Production company Ruffian has added director Zoë Neary to its roster for U.S. representation. This marks her first commercial signing in the American market.
Born to Chinese and Irish parents and hailing from Vancouver, British Columbia, Neary attended Capilano University’s School of Motion Picture Arts and has been making films that speak to the Gen-Z experience ever since. Her strong visual point of view is evidenced in her spots for Levi’s, Cupcakes and Johnnie Walker; and in her short film, Kids Who Jump Off Bridges, Neary’s distinctive blend of the sweet and the sour cuts to the core.
In “Born Wild” for Levi’s, Neary illustrates the restless, caged feeling permeating youth’s post-pandemic mindset. With an underlying yearning and a wary hopefulness, the film evokes a grungy, broken-down 1990s aesthetic while still living outside of time. Her short Kids Who Jump Off Bridges follows a young girl drawn into a world where girls bare all for social media likes and kids drink themselves blind, going too far despite the consequences. The film found success on the festival circuit as an Official Selection at Miami Independent, HollyShorts, Buffalo International, and Los Angeles Cinefest, among others, and won Best Picture at the Oregon International Film Festival.
“Zoë’s talent is unmistakable,” said Robert Herman, founder/EP at L.A.-based Ruffian. “Her wry visual wit brings a fresh voice to advertising and we’re very happy to have Zoë’s artistry on Ruffian’s roster.”
“Ruffian is a dream home for me because of their deep sense of storytelling and the integrity they bring to safeguarding their directors’ voices,” said Neary, “I trust their taste implicitly and I am thrilled to be joining such a galvanizing team.”
Sinners and Saints Adds Apple Pie To Its Branded Menu
Bicoastal Sinners and Saints--the multidisciplinary studio overseen by managing director/executive producer Heather Heller, and partners/EPs Yann Henric and Thomas Carroll--has added Apple Pie Tabletop to its roster for branded content. Known for its food and beverage content creation, Apple Pie comprises the husband-and-wife team of director/DP Gene Dubin and director/art director Alisa Volodina. In addition to representation, the move expands Apple Pie’s production capabilities through the combination of its centrally located full-service studio in New York and a newly established mobile studio in Los Angeles. Apple Pie recently teamed with Sinners and Saints on a Wienerschnitzel project created by Innocean.
“We believe that our dual studio strategy positions us uniquely in the competitive landscape of food and beverage storytelling,” said Heller. “By blending the artistry of the New York studio with the flexibility of our Los Angeles location, we can tailor our productions to meet the unique demands of each project, regardless of geography.”
“Working with Sinners and Saints in the demanding field of tabletop was an absolute pleasure,” shared Apple Pie Tabletop in a joint statement. “Warm welcome, unwavering support and dedication--everything a director can ask for. The entire experience was both enjoyable and rewarding. We will not miss an opportunity to collaborate with them again.”
“The first thing you notice is that Apple Pie has beautiful work,” Heller observed. “Having worked with them, I can say that Gene and Alisa are extremely meticulous and detail-oriented; their combination of talent and agility appeals to agencies and clients.” Also appealing to Heller is Apple Pie Tabletop’s brisk international... Read More