Karen Smith has been named managing director of Red Car Santa Monica. She comes from Los Angeles-based ad agency Dailey & Associates, where she served as senior producer on the Safeway account.
Smith brings about 20 years of advertising experience to her new position. Earlier she served as a senior producer at Team One Advertising in El Segundo, Calif., and before than, she produced via TBWA/Chiat/Day in Los Angeles.
Calling Smith “the best choice we could have made,” Red Car CEO Larry Bridges said, “she comes with incredible production knowledge, a wealth of contacts, and was a client at one point.”
“I’d like to grow the company,” said Smith, adding that she wants to see it continue as “the major player that it has always been in the business. It has a lot of cache, the Red Car name, I want to keep it growing…We are interested in branching out into new media.”
The Santa Monica location has already been reaching into new areas. It is handling production and post on the Emmy-nominated Stranger Adventures Web series–for which Bridges serves as creative director and executive producer. Red Car also recently began offering nonlinear computer-based color correction services.
Red Car maintains locations in Buenos Aires, Chicago, Dallas, New York, San Antonio, Santa Monica and San Francisco. With its “Red Car Anywhere” concept, editors are available at any location.
Directors Amy+Pilar and Jose Antonio Prat Join Reform School
Boutique content production company Reform has added comedy directing duo Amy+Pilar (Amy York Rubin and Pilar Boehm) and award-winning multicultural director Jose Antonio Prat to its roster for U.S. representation spanning commercials and branded entertainment.
Partners in both life and art, Amy+Pilar are know for their sharp wit and comedic timing. Their synchronicity is evident in a body of work across TV, film and commercials. Prior to joining Reform School, Amy+Pilar had been repped in the ad market by production company Knucklehead.
Amy has directed high-profile comedy sketches featuring stars like Amy Schumer, Kate McKinnon, and Sarah Silverman. On the episodic front, Amy has helmed for series such as Fresh Off the Boat, Casual, Superstore and Angie Tribeca--as well as the pilot for the hit Netflix comedy Dead to Me.
Before joining forces with Amy behind the camera, Pilar was a psychotherapist, a background that informs her ability to create fascinating characters and stage irresistible, nuanced performances. Amy and Pilar’s shared passion for comedy brought them together. Their collaboration began with a Synchrony Bank campaign, starring cult-comedy favorite Maribeth Monroe (Workaholics), and they went on to direct the pilot of the Hulu series Love, Victor. Amy+Pilar’s ad fare also includes spots for Uber’s “Go-Get” campaign and “Shift,” starring Martin Starr.
“We have been fans of Amy and Pilar for a long time,” said Ryan Ennis, executive director at Reform School. “They excel at capturing comedic performances and dialogue. Coming from the TV and L.A. comedy scenes, they’ve built a strong following and collaborated with some of our favorite funny people.... Read More