Mischief @ No Fixed Address–the recently formed NY shop which gave Canadian agency No Fixed Address (NFA) its first major foothold in the U.S. market–has brought Bianca Guimaraes and Kevin Mulroy aboard as executive creative directors and partners. Guimaraes and Mulroy were both most recently at BBDO New York. Guimaraes served as a BBDO NY SVP, creative director while Mulroy was SVP, creative director/writer. They now reunite with former BBDO NY chief creative officer Greg Hahn whom NFA founders Dave Lafond and Serge Rancourt recruited to launch New York-based Mischief @ No Fixed Address in June.
“Once we knew Greg was involved, leaving one of the best agencies in the world to help start a new one in the middle of a pandemic in the worst recession in modern history seemed like a no brainer,” said Guimaraes. “Our industry is facing a reckoning right now, and Greg, Kevin and I are really excited to use the opportunity we have as creative leaders to make change directly, building a diverse creative department from the ground up and spending the time to nurture talent so they’re set up for success as the next leaders.”
She added: “I’m always pushing myself to feel uncomfortable. Having the opportunity to build something will require a different set of muscles and I’m looking forward to finding myself in situations where I might have no clue of what the right answer is.”
At BBDO NY, Guimaraes ran the Sandy Hook Promise account, as well as Macy’s, Cesar dog food and anti-bullying efforts in partnership with Monica Lewinsky, which produced needle-moving work like The Epidemic.
Mulroy and Guimaraes formed a power duo at BBDO NY to run Macy’s, as well as “It Can Wait,” AT&T’s provocative distracted driving initiative. Mulroy has a flair for entertainment writing outside of adland, too, and has enjoyed collaborations with Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family), and Samantha Bee (The Daily Show, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee).
Mulroy said, “At every agency, no matter how good it is, you have to think about what the next step is going to be. Every time another agency or recruiter reaches out, you always take the call, just to see what’s out there. It’s a testament to my past agency that during my six-year stint that there just wasn’t anything better than the situation I had. I loved the work I was doing and the people I was doing it with.
“But if I ever thought for a second that one of my options would be starting a new shop, backed by an agency full of smart people eager to take risks, with Greg Hahn as a creative partner, I would’ve questioned my blood-alcohol content. This is the most excited I’ve ever been in advertising.”
Mischief @ No Fixed Address CCO and co-founder Hahn said, “Kevin and Bianca are not only some of the best creatives in the industry, but also just really great people. The magic doesn’t come out of thin air, it comes from the people and the chemistry, and I am really looking forward to working with this group as well as bringing new voices into the mix as we carve out a new creative roadmap.”
Meanwhile Oliver McAteer, formerly associate editor at Campaign, joins as director of development. Mischief has also hired business manager Leila Chee whose most recent stint was at MullenLowe on Burger King social and digital.
“Mischief @ No Fixed Address is a tight unit of six people right now–we couldn’t be more proud of the family,” said Mischief president Kerry McKibbin. “We’re intentionally building a team of Swiss Army knife people who can bridge disciplines and do it without ego.“
“Heretic” and “Maria” Set As Red Carpet Premieres At AFI Fest
The American Film Institute (AFI) has announced that Heretic, the psychological thriller starring Hugh Grant, and Maria, based on the life of opera singer Maria Callas starring Angelina Jolie, will round out the Red Carpet Premieres section at this year’s AFI Fest. The Heretic Gala Screening will take place on Thursday, October 24, and the Maria Gala Screening will be held on Saturday, October 26. The complete Red Carpet Premieres section includes the world premieres of Music By John Williams, Robert Zemeckis’ Here, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl and Clint Eastwood’s Juror #2. All Red Carpet Premieres will take place at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre. The full lineup for AFI Fest 2024 will be unveiled on October 1.
“At the heart of AFI Fest is an unwavering dedication to celebrating the best in global cinema--together,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI president and CEO. “We look forward to uniting artists and audiences once again to be inspired by the art form in a powerful sense of community.”
Heretic follows two young missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) who are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed (portrayed by Grant), becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse. The film is directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods and produced by Stacey Sher, Beck, Woods, Julia Glausi and Jeanette Volturno. The film will be released nationwide by A24 on November 8.
Directed by Pablo Larraín, Maria presents a tumultuous and beautiful depiction of one of the world’s most renowned artists and reimagines the legendary soprano in her final days in Paris, as Callas (Jolie)... Read More