Formosa Group has formally launched Formosa Villa, its commercial/branded entertainment division, and brought on board mixer John Bolen and executive producer Lauren Cascio. Bolen comes to Formosa Villa from PLAY with more than two decades of experience in postproduction sound, working with such agencies as TBWAChiatDay, Media Arts Lab, 72andSunny, Venables Bell & Partners, Wieden+Kennedy, Deutsch, Vitro and David&Goliath. Formosa Group is housed at the newly renovated Formosa Santa Monica facility.
With a degree in recording and music from Johns Hopkins Peabody Conservatory, Bolen began his career at Virginia-based Roland House. He spent eight years there, mixing long form projects for major broadcast clients including PBS, Discovery Channel, The Learning Channel and National Geographic. In 1999, John accepted an offer to move to Los Angeles to work at Eleven Sound in Santa Monica, where he found his love for commercials. Shortly after, in 2003 he opened PLAY, where he spent the next 12 years.
Formosa Group opened its Santa Monica location in September 2014 in the former space of POP Sound. The launch of Formosa Villa and the arrival of John Bolen coincide, and mark the completion of an extensive renovation to the 17,000 square foot Formosa Santa Monica facility. Robert C. Rosenthal is president/COO of Formosa Group.
Sinners and Saints Adds Apple Pie To Its Branded Menu
Bicoastal Sinners and Saints--the multidisciplinary studio overseen by managing director/executive producer Heather Heller, and partners/EPs Yann Henric and Thomas Carroll--has added Apple Pie Tabletop to its roster for branded content. Known for its food and beverage content creation, Apple Pie comprises the husband-and-wife team of director/DP Gene Dubin and director/art director Alisa Volodina. In addition to representation, the move expands Apple Pie’s production capabilities through the combination of its centrally located full-service studio in New York and a newly established mobile studio in Los Angeles. Apple Pie recently teamed with Sinners and Saints on a Wienerschnitzel project created by Innocean.
“We believe that our dual studio strategy positions us uniquely in the competitive landscape of food and beverage storytelling,” said Heller. “By blending the artistry of the New York studio with the flexibility of our Los Angeles location, we can tailor our productions to meet the unique demands of each project, regardless of geography.”
“Working with Sinners and Saints in the demanding field of tabletop was an absolute pleasure,” shared Apple Pie Tabletop in a joint statement. “Warm welcome, unwavering support and dedication--everything a director can ask for. The entire experience was both enjoyable and rewarding. We will not miss an opportunity to collaborate with them again.”
“The first thing you notice is that Apple Pie has beautiful work,” Heller observed. “Having worked with them, I can say that Gene and Alisa are extremely meticulous and detail-oriented; their combination of talent and agility appeals to agencies and clients.” Also appealing to Heller is Apple Pie Tabletop’s brisk international... Read More