Argyle Brothers, the New York-headquartered production house, has expanded its directorial roster with the signing of Stephen Pearson, who spent the past four years at Hungry Man. Among his notable credits is the lauded JCPenney “Return to the Doghouse” campaign for Saatchi & Saatchi New York–a challenging project in that it was the follow-up a year later to the acclaimed “Beware of the Doghouse” web short directed by Hungry Man’s Bryan Buckley.
However, Pearson’s effort proved that you can teach an old doghouse new tricks. The director’s film took us inside the doghouse where a review board of women dole out sentencing to men who are unthoughtful spouses and gift givers (bestowing such presents on their wives as a paper shredder, a robe from a hotel, a hammer drill and a beer-making kit). One offender seems destined for a lengthy stay in doghouse accommodations until he flashes his escape card, which is housed in a JCPenney jewelry box: a necklace. The review/parole board is impressed and releases him, with both the guy and the women in judgement knowing full well that he will likely be returning shortly.
Pearson is currently about to embark on a project with agency Barton F. Graf 9000, headed by chief creative officer Gerry Graf whom he collaborated with on “Return to the Doghouse” when Graf was CCO at Saatchi.
Over the years, Pearson’s directing credits span such clients as Burger King, Microsoft, H&R Block, Miller High Life, Travel Channel, Domino’s, Southwest Airlines and Coors Light. Prior to his directorial career, Pearson served for nearly 15 years on the agency side as an art director and/or copywriter at Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, Merkley, Mad Dogs & Englishmen, and Dweck & Campbell.
Pearson’s work has garnered several awards including Cannes Lions, One Show Pencils, Art Directors Club Awards, Andy Awards, London International Advertising Awards, Addy Awards, Communication Arts Annuals, Clio Awards, British Design & Art Direction, AICP Show honors and an Emmy Award nomination.
“We want to keep the shop small and focused, but I’m so glad that Stephen has joined our team of directors,” said director John Mastromonaco of Argyle Brothers. “As a director I’m really impressed by Stephen’s casting and performances, and his smart directorial decisions.”
Argyle Brothers’ directorial roster includes Pearson, Mastromonaco, Hubert Davis and Jonathan Nowak.
Apple and Google Face UK Investigation Into Mobile Browser Dominance
Apple and Google aren't giving consumers a genuine choice of mobile web browsers, a British watchdog said Friday in a report that recommends they face an investigation under new U.K. digital rules taking effect next year.
The Competition and Markets Authority took aim at Apple, saying the iPhone maker's tactics hold back innovation by stopping rivals from giving users new features like faster webpage loading. Apple does this by restricting progressive web apps, which don't need to be downloaded from an app store and aren't subject to app store commissions, the report said.
"This technology is not able to fully take off on iOS devices," the watchdog said in a provisional report on its investigation into mobile browsers that it opened after an initial study concluded that Apple and Google effectively have a chokehold on "mobile ecosystems."
The CMA's report also found that Apple and Google manipulate the choices given to mobile phone users to make their own browsers "the clearest or easiest option."
And it said that the a revenue-sharing deal between the two U.S. Big Tech companies "significantly reduces their financial incentives" to compete in mobile browsers on Apple's iOS operating system for iPhones.
Both companies said they will "engage constructively" with the CMA.
Apple said it disagreed with the findings and said it was concerned that the recommendations would undermine user privacy and security.
Google said the openness of its Android mobile operating system "has helped to expand choice, reduce prices and democratize access to smartphones and apps" and that it's "committed to open platforms that empower consumers."
It's the latest move by regulators on both sides of the Atlantic to crack down on the... Read More