Tabitha Onofri appointed head of studio for FIN Studios
Advertising agency Zambezi has hired Kara Pierce as director of integrated production. Meanwhile FIN Studios, Zambezi’s creative production studio, has brought Tabitha Onofri aboard as head of studio.
Pierce will manage a team of experienced integrated producers at Zambezi’s production department, which creates content across all channels for major clients including Traeger Grills, Taylormade, UKG, USGA, and Google. Pierce will also take on production leadership of School by Zambezi, the company’s social content division, creating engaging and nimble work for multiple clients including LA84 Foundation and Bridgestone.
Pierce’s previous producer experience includes working at McCann-Erickson, Element 79, Young & Rubicam, and brand-side at Netflix. Her most recent role was as executive producer at David&Goliath leading production on the Jack in the Box account.
FIN Studios has experienced significant growth in the last 12 months with an influx of clients including the NHL, DirecTV, Ember Technologies, Tennis Channel, Choose Unity, and idTech. Onofri’s hire will help to scale production endeavors and continue integrating production offerings for Zambezi’s clients.
Onofri is tasked with growing FIN Studios’ capabilities to include further development of animation, motion design, post, and live-action production work. Onofri most recently served as VP of content at Havas Edge for over a decade where she was responsible for overseeing the company’s performance marketing campaigns.
Pierce and Onofri will report to Laura Stayt, executive director of business operations.
Pierce and Onofri will be working in Zambezi’s new Hayden Tract location in the Los Angeles office with dedicated space for FIN Studios.
First-Time Feature Directors Make Major Splash At AFI Fest, Generate Oscar Buzz
Two first-time feature directors who are generating Oscar buzz this awards season were front and center this past weekend at AFI Fest in Hollywood. Rachel Morrison, who made history as the first woman nominated for a Best Cinematography Oscar---on the strength of Mudbound in 2018--brought her feature directorial debut, The Fire Inside (Amazon MGM Studios), to the festival on Sunday (10/27), and shared insights into the film during a conversation session immediately following the screening. This came a day after William Goldenberg, an Oscar-winning editor for Argo in 2013, had his initial foray into feature directing, Unstoppable (Amazon MGM Studios), showcased at the AFI proceedings. He too spoke after the screening during a panel discussion. The Fire Inside--which made its world premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival--tells the story of Claressa “T-Rex” Shields (portrayed by Ryan Destiny), a Black boxer from Flint, Mich., who trained to become the first woman in U.S. history to win an Olympic Gold Medal in the sport. She achieved this feat--with the help of coach Jason Crutchfield (Brian Tyree Henry)--only to find that her victory at the Summer Games came with relatively little fanfare and no endorsement deals. So much for the hope that the historic accomplishment would be a ticket out of socioeconomic purgatory for Shields and her family. It seemed like yet another setback in a cycle of adversity throughout Shields’ life but she persevered, going on to win her second Gold Medal at the next Olympics and becoming a champion for gender equality and equitable pay for women in sports. Shields has served as a source of inspiration for woman athletes worldwide--as well as to the community of... Read More