Maria Smith promoted to creative director
M&C Saatchi LA has hired Mandy Graham as director of strategic planning and promoted Maria Smith from associate creative director to creative director.
As the planning director for 180 Amsterdam, Graham managed the global brand identity campaign for DHL Express and led projects on Opel, SIRE, ASICS, as well as other new business assignments. Graham was also VP, planning director for Leo Burnett, where she led the Special K strategy team in the U.S. before taking on Special K and All Bran globally. Other successful agency tenures include Element 79, Cramer-Krassalt, and Campbell Ewald working with a variety of noted brands.
Creative director Smith has been a copywriter and associate creative director for 10 years, eight with M&C Saatchi LA. She has contributed to campaigns for the San Diego Zoo, Epson, The Getty Center, Three Olives Vodka, and more. Prior to M&C Saatchi, Smith was a copywriter at TBWAChiatDay where she worked on Nissan, Infiniti, Sony and Energizer.
“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