Newhouse Films, a satellite division of Crossroads, bicoastal, Chicago and London, has signed director Enno Jacobsen, formerly of Right Brain Media, Los Angeles. His latest spot work includes Dupont’s “The Lab” for Cramer-Krasselt, Milwaukee, a Suzuki campaign for Germany, and a Volkswagen Jetta ad for Europe.
Jacobsen first established himself as a director in Europe, after coming up the ranks at Neue Sentimental Film in Frankfurt, Germany. Working in postproduction during the day and editing documentaries at night for the German house, Jacobsen got his directing opportunity on a pitch video for Debitel, a major phone provider in Germany. He not only won the pitch, but Debitel chose the director to exclusively work on subsequent packages totaling some 30-plus commercials over the next three years.
He then moved stateside in 2002, directing for American and European clients. Among his early successes was an offbeat Right Brain-produced campaign for Wherehouse Music retail stores via agency Colby & Partners, Santa Monica. In fact, one of the spots, “Little Stalkers–CDs,” earned inclusion in SHOOT’s The Best Work You May Never See gallery in ’03.
The spot opens on what appears to be the POV of a would-be robber approaching a home. A potted plant gets knocked over as the camera moves in on the backdoor of the residence. The door opens and the intruder enters the house. We find ourselves in the kitchen, where the clumsy burglar knocks over a container of spices. Meanwhile an unsuspecting man slumbers deeply in the bedroom. The bedroom door opens and the camera moves in on him. Sensing that something his amiss, he awakens. The man opens his eyes to find the interloper standing on his chest–the break-in artist is a lawn gnome.
Understandably, the unexpected sight throws the man off guard. The gnome also has company–dozens of other gnomes who stand around the bed. The main gnome, still planted on the man’s chest, suddenly speaks, “Free CD.” The spot cuts to a graphic promoting a CD sale at Wherehouse. A voiceover touts the sale–“But 3, get the 4th free”–and then we’re returned to the bedroom where the man is attempting to take the gnome off his chest. The gnome says, “Uh-uh,” and the man pulls his hand away.
Jacobsen’s credits include spots for such clients as Volkswagen, Bandai/PlayStation, Suzuki and BMW. He’s taken on a wide range of work, making him hard to pigeonhole, though he’s partial to the description of “elegant storytelling with a smirk.”
Newhouse’s directorial roster includes Jacobsen, Steve Ramser and Patrick Solomon. Heidi Nolting is executive producer of the company, which is handled by an independent sales force consisting of Stacey Altman of Stacey & Co. on the West Coast, Robin Pickett in the Midwest, and Maria Stenz of Stenz & Co. on the East Coast.
“A Complete Unknown,” “The Brutalist,” “Gladiator II,” “Wicked” Among ADG Excellence in Production Design Award Nominees
The Art Directors Guild (ADG, IATSE Local 800) has unveiled the nominees for its 29th Annual Excellence in Production Design Awards. The ceremony, hosted by actress and comedian Rachael Harris, will take place on Feb. 15, at the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown.
Among the motion picture nominees are the production designers on A Complete Unknown, The Brutalist, Gladiator II, Nosferatu and Saturday Night in the Period Feature Film category; and Alien: Romulus, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Dune: Part Two, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga and Wicked in the Fantasy Feature Film category.
Television nominations span the likes of Bridgerton, Fallout, House of the Dragon, The Lord of the Rings: Pachinko, Rings of Power, Ripley and Shogun.
The ADG Awards celebrate excellence in production design across theatrical motion pictures, television, commercials, music videos, and animated feature films. The 2025 Cinematic Imagery Award will be presented to Academy Award®-nominated director and filmmaker Jason Reitman, whose body of work includes Juno, Up in the Air and Saturday Night.
“This year’s nominees showcase the incredible artistry and vision that define our craft and our industry. We’re thrilled to bring the Guild together to celebrate the achievements of these incredible production designers and their art departments,” shared award show producers Michael Allen Glover, ADG, and Megan Elizabeth Bell, ADG, in a joint statement.
In addition, the ADG will honor Lisa Frazza, Barbara Mesney, Dan Sweetman, and J. Dennis Washington with Lifetime Achievement Awards. Legendary production designer Carl Jules Weyl will be inducted into the ADG Hall of Fame as part of the... Read More