Quriosity Productions has added director Federico Mazzarisi to its roster. The Italian visual stylist joins the company for national representation for commercials and brand content. The signing comes on the heels of his successful Lexus spot earlier this year done as a freelance director, and is timed to his next Quriosity project–a follow up spot for the car brand and its agency, IW Group, which is being produced later this month.
Mazzarisi has collaborated with such brands as Vogue, Nike, Puma, Alfa Romeo, Stella McCartney, BMW, Diesel, Vespa, Toyota and many more. He had most recently been directing independently prior to joining Quriosity. Earlier he was repped in the U.S. ad market by production company Great Guns.
“Fede brings an amazing new dimension to our creative capabilities,” said Quriosity founder and exec producer Qadree Holmes. “He’s a master visualist whose work reveals depth and emotion, regardless if he’s working in fashion or automotive. Adding him to our roster underscores our ability to work fluidly, and with a high level of taste, across any advertising genre or category.”
Mazzarisi’s work has been recognized with Cannes Lions, Ciclope and British Arrows honors. Earlier in his career he won recognition at both the Cannes Lions Young Directors Awards and the One Club’s Young Guns competition. Prior to launching his directing career, he studied at the European Institute of Design in Milan, and then relocated to London for additional work at the National Film and Television School.
“Our experience working with Fede on the Lexus job earlier this year [when the director was freelancing] was the textbook example of a great partnership,” said Quriosity EP Mark Conley. “He elevated the concept and brought a visual excitement to the script that not only propelled the narrative, but made the product the focal point of the action. The client was so pleased, they’ve brought him on for a repeat assignment, which in today’s competitive environment speaks volumes.”
Mazzarisi said working with Quriosity on the Lexus job paved the way for this new chapter in their relationship. “That was a truly exhilarating experience,” he noted. “The energy and passion of Mark and Qadree were truly inspiring, creating a deep and meaningful connection. This connection, based on trust and respect, is paramount when considering a partnership of this nature.”
Mazzarisi continued, “For me professionally, joining Quriosity means an expansion of my creative footprint in the U.S. I’m moving to Los Angeles, after years of working in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. My goal is to engage with U.S. creatives and infuse the ad market with a fresh, new perspective. And Mark and the Quriosity team possess a profound understanding of executional detail, consistently striving for exceptional outcomes. Our journey together is centered on growth, with a shared respect for my talents and a collective aspiration to elevate it to new heights. I’m excited about our prospects as we move forward.”
Music Biopics Get Creative At Toronto Film Festival
Many of the expected conventions of music biopics are present in "Piece by Piece," about the producer-turned-pop star Pharrell Williams, and "Better Man," about the British singer Robbie Williams. There's the young artist's urge to break through, fallow creative periods and regrettable chapters of fame-addled excess. But there are a few, little differences. In "Piece by Piece," Pharrell is a Lego. And in "Better Man," Williams is played by a CGI monkey. If the music biopic can sometimes feel a little stale in format, these two movies, both premiering this week at the Toronto International Film Festival, attempt novel remixes. In each film, each Williams recounts his life story as a narrator. But their on-screen selves aren't movie stars who studied to get a part just right, but computer-generated animations living out real superstar fantasies. While neither Williams has much in common as a musician, neither has had a very traditional career. Their films became reflections of their individuality, and, maybe, a way to distinguish themselves in the crowded field of music biopics like "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Rocketman." "This is about being who you are, even if it's not something that can be put in a box," Pharrell said in an interview Tuesday alongside director Morgan Neville. Also next to Pharrell: A two-foot-tall Lego sculpture of himself, which was later in the day brought to the film's premiere and given its own seat in the crowd. The experience watching the crowd-pleasing "Piece by Piece," which Focus Features will release Oct. 11, can be pleasantly discombobulating. A wide spectrum of things you never expected to see in Lego form are animated. Virginia Beach (where Pharrell grew up). An album of Stevie Wonder's "Songs in the Key of Life."... Read More