Director Ante Kovac has joined Lord Danger, a creative production studio at the intersection of entertainment and advertising. Kovac, a Toronto-based visual storyteller and writer, comes aboard the Lord Danger roster with a body of work which includes short form content and commercials for Honda, Dove, KFC, 3M, and BGON, in which storytelling and authentic performances meet a streak of humor.
With BGON’s Junkman, Kovac blended the ridiculous and bittersweet to the notion of being physically overwhelmed by unwanted things. The short branded film was named to The One Show shortlist in 2019 for Film in two categories: Film Under 100K and Branded Entertainment Long Form Video.
“Ante blew us away from the start with his BGON short, Junkman. I saw his work and thought, ah, this is what everyone is trying to do,” said Lord Danger founder/EP Josh Shadid. “He captures naturalism in a high level, cinematic way. Then once we got to know him we saw how enthusiastic, thoughtful, experienced, and hard-working he is–it shows in every spot on his reel.”
Kovac’s entre into directing was sparked by simultaneous exposure to film at university and the Toronto International Film Festival. A former musician who had turned his attention to the craft of music production, this cinematic introduction became an obsession as Kovac consumed massive quantities of film–a staple of his cultural diet to this day. His directing career began in the creative playground of music videos; he then applied his passion for short form narratives as a commercial director, first with UK production company Therapy, and recently with the Canadian production company Animals. Lord Danger becomes the first company to represent Kovac in the U.S.
In addition to short form projects via Lord Danger, Kovac will direct his first feature film, an '80s homage thriller, Coming Soon, in 2020.
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