Partners + Napier had added two new group creative directors, a brand new role at the Rochester-based shop.
Creative director Mike Baron, who started at Partners + Napier in 2005, has been promoted to sr. VP, group creative director. And Dan O’Donnell, most recently creative director at MARC USA in Pittsburgh, and a veteran of Arnold, MullenLowe and Hill Holliday, has joined the agency as a group creative director. Both report to executive creative director Pete VonDerLinn.
In his newly expanded role, Baron will oversee creative work for Highmark Health Inc., BMW and MINI Financial Services, and Delta Vacations.
O’Donnell will oversee creative development for Keurig Green Mountain, BurgerFi, Conduent, Excellus BlueCrossBlueShield, Gannett, Friendship Dairies, Xerox, Bausch + Lomb, and Rochester Regional Health.
Over the course of his career, Baron has won many creative awards, including One Show, Tellys, Addys and recognition in Lurzers Archive. Starting as a copywriter and now an experienced director, he has helped some of the world’s best-known brands connect with their customers in their respective industries, including financial services, healthcare, higher education, fashion and outdoor sports. A graduate of St. John Fisher College, Baron has agency experience which also includes stints at Saatchi & Saatchi, Young & Rubicam, and Hill Holliday.
At MARC USA, O’Donnell’s primary focus was the Rite-Aid account. Other big brands that have benefited from his creative and business-building expertise over the years include Anheuser-Busch, Dunkin’ Donuts, Samsonite, Ocean Spray and Tyson. O’Donnell has received creative recognition that includes such awards as One Show, CA, and Hatch. An art director by trade, he is a graduate of Boston University.
Robert Eggers and Willem Dafoe Reunite For “Nosferatu”
When Willem Dafoe enjoys working with a filmmaker, he'll often jump at the chance to do it again.
The list of directors with whom the 69-year-old has worked with more than once is extensive, including Wes Anderson,Yorgos Lanthimos,Paul Schrader,Lars von Trier and, now for a third time, Robert Eggers. "If it's good, you come back," Dafoe said plainly.
The pair spoke about Eggers' adaptation of "Nosferatu" that hits theaters Wednesday, some of the challenges they faced making "The Lighthouse" — their first project together released in 2019 — and the unique relationship that exists between actors and directors.
The interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
Q: Willem, I read that you called Robert after you saw "The Witch." What did you say?
DAFOE: I want to meet you and I want to know who this filmmaker is.
Q: What is it about him that keeps bringing you back?
DAFOE: Well, if it's good, you come back. When I saw "The Witch," I thought, "Wow, this is a film about a period that I'm not particularly knowledgeable about, but I enter it so easily. This is relevant. It's rooted. It's my story. I'm with these people."
That's quite an incredible trick because a lot of period films, they're always pointing to themselves. They're always sending messages. They're always showing. This had a kind of energy and the kind of physicality and sensuality that I thought, "Who does this? I gotta see this guy." And then I had a wonderful experience in "The Lighthouse" and I played a part that was really fun in "The Northman." So, when he wants to do this passion project and offers me this beautiful role of Professor Von Franz, I say,... Read More