MPC NY, headed by managing director Justin Brukman, has bolstered its 3D team with the addition of Rob Petrie as CG creative director. Petrie comes to MPC by way of The Mill where he’s built his career since 2002. Honing his skills in the London 3D department, Petrie crossed the pond to The Mill NY in 2008 where he has played a fundamental role in shaping the CG department as head of 3D, and most recently, as creative director at Mill+.
Highlights for Petrie include his work on AT&T’s charming “Birthday” spot, and concepting and directing Company of Heroes’ “Western Front Armies” live action trailer, as well as co-directing DOOM’s teaser. He has worked with such notable directors as Peter Thwaites, Fredrik Bond, Noam Murro and Nicolai Fuglsig. Petrie’s work for OFFF Paris earned him a Cannes Gold Lion in Design.
"Barbenheimer" was a phenomenon impossible to manufacture. But, more than a year later, that hasn't stopped people from trying to make "Glicked" — or even "Babyratu" — happen.
The counterprogramming of "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" in July 2023 hit a nerve culturally and had the receipts to back it up. Unlike so many things that begin as memes, it transcended its online beginnings. Instead of an either-or, the two movies ultimately complemented and boosted one another at the box office.
And ever since, moviegoers, marketers and meme makers have been trying to recreate that moment, searching the movie release schedule for odd mashups and sending candidates off into the social media void. Most attempts have fizzled (sorry, "Saw Patrol" ).
This weekend is perhaps the closest approximation yet as the Broadway musical adaptation "Wicked" opens Friday against the chest-thumping sword-and-sandals epic "Gladiator II." Two big studio releases (Universal and Paramount), with one-name titles, opposite tones and aesthetics and big blockbuster energy — it was already halfway there before the name game began: "Wickiator," "Wadiator," "Gladwick" and even the eyebrow raising "Gladicked" have all been suggested.
"'Glicked' rolls off the tongue a little bit more," actor Fred Hechinger said at the New York screening of "Gladiator II" this week. "I think we should all band around 'Glicked.' It gets too confusing if you have four or five different names for it."
As with "Barbenheimer," as reductive as it might seem, "Glicked" also has the male/female divide that make the fan art extra silly. One is pink and bright and awash in sparkles, tulle, Broadway bangers and brand tie-ins; The other is all sweat and sand, blood and bulging... Read More
