Creative studio Los York has hired Nikki Peddie as head of brand partnerships, a new position. An experienced marketing and advertising leader with diverse national and international experience, Peddie brings to the independent creative studio a background in tech, entertainment and wellness marketing. A London native, Peddie started her career as an account director at global network agencies including Leo Burnett and AMV BBDO working on brands such as Sainsbury’s, the 3rd largest retailer in the U.K., McDonald’s and P&G, to name a few. For the past seven years she has been working within independent agencies in Los Angeles. Peddie joins Los York on the heels of its most successful year in its 10-year history. The shop expanded relationships with long-term clients while also welcoming amazing new brands to the mix; Motorola, Stellantis, Teva, Logitech, 23andMe, Under Armour and Disney topping the list. Peddie’s hire is the latest in a string of strategic additions that began last year including Jamie Samuel as brand partner focusing on the studio’s direct to brand partnerships, and global creative director Kevin Cabuli who arrived from Lola MullenLowe Madrid….
Musical instrument retailer Guitar Center has appointed Kristin Shane to serve as EVP, chief merchandising and marketing officer. Shane reports directly to CEO Gabe Dalporto and will oversee the integration of the marketing and merchandising functions to enhance the end-to-end customer experience. Shane will be responsible for product, promotions, visual merchandising, omni-channel experience and activations. Shane comes over from PetSmart where she was SVP, chief marketing officer, driving billions in incremental sales and market expansion. Previously, she demonstrated her merchandising prowess at Target as VP, merchandise manager for the beauty and personal care business…
Review: Director-Writer Megan Park’s “My Old Ass”
They say tripping on psychedelic mushrooms triggers hallucinations, anxiety, paranoia and nervousness. In the case of Elliott, an 18-year-old restless Canadian, they prompt a visitor.
"Dude, I'm you," says the guest, as she nonchalantly burns a 'smores on a campfire next to a very high and stunned Elliott. "Well, I'm a 39-year-old you. What's up?"
What's up, indeed: Director-writer Megan Park has crafted a wistful coming-of-age tale using this comedic device for "My Old Ass" and the results are uneven even though she nails the landing.
After the older Elliott proves who she is — they share a particular scar, childhood memories and a smaller left boob — the time-travel advice begins: Be nice to your brothers and mom, and stay away from a guy named Chad.
"Can we hug?" asks the older Elliott. They do. "This is so weird," says the younger Elliott, who then makes things even weirder when she asks for a kiss — to know what it's like kissing yourself. The older Elliott soon puts her number into the younger's phone under the name "My Old Ass." Then they keep in touch, long after the effects of the 'shrooms have gone.
Part of the movie's problem that can't be ignored is that the two Elliotts look nothing alike. Maisy Stella plays the coltish young version and a wry Aubrey Plaza the older. Both turn in fine performances but the visuals are slowly grating.
The arrival of the older Elliott coincides with her younger self counting down the days until she can flee from her small town of 300 in the Muskoka Lakes region to college in Toronto, where "my life is about to start." She's sick of life on a cranberry farm.
Park's scenes and dialogue are unrushed and honest as Elliott takes her older self's advice and tries to repair... Read More