In recent forecasts as to trends for this new year, among the most mentioned in the industry is the call to environmental action, cited by some, most notably JWT Worldwide (SHOOT, 12/14/07) as a shift in the movement from green to blue. Climate change has become the driver of environmentalism 2.0, and people worldwide understand that climate is all about the seas and the sky–both blue. And blue, denoting water, is becoming as big an issue as green (forests). The availability of clean water supplies, for example, has become a pivotal ecological issue.
But no matter if your environmental color de jour is blue or green, clearly there are eco-rumblings in the advertising landscape–the latest coming from Publicis Groupe which has acquired Act Now Productions, a San Francisco-based sustainability consultancy led by Adam Werbach, the youngest ever president of the Sierra Club, who also currently serves on the international board of Greenpeace. Werbach founded Act Now in 1998 to engage corporations, employees, consumers and the media in sustainability by moving from “shock to inspiration.” The consultancy assists companies and their employees to practice sustainability while achieving their performance goals.
Act Now becomes part of the new Saatchi & Saatchi S network. Act Now, which will assume the Saatchi & Saatchi S moniker, will work alongside the global 650-person shopper and retail marketing firm Saatchi & Saatchi X and look to catalyze progressive eco change in the arena where most purchasing decisions are made–in the store. Werbach has been appointed CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi S and will report to Andy Murray, global CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi X.
Saatchi & Saatchi S combines Act Now’s personalized sustainability solutions with Saatchi & Saatchi’s global communications expertise in order to inspire consumers toward making better choices. The new consultancy will integrate with core Saatchi & Saatchi services including brand navigation, planning, creative, media and brand philosophy. Saatchi & Saatchi S will offer sustainability services including analysis and strategic advisory, employee engagement, product and brand innovation, and consumer retail communication. Saatchi & Saatchi S currently has offices in San Francisco and Boulder (Colorado) and plans to open in New York, Chicago, Fayetteville (Arkansas), London and Beijing in early 2008.
Maurice Levy, chairman/CEO of Publicis Groupe said, the motivation to buy Act Now is not just to help clients communicate about the important issue of sustainability. “Companies everywhere,” he related, “have a critical role to play in reducing CO2 emissions, in protecting the environment, and in taking corporate social responsibility seriously. The expertise of Saatchi & Saatchi S will allow them to understand these issues in a strategic way and help them find real solutions adapted to their needs, while communicating in an efficient and effective way.”
Kevin Roberts, CEO Worldwide Saatchi & Saatchi said: “With Act Now we’re going to bring sustainable enterprise to life. Every client sees sustainability as a priority issue and every employee and consumer wants to be part of a bigger idea….No brand will be truly loved by anyone it touches unless it shares an inspired, sustainable benefit.”
Director Hans Emanuel Joins Caviar For Commercials and Music Videos
Production company Caviar has signed director Hans Emanuel for U.S. commercial and music video representation. The film and advertising director fuses his keen--and Berlinale Film Festival Award-winning--eye for cinematic storytelling with a commercial background across multiple genres including beauty, automotive, dance, and visual effects-heavy projects, to produce creative for clients like Kia, Nivea, Nissan, L’Oreal, BMW and more.
Caviar executive producer Salim El Arja noted, “Hans has a unique ability to blend stunning visuals with heart and humor, rooted in his confidence as a craftsman. This allows him to focus on drawing exceptional performances from actors--including celebrities--and crafting films that are not only visually striking but also deeply engaging and often hilariously comedic. His sensibilities align perfectly with Caviar’s vision, and we’re excited to collaborate with him on work that pushes creative boundaries.”
Emanuel added, “Caviar is a renowned name, certainly since I began my career. They have a solid reputation for quality work, and I’ve always respected them as a company. Life is about where destiny makes you flow with the people you need; thanks to a series of projects, I was introduced to Florence Jacob with Caviar Paris first, and the rest is history. I feel they can support my career growth with their comedic expertise and filmmaking prowess.”
Prior to joining Caviar, Emanuel had been repped by production house Stadium. He was born and raised in Santa Monica, Calif., to a Mexican-German mother, benefiting from a culturally diversified upbringing that carried through his education interests. Knowing he wanted to be a filmmaker from the start, he began his career in the luxury and beauty field,... Read More