Alkemy X has expanded its business development team, hiring seasoned sales executive Mary Ida Bonadio as VP of business development, based in Chicago, to continue leading the company’s growth in the Midwest, and signing with Jack Strachan of Say Hey Representation for East Coast representation. Serving as a production company rep for over 20 years, Bonadio has fused her production experience with her MFA background from the Art Institute of Chicago to represent film directors in the ever-shifting advertising space. She will leverage her expertise to represent all of Alkemy X’s creative divisions including live-action, editorial, VFX, post/finishing, and Alkemy X’s global artist collective The Creative Studio. Strchan brings 15 years of experience to Alkemy X. The signing of Alkemy X marks the return of his independent firm, Say Hey Representation, with a reframed focus on brand-direct work aligned with the modern media marketplace. Strachan began his career with sales roles at shops including SMUGGLER and Dress Code NY, spending six years developing and selling creative talent internally before launching his own independent firm, Say Hey Representation in 2011. He represented directors, graphics artists, designers, visual effects artists and editors, building lasting partnerships through creative projects. In 2018, he made the transition back in-house as part of the launch of ArtClass Content, spending four years as head of sales, leading the growth of the live-action and postproduction studio. Most recently, he served as sr. account director at an agency/creative production studio before relaunching Say Hey Representation. After attending Moore College of Art and Design for her BFA in photography, Bonadio entered the competitive Art Institute of Chicago for an MFA in Video Production, informing the outlook that carries over into her career today. She cut her teeth with GLG and Giraldi Suarez as a sales rep before striking out on her own as one of the first agents to cross-platform represent filmmakers for advertising opportunities. She additionally owned MI Bonadio Productions and serves as a board member of the Chicago Film Archives, a nonprofit organization committed to the preservation, study, and exhibition of films that reflect the character and heritage of the Midwest…..
The Ad Council has partnered with global creator commerce agency Whalar on the Creators for Good Ambassador Program, which becomes part of Creators for Good, the Ad Council’s successful influencer marketing division. The Creators for Good Ambassador Program is comprised of a selection of trusted influencers who have deep passions for social issues related to areas of focus for the Ad Council including mental health awareness, gun violence prevention, substance use disorders and racial justice. The program applies the Creators for Good Ambassadors’ lived experiences and career insights to overarching strategy, platform messaging and overall execution of Ad Council’s Creators for Good campaigns. It is the first time in the Ad Council’s 80-year history that trusted messengers will play such a formative advisory role across various campaigns, now further driving social impact efforts at scale. Led by the Ad Council’s Creators for Good team, in partnership with Whalar, initial creators in this new program include: Jonny Morales; Chase Brown; Kahmora Hall; Tiffany Yu; Jo Beckwith; Cienna Ditri; Sasha Hamadani, MD; Rowan Ellis; Matthew Maxfield; and Matthew Schueller This program is designed to invite in the strategic thinking from creators, allowing these influential leaders to play a critical role across various national PSA campaigns, bolstering the effectiveness of Ad Council’s trusted messenger strategies and social impact initiatives. As the ambassadors lend their insights to the strategies of campaign activations, the Ad Council will also equip these creators with issue expertise, research-backed messaging and social impact best to fortify their work speaking out on causes they care about….
“Heretic” and “Maria” Set As Red Carpet Premieres At AFI Fest
The American Film Institute (AFI) has announced that Heretic, the psychological thriller starring Hugh Grant, and Maria, based on the life of opera singer Maria Callas starring Angelina Jolie, will round out the Red Carpet Premieres section at this year’s AFI Fest. The Heretic Gala Screening will take place on Thursday, October 24, and the Maria Gala Screening will be held on Saturday, October 26. The complete Red Carpet Premieres section includes the world premieres of Music By John Williams, Robert Zemeckis’ Here, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl and Clint Eastwood’s Juror #2. All Red Carpet Premieres will take place at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre. The full lineup for AFI Fest 2024 will be unveiled on October 1.
“At the heart of AFI Fest is an unwavering dedication to celebrating the best in global cinema--together,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI president and CEO. “We look forward to uniting artists and audiences once again to be inspired by the art form in a powerful sense of community.”
Heretic follows two young missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) who are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed (portrayed by Grant), becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse. The film is directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods and produced by Stacey Sher, Beck, Woods, Julia Glausi and Jeanette Volturno. The film will be released nationwide by A24 on November 8.
Directed by Pablo Larraín, Maria presents a tumultuous and beautiful depiction of one of the world’s most renowned artists and reimagines the legendary soprano in her final days in Paris, as Callas (Jolie)... Read More