All three of the AICP Awards Shows–the AICP Next Awards, the AICP Post Awards, and the AICP Next Awards the AICP Show @MoMA–have moved online this year and will debut on June 9th, 10th and 11th, respectively, the originally scheduled AICP Week. In the lead up to the global premieres of the shows, AICP has released the first wave in a series of online panel discussions under the AICP Awards Shortlist Series: Inspiration from Home.
A total of seven panels will be unveiled at a dedicated landing page found here. (Click here to RSVP for the events, which are free of charge.) Each panel focuses on a piece that appears multiple times on the shortlists across all shows. To view all AICP Awards shortlist entries, click here.
“These online conversations are a way for AICP to fulfill our mission of providing inspiration through valuable insights and thought leadership, not just for our members but for the industry at large,” said Matt Miller, president and CEO of AICP, who serves as the series moderator. “In each video we go behind the curtain with these projects’ respective creators, producers, directors and post production artists exploring their collaborations and contributions that produced such impressive results.”
The Spotlight series examines the “Scoops Ahoy: Operation Snoop Scoop” project that united Baskin-Robbins with Netflix and the hit show Stranger Things. Created by 22 Squared and produced by m ss ng p eces, it was directed by experiential director Mike Woods. The piece was shortlisted in the Next Awards in the categories of Branded Content & Entertainment, Digital Experiences, Experiential, Innovation and Integrated Campaign.
Taking part in the online discussion are David Nagel, sr. director of consumer engagement for Baskin-Robbins; Curt Mueller, SVP, group creative director at 22 Squared; Chris Kyriakos, VP, head of production at 22 Squared; Woods, ECD/director of immersive at m ss ng p eces; and Dave Saltzman, EP/partner at m ss ng p eces.
Also examined is “The Epidemic,” created for activist and author Monica Lewinsky by BBDO New York, Sanctuary Content and Arcade Edit. Directed by Cole Webley and edited by Paul Martinez, the video documenting this anti-bullying social experiment was shortlisted in the AICP Next Awards in the categories of Digital Experiences and Purpose Driven Advertising; in the AICP Post Awards in the category of Cause Marketing/PSA; and in the AICP Show in the categories of Advertising Excellence/ Single, Concept, Direction, Performance and PSA.
The online panel includes Greg Hahn, former CCO at BBDO, along with the agency’s Bianca Guimaraes, SVP/creative director; Roberto Danino and Jim Connolly, creative directors; Gary du Toit and Lance Vining, VP, creative directors; Jessica Coccaro, executive producer; and James Young, head of digital production. Also on the panel are director Webley and executive producers Preston Lee and Kristen Bedard Johnson from Sanctuary Content and editor Martinez from Arcade Edit.
Another piece discussed is NFL’s “Next 100,” which celebrated the league’s 100th anniversary in a star-studded, coast-to-coast football romp that concluded with a live appearance at the Super Bowl. Created by 72andSunny and produced by PRETTYBIRD, it was directed by Max Malkin and edited by Biff Butler of Work Editorial. It was shortlisted in the Next Awards in the category of Experiential and in the AICP Show in the categories of Production and Editorial.
Joining Miller on the NFL panel are Tim Ellis, chief marketing officer, NFL; Glenn Cole, founder/creative chair, 72andSunny; Nicole Haase, group production director, 72andSunny; director Malkin of PRETTYBIRD; and editor Butler of Work Editorial.
Rounding out the first wave of Shortlist Spotlight panels is Travel Oregon’s “Only Slightly (More) Exaggerated” campaign from Wieden+Kennedy, produced by PSYOP + Sun Creature and directed by Todd Mueller and Kylie Matulick. The animated piece, part of an ongoing, award-winning tourism effort, was shortlisted in the AICP Post Awards in the Character Design & Animation category and in the AICP Show in the separate categories of Animation and Design.
Discussing the entry with Miller are Wieden + Kennedy creative director Ansel Wallenfang, art director Nick Stores and producer Nicole Kapture, along with directors Mueller and Matulick of PSYOP.
Additional panel discussions will be appearing soon on the Apple “Daughter” spot created by TBWAMedia Arts Lab in Shanghai, produced by brother and directed by Academy Award-nominated Theodore Melfi. Shot entirely on an iPhone 11 to mark the Chinese New Year, it was filmed by Academy Award-nominated cinematographer Lawrence Sher. It was shortlisted in the AICP Next Awards in the categories of Integrated Campaign and Web Film, Over 15 Seconds; in the AICP Post Awards in the category of Storytelling; and in the AICP Show in the category of Original Music.
Taking part in this discussion will be Kara Yang, managing director, TBWAMedia Arts Lab, Shanghai, along with the agency’s Brian Ma, executive creative director, and Phoebe Fan, producer. Also on the panel will be director Melfi, EP Rich Carter and Gio Messner of brother; Messner edited the piece and was shortlisted in the Post Awards for Storytelling with the “Making of Daughter BTS” piece. They’ll be joined by DP Sher.
There will also be a dive into “5B,” Johnson & Johnson’s documentary salute to nurses in the healthcare field, created by UM Studios, produced by Saville Productions and directed by Dan Krauss and Paul Haggis. The piece was shortlisted in the Next Awards in the categories of Branded Content & Entertainment and Purpose Driven Advertising and in the AICP Show in the category of Cause.
Discussing what went into the making of “5B” will be Brett Henenberg, SVP, global head of production for UM, along with Saville Productions founder Rupert Maconick and director Krauss.
Still to come will be a panel examining the most recent campaign for the anti-gun violence initiative Sandy Hook Promise, created by BBDO New York and produced by SMUGGLER. Included on the panel will be Nicole Hockley, co-founder and managing director, Sandy Hook Promise; BBDO’s Bianca Guimaraes and Peter Alsante, SVP/sr. creative directors; and SMUGGLER director Henry-Alex Rubin.
Nikki Baker Becomes CEO At Fallon
Fallon has appointed Nikki Baker as its new CEO. Baker, who joined the creative agency in 2018 and has served as co-chief creative officer with Leslie Shaffer since 2021, succeeds Rocky Novak, who has been in the role since 2019.
Baker’s promotion to CEO comes at a time of significant momentum for the agency, including six consecutive years of growth and award-winning work.
Baker’s recent career highlights include creatively leading the Walmart partnership with the Publicis Groupe team and spearheading innovative campaigns such as the award-winning “RomCommerce” 23-episodic series and the internet-breaking Mean Girls campaign, among hundreds of other campaigns together with the brand over the past few years. Together with Shaffer, Baker has also been instrumental in elevating Fallon’s creative output for longstanding clients like Arby’s, Mattress Firm, and Front Door/American Home Shield.
“I’ve always been an admirer of Fallon, even before I joined. The chance to lead the agency is an absolute honor. Fallon is a place like no other with amazing talent and a legacy of building big, innovative, creative ideas,” said Baker. “Rocky has represented the best of Fallon. He’s been a great leader, and I couldn’t be more excited to take the reins and lead the agency through to the next chapter. With creativity at our core, we’re going to be as ambitious as ever, push boundaries, and continue embracing emerging platforms to deliver work that truly resonates in culture.”
Prior to joining Fallon six years ago, Baker held positions as creative director and art director at agencies including DDB and GSD&M, working with major brands such as McDonald’s, Southwest Airlines, and Wrigley. Her work has been recognized by... Read More