Bicoastal/international Station Film has signed director Mark Gilbert for worldwide representation except in Canada where he continues to be handled by Toronto-based Untitled Films. His directing credits span such clients as Ikea, DirecTV, Marmite, Pepsi, Mentos, 7-Up, Nicorette and KIA. Gilbert’s work has garnered recognition at Cannes, D&ADs, Clios and the ANDY Awards. He gained inclusion into the 2004 Saatchi & Saatchi New Directors Showcase in Cannes.
Prior to joining Station, Gilbert had been handled stateside by production house Hello!
Recent work for Kia through Publicis, Toronto exemplifies Gilbert’s wry rendering of the ridiculous. The campaign features disastrous situations swiftly soothed by the presence of a new Kia Soul:
“Cabin” features four adorable girls ruminating alone in a remote cabin. A masked psychopath arrives, peeks in with deadly intent. He’s ready to strike – until he spots a Kia Soul parked outside. Peering into its irresistible interior he become oblivious to his slasher desires, lulled to sleep by the car’s impressive decor.
Gilbert graduated with a BFA from the University of Western Ontario before a photography career beckoned, winning awards at The One Show and Communication Arts – plus the cover of Photo District News magazine. A year sabbatical came next, traveling through Morocco, Cuba, Nepal and Thailand where Gilbert captured compelling portraits of people, images that won travel assignments from National Geographic, Travel and Leisure, GQ and Elle.
Gilbert parlayed that success into directing commercials, signing with Reginald Pike and Biscuit Filmworks where he shaped spots with a natural affinity toward comedy. UK work followed through London agencies BBH, Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO, Mother and DDB, all integrating his vision with quirky creative on ads that became a hit with the Brit crowd.
Gilbert said he was drawn to Station’s directorial talent and its affinity for compelling visual comedy. “My observational eye segues nicely into the roster. I feel that ads using clever comedy are underutilized, so see a lot of potential in the road ahead.”
AD&Co. Launches Studio A; Davida Hall To Head New Venture As Sr. Director of Creative Content
Female-founded and led creative marketing agency AD&Co. has opened Studio A. The new venture will serve as AD&Co.’s in-house social brand content division, focused on developing and producing digital programming for advertising, social media, and influencer marketing campaigns designed to reach today’s audiences on the most popular and pivotal platforms. Davida Hall has been named to head Studio A as sr. director of creative content. She shifts over from AD&Co. where she held the same title since December 2023. Hall’s affiliations prior to AD&Co. include PopSugar and Studio71.
Amy Demas, founder and chief creative officer of AD&Co., said, “We understand content is king-—or queen—and that our clients need to engage their customer communities where they live. That inspired the logical expansion of AD&Co with Studio A, which is committed to producing only the most engaging and authentic brand stories.”
Studio A will harness both AD&Co’s and Hall’s deep expertise in the lifestyle sector, as content creators and avid consumers. Specializing in reaching audiences where they spend their time, the studio is immersed in social media, pop culture, and current trends, expertly crafting visuals, language, and storytelling to reinforce client brand identities and cut through the noise.
Studio A debuts with the “This Is Me” campaign for Love + Craft + Beauty, a brand dedicated to embracing and promoting diversity within the beauty space. “This Is Me” highlights Gen Z’s affinity for radical self-expression that allows individuals to tell their own stories, free from labels, using beauty and fashion as tools of authenticity. The campaign showcases models celebrating their unique qualities to present... Read More