Academy Award-nominated director Darren Aronofsky has partnered with a pair of spot industry veterans, executive producers Ted Robbins and Sandy Haddad, to open commercial production house CHROMISTA. The company has already embarked on projects with Ogilvy and DDB.
Aronofsky earned a Best Director Oscar nomination and was a DGA Award nominee on the strength of Black Swan, for which he won the top directing honor at the Independent Spirit Awards. His other critically acclaimed films include The Wrestler, The Fountain, Requiem For A Dream, and Pi, as well as notable commercials for The Meth Project, Yves St. Laurent and Revlon.
Rounding out the CHROMISTA directorial roster are Kasra Farahani, Daniel Portrait of Kamp Grizzly, Xavier Mairesse (shortlisted for the AICP Show this year), and Walter May. Aronofsky’s longtime features producer Scott Franklin will serve as an executive producer.
The new company’s moniker is inspired by Aronofsky’s love for science, and a play on the name of his feature production company Protozoa. Explained Haddad, “When it came time to name our company, CHROMISTA made sense as it’s in the same supergroup as a Protozoa. So I guess you could call us one big Super Group.”
With offices in Los Angeles and New York, CHROMISTA is also represented by ENID London in the UK and Amsterdam, meaning its directorial talent is globally available for traditional advertising and longer-form projects. Beyond doing high-level advertising, CHROMISTA will serve as a launching pad for up-and-coming directorial talent in the feature world.
EP Robbins’ resume includes line-producing for major industry players. Haddad served as executive producer for production house Wild Plum for five years, working with multiple directors on brands ranging from Ford to Miller Lite to Dial Soap. The two worked closely with Aronofsky on the director’s last two campaigns, solidifying a creative bond that has evolved into CHROMISTA. EP Franklin has worked with Aronofsky since 1998’s Pi, and is currently producing the epic Noah. Franklin’s decade-plus relationship with the director has served the two well, consistently producing well-received films and commercials.
CHROMISTA is represented by Shortlist on the West Coast, Monaghan Talent Rangers in the Midwest, and FM Artists on the East Coast.
The Many Hires Jeremiah Wassom As Group Creative Director
Independent agency The Many has added Jeremiah Wassom as group creative director.
Wassom most recently worked a decade at Deutsch LA where, as SVP/creative director, he led the Taco Bell account and won new business for the agency. His agency past also includes AKQA and TBWAChiatDay. His creative work has touched the QSR, video games, automotive, fashion, and culture brand sectors. He also served eight years with the United States Marine Corps.
“Throughout his career, Jeremiah has helmed work that has not only made me personally jealous but has consistently pushed brands to show up in memorable and innovative ways,” said Josh Paialii, head of creative at The Many. “One look at his body of work and you will see his passion for storytelling and craft has raised the bar for entire categories, driving participation with many brands’ most loyal fans. Beyond being a world-class creative director and maker, Wassom is a proven team player and strategic thought leader. He’ll be a great addition to the leadership team at The Many working across all accounts. His role will be immediately felt as he guides and supports each of the creative leads in the department.”
A 20-year creative with agency, brand, and freelance experience, Wassom has forged a creative approach which focuses on crafting engaging connections rather than simply make ads. He sees the need for advertising to mean more, not simply do more.
The Many believes that true business growth is made possible by harnessing the power of participation and partners with brands to forge deeper connections with consumers, cultivate trust and loyalty, and maximize marketing spend and execution. The agency is built around a flexible model that offers a suite of capabilities, including... Read More