Director Dario Piana has joined Mechaniks for North American representation. He is one of the few helmers who has a spot in the Musee Publicite’ at the Louvre. The commercial, “Underwater World,” was for Ariston Aqualtis Washing Machines. and went on to become one of the most awarded spots worldwide and the most awarded commercial ever in Italy. Out of Leo Burnett Italia, Milan, the ad takes us inside of a washing machine, revealing a magical display of clothing that moves as if it were varied forms of deep sea life.
It was largely on the strength of “Underwater World,” produced by Filmmaster in Italy, that Piana earned distinction as the fourth most awarded spot director in 2007 per the annual Gunn Report.
Over the years, Piana’s work has garnered four Cannes Gold Lions, three Silvers, four Bronzes and a Clio Grand Prix.
Piana graduated from the internationally renowned Art Academy in Milan. From there his reputation grew as a comic strip illustrator. His much sought after drawings are soon to be featured in a hardcover collector’s book alongside some of his detailed storyboards.
He went on to join JWT, Milan, for a short period before starting his directorial career. Along the way he honed his craft with some of the greats in Italian film including, Claudio Mancini, producer for the great Sergio Leone, and Fellini’s two-time Oscar winning production designer, Danilo Donati.
In addition to spots for major brands such as Fiat, Coca Cola, Skittles, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Nescafe and Pellegrino, Piana has directed two feature films, The Deaths of Ian Stone with legendary creature creator Stan Winston, and The Lost Boys: The Thirst for WB. His work with celebrities includes the likes of George Clooney, Monica Bellucci, Kim Basinger, Zhang Zyin and Michael Schumacher.
Piana recently wrapped a multi-spot package in the U.S. starring Clooney for Fast Web Internet. Prior to Mechaniks, Piana was repped via Saville Productions.
Director Lucrecia Signs With PRETTYBIRD For Her 1st U.S. Representation
PRETTYBIRD, the production company helmed by Paul Hunter, Kerstin Emhoff, and Ali Brown, has added award-winning filmmaker Lucrecia to its roster for U.S. commercial and music video representation. This marks the director’s first representation in the U.S. market.
Lucrecia has been signed to PRETTYBIRD UK since 2021, soon after winning UKMVA’s Best Pop Newcomer award for her Tarantino-esque music video for rapper/singer-songwriter Ashnikko--which the director pitched, prepped, and shot in only four days. Since joining PRETTYBIRD UK, Lucrecia has quickly made a name for herself. Her striking narratives, combined with a hyper-real aesthetic and iconic world creation, have been the centerpieces of her filmmaking and photography.
Her work has gone viral on more than one occasion. Her commercial for bibigo, “Live Delicious,” was widely admired and even recreated on an episode of Jimmy Kimmel. She has won awards from Kinsale Shark, Creative Circle, and UKMVA, as well as recognition at the Cannes Lions Young Directors Awards and Ciclope Awards.
Candice Dragonas, VP, talent strategy/executive producer PRETTYBIRD US, said of Lucrecia, “She brings a uniquely stylish approach to storytelling with the perfect splash of humor and playfulness. I admire her extreme passion for her craft and the drive to create at the top of her game.”
In addition to Lucrecia’s cinematic visual aesthetic, she routinely engages in another unique form of self-expression: nail art. She has had everything from whipped cream and cherries to chrome flames adorning her nails.
At PRETTYBIRD, Lucrecia joins a roster of filmmakers including Academy Award-winning duo Daniels (Everything Everywhere All At Once), A.V. Rockwell (A Thousand... Read More