Production house kaboom has added directing duo Plummer/Strauss (Justin Plummer, Martin Strauss) to its roster. The signing follows a collaboration late last year on Salesforce’s “This Is A Mask,” a bold, fast-paced narrative about the importance of teamwork to get things done.
“When we commit to directors, I need to believe in the people as much as their talent,” said kaboom owner/executive producer Lauren Schwartz. “These guys are really special–and collaborating on Salesforce only reinforced what I have felt for a long time. Their warmth and enthusiasm is matched with a breadth of knowledge, amazing treatments and impeccable preparation with gorgeous results on screen.”
Messrs. Plummer and Strauss are directing partners known for embracing classic cinematic techniques to create stylized imagery for films and branded content. They met while studying film production at San Francisco State University, united by a mutual passion for visual storytelling. From the first student project, the die was cast and they joined forces as a directorial team.
Strauss has roots at kaboom, having interned for the company during college. He credits that experience as being akin to a graduate program in advertising production. He and Schwartz kept in touch as Plummer/Strauss expanded its creative reach–first with an award-winning short film on the festival circuit and later with branded content collaborations.
Plummer/Strauss made a major splash when gaining inclusion into the 2014 SHOOT New Directors Showcase. The duo went on to direct spots for Comcast, O2, Ralph Lauren, Ben & Jerry’s, Jim Beam, Cisco, The United Nations and Dell. Production house affiliations prior to kaboom for Plummer/Strauss were Raucous Content and earlier Bullitt.
“Joining kaboom is kind of like a homecoming–for me especially–and the feeling of camaraderie and belonging is an important part of the decision,” commented Strauss. “It’s San Francisco roots with a national point of view, which is what we have too.”
Plummer added, “Working on Salesforce together really showed us that we view collaborations and the creative process in the same way. They revel in digging deep into the process and being there every step of the way–partners in a true sense.”
Plummer/Strauss is already in pre-production on a project at kaboom.
Nikki Maizel Named President Of Publicis New York
Nikki Maizel has been hired as president of Publicis New York. She reports to Carla Serrano, global chief strategy officer of Publicis Groupe and CEO of Publicis New York.
Maizel brings more than two decades of leadership experience to her new role. Most recently, she served as the head of business leadership and managing partner at McCann New York, where she transformed the agency’s business and growth strategies while shaping its culture and employee training infrastructure, receiving numerous accolades during her tenure.
“Our industry is at a pivotal moment, with clients seeking partners who can challenge them to innovate, impact their bottom line, and move faster than ever,” said Serrano. “Our ‘Power of One’ approach, embodied within Publicis New York, allows us to offer integrated solutions that meet these demands. We’re thrilled to welcome Nikki, who has a proven track record of growing businesses globally, building best-in-class teams, and elevating collective offerings to clients.”
Maizel said, “Publicis Groupe has earned a reputation for pushing the boundaries of what’s achievable. I’m excited to collaborate with our partners and teams to set our clients apart. Publicis New York is the engine behind ‘Power of One,’ the unique model of the future that combines cross-agency capabilities, so I can’t imagine a more exciting time to join and help shape what’s next for our clients and teams.”
Maizel becomes the latest Publicis New York appointment under Serrano’s leadership. Last year, Publicis New York named Patrick White as its chief strategy officer, and welcomed Joe Mongognia as its chief creative officer.
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