ONE at Optimus, the production arm of Optimus, has added Tim Mason to its directorial roster. This marks Mason’s first formal production company affiliation as a director. Mason, who’s also a writer and actor, recently directed No Other Way To Say It in collaboration with ONE and Optimus. The comedic short film has earned wide recognition, including Best Short Film at the Best of the Midwest Awards Film Fest and a screening at the SlamDance Film Fest this January.
“Tim’s experience as a writer and creative director will be invaluable to clients looking to bring their concepts to fruition,” said ONE executive producer/managing director Lisa Masseur. “And, his work as a comedic actor helps him bring out more nuanced performances from other actors. As part of our roster, Tim has already collaborated with Downtown Partners and Golin on campaigns for Illinois Lottery and New Ocean, respectively.”
Mason is a veteran of the Second City Mainstage, where he appeared in numerous shows including the critically acclaimed revue, “Southside of Heaven.” In 2014, he performed in and served as head writer on “The Art of Falling,” a groundbreaking collaboration with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Mason has won two Gold Lions from the Cannes Festival of Creativity for his work in advertising. He also directed several Kmart pieces for FCB, including the 60-minute “Joe Boxer Lounger Games.” Mason will continue working with Hog Butcher, a content creation collective also based out of ONE.
“I’ve had the pleasure of partnering with ONE numerous times over the past few years as an actor and a writer,” said Mason. “Now that my career path has expanded into directing, there is no group of people I would rather work with than the folks here at ONE. They’ve been invaluable in helping me build my directing experience and find my own comedic voice and style.”
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