The Mill L.A. has brought on board Stephen Venning as executive producer/new business, Tim Davies as VFX supervisor/lead Flame artist, and LaRue Anderson as producer, telecine.
Venning comes over from The Mill London where he spent the past 10 years as an executive producer and played an instrumental role in growing that facility’s 3D department. There he also exec produced this year’s Cannes Grand Prix-winning Nike spot, “Write The Future” directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu and produced by Independent Films, London, and bicoastal Anonymous Content for Wieden+Kennedy, London and Amsterdam. Over the years Venning has overseen projects for such global brands as Nike, Pepsi, Axe/Lynx, Mercedes and Sony. He was also part of the team behind the iconic Sony “Balls” commercial, Guinness’ “Tipping Point” and Mercedes-Benz’s “Clouds.”
Davies spent six years at the now defunct Asylum as VFX supervisor/lead Flame artist. He then did a stint as lead Flame artist for The Mill N.Y. where he supervised projects such as Bud Light’s Super Bowl spot “Dog Sitter” directed by Baker Smith of Harvest, which ranked No. 1 in USA Today‘s 2011 Super Bowl Ad Meter poll. After Asylum, Davies also wrapped some work via Method. Since joining The Mill L.A, Davies has been working on upcoming spots for Old Spice. Among Davies’ notable credits are serving as VFX supervisor on the lauded HBO integrated “Voyeur” campaign directed by Jake Scott of RSA for BBDO New York, and as VFX supervisor/lead compositor on a pair of Apple iPhone campaigns directed by David Fincher via Anonymous Content. Davies also contributed to many of Asylum’s feature film and design projects, including the main titles for National Treasure: Book of Secrets, and a key four-minute sequence in Terminator Salvation.
And Anderson is producing projects for The Mill L.A.’s new telecine division headed up by veteran colorist Adam Scott. Currently she is working on jobs directed by Stacy Wall, Peter Thwaites and Tom Hooper. Wall of production house Imperial Woodpecker won this year’s DGA Award for Best Commercial Director of 2010. Thwaites of Gorgeous Enterprises, London, and Anonymous Content earlier won the same DGA honor for calendar year 2008. And Hooper, who directs commercials vis Smuggler, earned this year’s DGA Award as Best Feature Director of 2010 on the strength of The King’s Speech.
Director Lu Villaca Joins MADRE
Production company MADRE has added Brazilian director Lu Villaça to its talent roster. With degrees in cinema and performance and a master’s in screenwriting, Villaça brings a multifaceted approach to filmmaking. Villaça’s tastes have been shaped by her childhood training in ballet, studying Greek theatre texts, her passion for music, and her contemplative nature. She honed her cinematic skills early on as an AD and creative assistant before becoming a director. Intent on capturing the drama of everyday life as it plays out, Villaça is tuned in to how the bodies in her frame move through their environments and what elements of the story can be extrapolated from these compositions. Her sharp attention to detail in every aspect, from lighting to the final edit, is designed to connect emotionally with her audience. Villaça has been awarded three Cannes Lions for her film “Next Minute Law,” which promoted awareness of a law in Brazil designed to address the rampant epidemic of sexual violence. “Next Minute Law” also garnered Best Direction at El Ojo and the Ciclope Latino Festival, where Villaça also won Best New Talent. Additionally, she has directed assorted commercial campaigns for brands like Johnnie Walker, Huggies Wipes, Nestlé, Amazon, A.C. Camargo Cancer Center, and a spot for Medley featuring Brazilian Olympic gymnast Rebeca Andrade. Prior to joining MADRE, Villaca had been repped by production house LOBO. Recognized in Brazil as a top music video director, Villaca won Best Female Direction for her work on “Nu” by Assucena and “Lovezinho” by Rachel Reis, which also won Best National Music Video at the MVF Awards. Villaça additionally co-directed the documentary Pagliacci, an homage to circus artist Domingos Montagner... Read More