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    Maribeth Phillips Joins Imaginary Forces

    By SHOOT StaffUpdated:No Comments1316 Views

    Exec Producer Will Head N.Y. Spot Operation, Explore Other Branding Outlets

    NEW YORK --

    Bicoastal design and entertainment company Imaginary Forces (IF) has named Maribeth Phillips as executive producer/managing director of its New York office. She comes over from New York-based design/visual effects/3-D production house Spontaneous.

    At IF, Phillips will handle spotwork out of its New York shop as well as help the company to move into emerging portals that will connect consumers with brands. Prior to Spontaneous, Phillips was executive director of production for the media and entertainment/brand identity group at Razorfish (now Avenue A/Razorfish, New York) which she joined when it merged with broadcast design mainstay Lee Hunt & Associates in 1999. She had joined Lee Hunt the year before as exec producer.

    During her stay at Razorfish, Phillips focused on developing design-driven integrated solutions for clients in both advertising and entertainment. Her industry roots are in live-action commercials, having served for several houses in executive producer and line producer capacities.

    This mix of experience dovetails well with IF, which has a roster of creative directors, designers, editors and effects artists who handle traditional TV ad assignments. Among its recent jobs are design-driven campaigns for such clients as Reebok, Dove, GMC and Smirnoff.  At the same time, IF is looking to diversify significantly into new media platforms for branding.

    Among Phillips’ goals is to incorporate more of the IF West Coast talent pool into work originating from the New York office, making for more bicoastal cross-pollination on key projects. She also plans to use her spot industry contacts to help raise IF’s profile among West Coast ad agencies.

    IF continues under the aegis of co-founders Peter Frankfurt and Chip Houghton who serve as creative director and executive producer, respectively.

    Category:News



    Robert Eggers and Willem Dafoe Reunite For “Nosferatu”

    Tuesday, December 24, 2024

    When Willem Dafoe enjoys working with a filmmaker, he'll often jump at the chance to do it again.

    The list of directors with whom the 69-year-old has worked with more than once is extensive, including Wes Anderson,Yorgos Lanthimos,Paul Schrader,Lars von Trier and, now for a third time, Robert Eggers. "If it's good, you come back," Dafoe said plainly.

    The pair spoke about Eggers' adaptation of "Nosferatu" that hits theaters Wednesday, some of the challenges they faced making "The Lighthouse" — their first project together released in 2019 — and the unique relationship that exists between actors and directors.

    The interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

    Q: Willem, I read that you called Robert after you saw "The Witch." What did you say?

    DAFOE: I want to meet you and I want to know who this filmmaker is.

    Q: What is it about him that keeps bringing you back?

    DAFOE: Well, if it's good, you come back. When I saw "The Witch," I thought, "Wow, this is a film about a period that I'm not particularly knowledgeable about, but I enter it so easily. This is relevant. It's rooted. It's my story. I'm with these people."

    That's quite an incredible trick because a lot of period films, they're always pointing to themselves. They're always sending messages. They're always showing. This had a kind of energy and the kind of physicality and sensuality that I thought, "Who does this? I gotta see this guy." And then I had a wonderful experience in "The Lighthouse" and I played a part that was really fun in "The Northman." So, when he wants to do this passion project and offers me this beautiful role of Professor Von Franz, I say,... Read More

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