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.
Alec Baldwin Urges Judge To Stand By Dismissal Of Involuntary Manslaughter Case In “Rust” Shooting
Alec Baldwin urged a New Mexico judge on Friday to stand by her decision to skuttle his trial and dismiss an involuntary manslaughter charge against the actor in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on the set of a Western movie.
State District Court Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer dismissed the case against Baldwin halfway through a trial in July based on the withholding of evidence by police and prosecutors from the defense in the 2021 shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film "Rust."
The charge against Baldwin was dismissed with prejudice, meaning it can't be revived once any appeals of the decision are exhausted.
Special prosecutor Kari Morrissey recently asked the judge to reconsider, arguing that there were insufficient facts and that Baldwin's due process rights had not been violated.
Baldwin, the lead actor and co-producer on "Rust," was pointing a gun at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during a rehearsal when it went off, killing her and wounding director Joel Souza. Baldwin has said he pulled back the hammer — but not the trigger — and the revolver fired.
The case-ending evidence was ammunition that was brought into the sheriff's office in March by a man who said it could be related to Hutchins' killing. Prosecutors said they deemed the ammunition unrelated and unimportant, while Baldwin's lawyers alleged that they "buried" it and filed a successful motion to dismiss the case.
In her decision to dismiss the Baldwin case, Marlowe Sommer described "egregious discovery violations constituting misconduct" by law enforcement and prosecutors, as well as false testimony about physical evidence by a witness during the trial.
Defense counsel says that prosecutors tried to establish a link... Read More