a wide range of references, including, fittingly, Radiohead's "Creep."
In an interview, Grant spoke about these and other facets of his character, his journey... Read More