Matt Blitz has been named senior VP, executive producer at DDB Chicago. He will report to Diane Jackson, DDB Chicago’s chief production officer.
With more than 20 years of production experience, Blitz has executed creative ideas, spanning platforms and disciplines, that have garnered global recognition and attention. Blitz joins DDB Chicago from Leo Burnett where he was a sr. VP, exec producer, and led production globally on the Samsung account. Additionally, he was responsible for managing the production teams for Nintendo, Esurance, and UnitedHealthcare, among other brands. Blitz has received accolades across every major award show including Art Directors Club, D&AD and the One Show. Most recently, Blitz won seven Lions at this year’s Cannes Festival of Creativity for Samsung’s “Ostrich.”
Blitz’s arrival at DDB Chicago supports the agency’s commitment to investing in and attracting top creative talent. DDB Chicago’s Jackson and chief creative officer John Maxham have been focused on cultivating a creative team of inventors, storytellers and artists with a depth and breadth of skills that can deliver innovative ideas.
“With creative talent at the heart of our business model, Matt will have the opportunity to create a meaningful impact on our client’s business,” said Jackson.
Prior to joining the agency world, Blitz worked as assistant director on several films and multiple television series, giving him a sense of production not typical for many advertising producers.
“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