Even in these challenging and seemingly all too cynical and jaded times, there’s much for those of us in the advertising and entertainment community to be thankful for. Thanksgiving is a holiday to reflect on all the blessings for which we can be grateful–and a time to come together and share these blessings with those less fortunate.
In that vein and charitable spirit, the deadline is fast approaching for the Association of Independent Commercial Producers (AICP) West Coast board’s recently launched Food & Goods Drive #AICPgives.
The #AICPgives initiative is a Food & Goods Drive to benefit local non-profit organization Gobble Gobble Give, which has fed and provided care packages to thousands of needy families and individuals over the last 14 years.
AICP member companies and all industry partners and affiliates are encouraged to collect donations on sets and in offices during November in anticipation of Gobble Gobble Give’s Thanksgiving Day distribution.
Items may include: canned goods, boxed food (that can be consumed without cooking), new or used clothing items in good condition (socks, sweaters, beanies and more). Collecting unopened bars of soap and shampoo bottles, toothbrush and toothpaste kits, is a great way to distribute all of those hotel amenities collected during travel.
Everyone who participates has a chance to win some desirable prizes including a suite at the Staples Center, a getaway in Palm Springs, or a motorhome for the night. Participants in the program can take an Instagram photo with their donation at drop off to receive a raffle ticket. All donations can be dropped off to any Quixote or Smashbox location by November 19. See complete details here: http://www.quixote.com/AICPGives/
But the raffle prizes are ultimately just an aside. While the opportunity to get a cool prize is a nice bonus, the gratification of giving goes much deeper. #AICPgives is a great chance for the AICP West members and friends to give back to the community we call home. With #AICPgives we can mobilize our numbers and the generosity of our staff and our crews to give to those who could use help this Thanksgiving.
Join the community via the Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/553968994619760/
Meanwhile think about other opportunities to give back year ’round, extending the calendar to help others beyond Thanksgiving. The spirit of Thanksgiving should be enough to inspire reaching out and helping throughout the year. One person can make all the difference in the world, positively impacting the lives of many others. Consider the humble grass-roots beginnings of Gobble Gobble Give as an example.
Gobble Gobble Give started with just one person feeding nine homeless on Thanksgiving Day 14 years ago. Last year Gobble Gobble Give was able to feed and provide care kits to more than 5,500 homeless in Los Angeles, New York, Austin (Texas), and Las Vegas. Gobble Gobble Give is an incredible case study of what a community can do to make change. Find out more, including how to make a monetary donation here: http://gobblegobblegive.org/
Director AG Rojas Joins Imperial Woodpecker
Imperial Woodpecker has added director AG Rojas to its roster for U.S. representation.
A filmmaker whose work spans commercials, music videos and film installations, Rojas--back in 2017 when he was at Park Pictures, his roost prior to Imperial Woodpecker--earned a DGA Award nomination on the strength of two spot entries: S7 Airlines’ “The Best Planet” for Wieden+Kennedy Amsterdam, and Samsung’s “The Snail” out of Leo Burnett USA.
Rojas throughout his career has additionally directed projects for artists such as Gil Scott-Heron, Earl Sweatshirt, Bon Iver, Florence + The Machine, Run the Jewels, and Kamasi Washington. His long partnership with Washington includes Truth, a film installation featured in the 2017 Whitney Biennial. And Rojas’ music videos have been recognized with assorted major industry awards.
Beyond all this, his film installations, including Godchild (2020), commissioned by the Smithsonian Institution, highlight his interest in storytelling through different formats. His latest work, Pare de Sufrir (2024), a silent featurette on love and grief, premiered at venues such as Metrograph NYC, ICA London, and Now Instant Image Hall in Los Angeles.
Raised in L.A. by a Costa Rican painter and a Colombian poet, Rojas grew up immersed in an environment shaped by art and storytelling. At 17, he enrolled in the prestigious ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena and discovered a passion for filmmaking. Rojas currently lives in L.A. and continues to channel his expression across a variety of mediums, creating work rooted in thoughtful ideas and meaningful social impact.
Read More