Global socially-led creative agency We Are Social has appointed Dan Keefe as head of its in-house production division, We Are Social Studios in London.
Leading a team of six, Keefe will focus on championing creative excellence and pushing filmmaking boundaries in social-first production at We Are Social Studios.
In 2022, its most successful year to date, the division produced campaigns for both its own clients and those of We Are Social, including Meta, McCain’s and Pepsi. Keefe will be tasked with building on this success by both strengthening relationships with the agency’s clients and growing the business beyond the existing We Are Social roster.
He will be responsible for delivering the agency’s production commitments in its 2023 Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Charter for Change, including ensuring fair representation of talent both on and off screen, and that at least one in three directors on projects are from an underrepresented group. Keefe will report to Lucy Doubleday, We Are Social’s managing partner.
Keefe joins We Are Social Studios from Coffee & TV where he was executive producer. Here, he developed the company’s evolution from a VFX company to an all-round creative studio, with clients including FOX, Nando’s and Vodafone. Prior to this, he co-founded BBH’s in-house production division Black Sheep Studios and led it to both financial and reputational success. Black Sheep Studios won a BAFTA for the short film ‘Home’ in 2017, and its work has won Cannes Lions, D&AD Pencils and UKMVA awards.
We Are Social Studios is an award-winning production company set up in 2018 in response to the increasing amount of social first production being produced for We Are Social’s clients. Keefe replaces Jo Lumb, co-founder of We Are Social Studios, who left the company at the end of 2022.
Keefe commented: “Brands are increasingly opting for a more agile production model and this is something We Are Social Studios is perfectly placed to deliver. I’m looking forward to getting stuck into this amazing opportunity to lead a business that’s already got great momentum, working with and building upon an impressive roster of brands who want world class, social-first production.”
Oscar and Emmy-Winning Composer Kris Bowers Joins Barking Owl For Advertising, Branded Content
Music, audio post and sonic branding house Barking Owl has taken on exclusive representation of Oscar and Emmy-winning composer Kris Bowers for advertising and branded content.
Bowers’ recent film scores include The Wild Robot and Bob Marley: One Love, alongside acclaimed past works such as The Color Purple (2023), King Richard and Green Book. His contributions to television are equally impressive, with scores for hit series like Bridgerton, When They See Us, Dear White People, and his Daytime Emmy Award-winning score for The Snowy Day.
In addition to his work as a composer, Bowers is a visionary director. He recently took home the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject for his directorial work on The Last Repair Shop. The emotionally touching short film spotlights four of the people responsible for repairing the musical instruments used by students in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). The Last Repair Shop reflects the positive influence that musical instruments have on the youngsters who play them, and the adults in the LAUSD free repair service who keep them working and in tune.
Barking Owl CEO Kirkland Alexander Lynch said of Bowers, “His artistry, diversity of style and depth of storytelling bring an unparalleled edge to the work we create for global brands. His presence on our roster reflects our continued commitment to pushing the boundaries of sound and music in advertising.”
Johanna Cranitch, creative director, Barking Owl, added, “Kris first caught my attention when he released his record ‘Heroes + Misfits’ where he fused together his jazz sensibility with a deeply ingrained aptitude for melody, so beautifully.... Read More