executive creative director/partner
Barton F. Graf
1) Who could have predicted that we’d be nearing the end of 2017 and celebrating statues, murals, puns, and a 50 year old outdoor campaign. I think it’s because in a moment of drastic change we’ve sought safety in trying to reinvent traditional mediums. Breathing new life into old forms by using new forms like Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook – to bring participation, personalization, and making them social.
3) We are about to launch a campaign for Supercell’s Clash games that brings a character from the game world into our world for a month. What an incredible opportunity to explore what our world would be like if a hero lived with us. What would they do here? How would they affect us? How would we affect them when they returned?
4) From a business perspective I think we’ll see more production companies and small creative agencies merging to form new creative offerings for brands. We’ll continue to see more brands bring creative, production, and strategy in-house but staffed in ways agencies have been reluctant to leap forward with.
Creatively I’m very curious about voice and how it will reinvent how we think about radio. We’re googling for things by voice instead of typing. The opportunity reminds me of the recent resurgence of outdoor, physical, and activation ideas because of mobile. How do you write for radio when the audience can talk back?
5) In an ever changing world of technology, social, devices, fancy cameras and data – whether it was 50 years ago or 50 years from now – work that champions the human spirit in original and creative ways always rises to the top. And more than ever brands are looking for their unique way to do this and make what they stand for matter.
6) We’re giving careful consideration to buying a karaoke machine for the agency.
“Heretic” and “Maria” Set As Red Carpet Premieres At AFI Fest
The American Film Institute (AFI) has announced that Heretic, the psychological thriller starring Hugh Grant, and Maria, based on the life of opera singer Maria Callas starring Angelina Jolie, will round out the Red Carpet Premieres section at this year’s AFI Fest. The Heretic Gala Screening will take place on Thursday, October 24, and the Maria Gala Screening will be held on Saturday, October 26. The complete Red Carpet Premieres section includes the world premieres of Music By John Williams, Robert Zemeckis’ Here, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl and Clint Eastwood’s Juror #2. All Red Carpet Premieres will take place at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre. The full lineup for AFI Fest 2024 will be unveiled on October 1.
“At the heart of AFI Fest is an unwavering dedication to celebrating the best in global cinema--together,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI president and CEO. “We look forward to uniting artists and audiences once again to be inspired by the art form in a powerful sense of community.”
Heretic follows two young missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) who are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed (portrayed by Grant), becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse. The film is directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods and produced by Stacey Sher, Beck, Woods, Julia Glausi and Jeanette Volturno. The film will be released nationwide by A24 on November 8.
Directed by Pablo Larraín, Maria presents a tumultuous and beautiful depiction of one of the world’s most renowned artists and reimagines the legendary soprano in her final days in Paris, as Callas (Jolie)... Read More