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 Cassandra Brooksbank Joins Monument Content For Spots and Branded Content
Monument Content has signed director Cassandra “Cassie” Brooksbank for U.S. representation spanning commercials and branded content. She brings to her directing and storytelling the experience and skills of a writer, conceptual artist, editor and visual effects artist.
Her body of work as a director includes Pepsi’s “Selfie” featuring Lionel Messi amid a flurry of fans, Barclays madcap women’s Soccer League spot where she collaborated closely with the agency to develop the creative, ultimately winning the Grand Jury Prize at the Sports Industry Awards, and a grass-roots campaign for Fellow Coffee. The latter just didn’t brew buzz; it helped raise $1.2 million on Kickstarter.
Prior to joining Monument Content, Brooksbank had been repped in the U.S. for commercials by production house Hey Wonderful.
On the long-form front, she is repped by CAA for film and television. And on the horizon is her debut feature, My Masterpiece, produced by Sylvester Stallone’s Balboa Productions and backed by Amazon.
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