Production company Durable Goods has signed director Neil Tardio for U.S. commercial representation. Tardio’s signature comedic storytelling for brands such as AT&T, Budweiser, Coca-Cola, ESPN, Ford, McDonald’s, Nike, Verizon and Volkswagen has earned him numerous industry accolades, including Cannes Lions, Clios, Addys, Tellys, and London Art Director Awards. His natural knack for casting and dialogue can be seen in recent work, including a spot for Kaplan University out of Arnold Boston, a comedic commercial for Bank of America featuring the Boston Red Sox out of Hill Holliday, a Domino’s campaign out of Crispin Porter + Bogusky and a Tim Hortons spot out of JWT Canada.
Tardio grew up in the midst of the advertising industry, with his father owning a powerhouse commercial production company in New York in the ‘80s. After graduating from Boston University, he began his career on the agency side, working as a producer and writer for such agencies at Saatchi & Saatchi NY and DDB Chicago. Soon after launching his directing career, he earned a 1992 Peabody Award for the “Rock the Vote” special with Madonna.
In addition to his notable commercial work, Tardio has also helmed television projects, including 32 episodes for the children’s sports program P.E. TV, which eventually aired on ESPN, and the web series Lifeisode. His music video directorial success includes high-profile artists The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Queen Latifah. Regarding film, his original screenplay, Son of Santa, was sold to United Artists, and he is casting for the upcoming feature The Wrong Man.
Tardio comes to Durable Goods from GO Film.
Is “Glicked” The New “Barbenheimer”? “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” Hit Theater Screens
"Barbenheimer" was a phenomenon impossible to manufacture. But, more than a year later, that hasn't stopped people from trying to make "Glicked" — or even "Babyratu" — happen.
The counterprogramming of "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" in July 2023 hit a nerve culturally and had the receipts to back it up. Unlike so many things that begin as memes, it transcended its online beginnings. Instead of an either-or, the two movies ultimately complemented and boosted one another at the box office.
And ever since, moviegoers, marketers and meme makers have been trying to recreate that moment, searching the movie release schedule for odd mashups and sending candidates off into the social media void. Most attempts have fizzled (sorry, "Saw Patrol" ).
This weekend is perhaps the closest approximation yet as the Broadway musical adaptation "Wicked" opens Friday against the chest-thumping sword-and-sandals epic "Gladiator II." Two big studio releases (Universal and Paramount), with one-name titles, opposite tones and aesthetics and big blockbuster energy — it was already halfway there before the name game began: "Wickiator," "Wadiator," "Gladwick" and even the eyebrow raising "Gladicked" have all been suggested.
"'Glicked' rolls off the tongue a little bit more," actor Fred Hechinger said at the New York screening of "Gladiator II" this week. "I think we should all band around 'Glicked.' It gets too confusing if you have four or five different names for it."
As with "Barbenheimer," as reductive as it might seem, "Glicked" also has the male/female divide that make the fan art extra silly. One is pink and bright and awash in sparkles, tulle, Broadway bangers and brand tie-ins; The other is all sweat and sand, blood and bulging... Read More