Jason Ambrose has been named executive creative director of R/GA’s Austin office. As the head creative, Ambrose will partner with R/GA Austin’s SVP, managing director Candice Hahn and executive technology director Katrina Bekessy to inspire and integrate multi-disciplinary teams of technologists, narrative storytellers and designers to develop solutions that help brands live up to their highest calling and develop transformative ideas that disrupt culture. In addition, Ambrose will contribute to the office’s active business development pipeline, as well as work with the management team to pinpoint smart talent to join the growing Austin team.
Ambrose joins R/GA from Austin-based Preacher where he served as creative director on The Container Store, Vimeo, Hopdoddy and Cuvée accounts. Other agency experience has consisted of TBWAChiatDay, 72andSunny, and Crispin Porter + Bogusky in both Boulder and Los Angeles. He has worked with brands like MINI, Samsung, Bing, Adidas, Starbucks and Truth. His work has also been recognized at every major global award show including Cannes, The One Show, D&AD, and Clios.
“Jason’s deep stories and systems knowledge and background will help integrate the work at R/GA Austin. We’re looking forward to building on our momentum generating stronger connections and opportunities with our clients. As our disciplines and offerings continue to evolve for our clients’ future needs, Jason will provide a unique and integral perspective for solving problems and inspiring staff,” said Hahn.
Ambrose said, “R/GA is a Master Class in creating groundbreaking work. It’s an honor to be chosen to lead the creative team and partner with Candice. The talent in this office and the power of the network at our backs will only fuel the R/GA approach of putting product, design craft and technology into each creative expression. I’m excited to help our brands and our team live up to their highest potential. And I’m ready to learn a hell of a lot every day in the process.”
Jennifer Kent On Why Her Feature Directing Debut, “The Babadook,” Continues To Haunt Us
"The Babadook," when it was released 10 years ago, didn't seem to portend a cultural sensation.
It was the first film by a little-known Australian filmmaker, Jennifer Kent. It had that strange name. On opening weekend, it played in two theaters.
But with time, the long shadows of "The Babadook" continued to envelop moviegoers. Its rerelease this weekend in theaters, a decade later, is less of a reminder of a sleeper 2014 indie hit than it is a chance to revisit a horror milestone that continues to cast a dark spell.
Not many small-budget, first-feature films can be fairly said to have shifted cinema but Kent's directorial debut may be one of them. It was at the nexus of that much-debated term "elevated horror." But regardless of that label, it helped kicked off a wave of challenging, filmmaker-driven genre movies like "It Follows," "Get Out" and "Hereditary."
Kent, 55, has watched all of this — and those many "Babadook" memes — unfold over the years with a mix of elation and confusion. Her film was inspired in part by the death of her father, and its horror elements likewise arise out of the suppression of emotions. A single mother (Essie Davis) is struggling with raising her young son (Noah Wiseman) years after the tragic death of her husband. A figure from a pop-up children's book begins to appear. As things grow more intense, his name is drawn out in three chilling syllables — "Bah-Bah-Doooook" — an incantation of unprocessed grief.
Kent recently spoke from her native Australia to reflect on the origins and continuing life of "The Babadook."
Q: Given that you didn't set out to in any way "change" horror, how have you regarded the unique afterlife of "The... Read More