Marni Beardsley has joined creative agency Swift as chief production officer. She will oversee studio and operational production across all projects. Beardsley comes to Swift after a 25-year run at Wieden+Kennedy, where she most recently was director of integrated art/content production, supporting the global W+K network.
Additionally Swift has promoted Meredith Chase to chief strategy officer. Chase joined Swift in 2015 as VP of strategic planning. She has since built a world-class strategy team that originates smart integrated marketing solutions for clients and robust inspiration for creatives; and led intensive primary research projects to inform brand and business strategy for Swift’s roster of global brands. Chase will continue to lead on business development efforts and direct large primary research projects.
Previously, Chase was founder and principal of the strategic marketing firm Guidance Counsel, which partnered with Under Armour to help reposition its women’s business and developed the strategy that drove the company’s “I Will What I Want” campaign which won the Jay Chiat Grand Prix for Strategic Excellence, 11 Cannes Lions including Cyber Grand Prix, Effie Gold, four One Show Golds and 2014 Marketer of the Year.
Meanwhile during Beardsley’s last 17 years at W+K, she led the integrated art production team. While there, she was instrumental in transforming the range of studio expertise from a focus on still photography and illustration to an expanded skill set that included film, animation, events, experiential and activations. Her client list at W+K included Nike, Shiseido, Target, Levi’s, Samsung, Verizon, Coca-Cola, P&G, Chrysler/Fiat and Delta Airlines.
Beyond the award-winning work she’s overseen for the past two decades, Beardsley is a direct conduit to an international creative community, having forged long-standing relationships with world renowned artists, photographers and directors.
Alec Baldwin Urges Judge To Stand By Dismissal Of Involuntary Manslaughter Case In “Rust” Shooting
Alec Baldwin urged a New Mexico judge on Friday to stand by her decision to skuttle his trial and dismiss an involuntary manslaughter charge against the actor in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on the set of a Western movie.
State District Court Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer dismissed the case against Baldwin halfway through a trial in July based on the withholding of evidence by police and prosecutors from the defense in the 2021 shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film "Rust."
The charge against Baldwin was dismissed with prejudice, meaning it can't be revived once any appeals of the decision are exhausted.
Special prosecutor Kari Morrissey recently asked the judge to reconsider, arguing that there were insufficient facts and that Baldwin's due process rights had not been violated.
Baldwin, the lead actor and co-producer on "Rust," was pointing a gun at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during a rehearsal when it went off, killing her and wounding director Joel Souza. Baldwin has said he pulled back the hammer — but not the trigger — and the revolver fired.
The case-ending evidence was ammunition that was brought into the sheriff's office in March by a man who said it could be related to Hutchins' killing. Prosecutors said they deemed the ammunition unrelated and unimportant, while Baldwin's lawyers alleged that they "buried" it and filed a successful motion to dismiss the case.
In her decision to dismiss the Baldwin case, Marlowe Sommer described "egregious discovery violations constituting misconduct" by law enforcement and prosecutors, as well as false testimony about physical evidence by a witness during the trial.
Defense counsel says that prosecutors tried to establish a link... Read More