Mike Frank, former VP, group creative director at Razorfish, has joined Deutsch as SVP, creative director. In his role, Frank will provide creative leadership to Deutsch’s 35-person Volkswagen platform team. He starts at Deutsch this week, and will report to Tara Greer, EVP, executive creative director.
“Mike’s deep automotive experience, coupled with his passion and understanding of product development, makes him a conceptually and creatively strong platform leader,” said Pam Scheideler, chief digital officer of Deutsch’s Los Angeles office. “Few people are strong at both product design and branding. Mike knows both sides well and has been on our radar for quite some time.”
Prior to joining Deutsch, Frank spent seven years at Razorfish, most recently serving as the creative lead for the L.A. office. During his tenure, he created groundbreaking campaigns, experiences and products for brands including Visa, Motorola, Target, Acura and BlackBerry. Prior to Razorfish, he served as a creative director at IBM Interactive Experience working on Sony, AOL, NCAA, Nissan and Coke.
“Volkswagen is an iconic global brand with a history of innovation in the digital space,” said Frank. “And Deutsch’s heritage of brand-building coupled with their deep UX and tech chops presents a incredible opportunity to affect the brand trajectory.”
Frank earned his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Georgetown University. He studied graphic design at The Maryland Institute College of Art and also studied at Yale School of Management.
Is “Glicked” The New “Barbenheimer”? “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” Hit Theater Screens
"Barbenheimer" was a phenomenon impossible to manufacture. But, more than a year later, that hasn't stopped people from trying to make "Glicked" — or even "Babyratu" — happen.
The counterprogramming of "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" in July 2023 hit a nerve culturally and had the receipts to back it up. Unlike so many things that begin as memes, it transcended its online beginnings. Instead of an either-or, the two movies ultimately complemented and boosted one another at the box office.
And ever since, moviegoers, marketers and meme makers have been trying to recreate that moment, searching the movie release schedule for odd mashups and sending candidates off into the social media void. Most attempts have fizzled (sorry, "Saw Patrol" ).
This weekend is perhaps the closest approximation yet as the Broadway musical adaptation "Wicked" opens Friday against the chest-thumping sword-and-sandals epic "Gladiator II." Two big studio releases (Universal and Paramount), with one-name titles, opposite tones and aesthetics and big blockbuster energy — it was already halfway there before the name game began: "Wickiator," "Wadiator," "Gladwick" and even the eyebrow raising "Gladicked" have all been suggested.
"'Glicked' rolls off the tongue a little bit more," actor Fred Hechinger said at the New York screening of "Gladiator II" this week. "I think we should all band around 'Glicked.' It gets too confusing if you have four or five different names for it."
As with "Barbenheimer," as reductive as it might seem, "Glicked" also has the male/female divide that make the fan art extra silly. One is pink and bright and awash in sparkles, tulle, Broadway bangers and brand tie-ins; The other is all sweat and sand, blood and bulging... Read More