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.
Hwang Dong-hyuk On Season 2 of “Squid Game,” Wrapping Production on Season 3; What’s Next?
Viewers may gasp, cringe or cry out watching characters die on Netflix's "Squid Game," but those simulated deaths have a different effect on its creator, writer and director. Instead, Hwang Dong-hyuk feels happiness seeing them go.
The show has a huge cast and Hwang says it was "really difficult" to manage everyone on set.
As characters would die, Hwang recalls saying to the actors on their last day, "'Oh no! How sad! I won't see you tomorrow,' but I was always smiling inside."
"Squid Game" season two premieres Thursday. It once again stars Lee Jung-jae and centers around a secret competition in South Korea that targets people in debt and the winner gets a big cash prize. What they don't know is that losing the game is deadly.
Hwang originally conceived of the show 15 years ago as a two-hour film but it failed to gain traction with financiers or even interested actors. He put it aside and worked on other films instead. He then had the idea to make it a TV series instead and took the project to Netflix. There, it could reach a wide audience.
"I never in my wildest dream thought it was going to be this huge," said Hwang, who spoke about the show and what comes next. Answers have been edited for clarity and length.
Q: What have you learned from "Squid Game"?
HWANG: I learned that I shouldn't give up. If you love something and if you want to create something, it might not work now, but the time might come later. Or that idea could be the source of inspiration for something else.
Q: You've already finished filming season three of "Squid Game." Have you thought about what your next project will be?
HWANG: I'm afraid to talk... Read More