Bicoastal integrated production studio Humble has added director Natalia Leite to its roster. This marks her first career commercial representation.
Humble brings to Humble her experience and talent as a writer and director for features, indie films and VICE documentaries. She is best known for projects including M.F.A., a psychological thriller about rape crimes at a university that premiered at SXSW 2017 and was nominated for both a Grand Jury Prize and Gamechanger Award, as well as Every Woman, a VICE documentary about traditionally female-held jobs that are often looked down upon, which has garnered over 12 million views. Leite believes in weaving social commentary into her work, especially when it comes to female empowerment, and will bring this same passion to her projects with Humble.
Her first work with Humble included two docu-style brand films for Vans “Off the Wall” brand entitled Girls Skate India and Vision Walk, which featured young women building a community and encouraging others to seek and live their passions. Leite also teamed up with agency Sid Lee to direct a campaign for The North Face, “Move Mountains,” that highlights the inspiring stories of female creators, athletes, educators, and innovators who are moving mountains in their fields.
Most recently, Leite wrote and directed a short film for a Condé Nast series on queer perspectives, which premiered during Pride Week in New York in June. The Condé Nast series includes three short films from three different queer filmmakers, and executive producers Jill Soloway (creator of Transparent), Lena Waithe (writer/producer on The Chi and Master of None), and Tanya Saracho (creator of the Starz series Vida). Leite’s project, Kiki and the Mxfits, follows one trans girl whose high school popularity skyrockets when she rebels and uses the girl’s bathroom.
Leite described Humble as “a collaborative and supportive team that has embraced my passion and personal directing style. There, I will be able to continue telling stories about causes I care about, while branching out more into branded content work. I’m looking forward to working with the Humble team to continue to bring out the best in people and brands while sharing my passion and unique style.”
Rich Pring, managing director and executive producer at Humble, said of Leite, “She has an uncanny ability building intimacy with actors or real people, getting them to believe and/or feel comfortable in the world she creates. With Natalia, we are all witnessing the start of many more meaningful films to come.”
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