Juniper ParkTBWA has hired Steve Emmens as managing director of integrated production. Emmens will lead all creative production output for Juniper ParkTBWA, working in tandem with CCO Graham Lang and ECD Jenny Glover, as well as Bolt Content, the agency’s in-house content arm.
This newly created role further accelerates the integration of all production disciplines at the agency, from high-touch video to in-house content, digital to print, and the agency makers studio.
An industry veteran with more than 25 years of experience, Emmens joins Juniper ParkTBWA following eight years at TAXI where he served as head of integrated production, overseeing broadcast, digital, print, and Clutch content.
Emmens has previously worked with J. Walter Thompson, BBDO, Leo Burnett, and Cossette, among other top agencies in various capacities to develop work for brands across North America. Some of his notable work includes campaigns for TELUS, numerous Canadian Tire commercials, and the re-launch of Mark’s. He is also involved in industry-related matters and currently holds positions on the ACTRA Negotiating Committee and the Canadian Federation of Musicians Negotiating Committee (CFM).
“Steve is one of the best in the business and Jen and I are excited to get to work with him,” said CCO Lang. “We wanted to partner with someone who is excited about the future of production and someone who has a deep love and appreciation of film craft. Steve is both of those people.”
Emmens is one of 16 new hires at the agency since September, all of whom will fuel work resulting from a number of new business wins including EPM Pharmaceuticals for the launch of its synthetic cannabinoid IP platform in North America, and the launch of Major League Socks in North America. Other new biz wins are slated to be announced in early 2020.
The hires are spread out among the agency’s teams, with three joining account services, four coming in creative roles, three taking production positions, and three joining the growing planning and data analytics team, including Helen Androlia as director of digital strategy, and Jay Lin as associate data scientist.
Emmens joins at a time of growing momentum for Juniper ParkTBWA, which has earned creative and effectiveness award wins at this year’s ADCC’s, Clios, LIAs, and Effie Awards.
First-Time Feature Directors Make Major Splash At AFI Fest, Generate Oscar Buzz
Two first-time feature directors who are generating Oscar buzz this awards season were front and center this past weekend at AFI Fest in Hollywood. Rachel Morrison, who made history as the first woman nominated for a Best Cinematography Oscar---on the strength of Mudbound in 2018--brought her feature directorial debut, The Fire Inside (Amazon MGM Studios), to the festival on Sunday (10/27), and shared insights into the film during a conversation session immediately following the screening. This came a day after William Goldenberg, an Oscar-winning editor for Argo in 2013, had his initial foray into feature directing, Unstoppable (Amazon MGM Studios), showcased at the AFI proceedings. He too spoke after the screening during a panel discussion. The Fire Inside--which made its world premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival--tells the story of Claressa “T-Rex” Shields (portrayed by Ryan Destiny), a Black boxer from Flint, Mich., who trained to become the first woman in U.S. history to win an Olympic Gold Medal in the sport. She achieved this feat--with the help of coach Jason Crutchfield (Brian Tyree Henry)--only to find that her victory at the Summer Games came with relatively little fanfare and no endorsement deals. So much for the hope that the historic accomplishment would be a ticket out of socioeconomic purgatory for Shields and her family. It seemed like yet another setback in a cycle of adversity throughout Shields’ life but she persevered, going on to win her second Gold Medal at the next Olympics and becoming a champion for gender equality and equitable pay for women in sports. Shields has served as a source of inspiration for woman athletes worldwide--as well as to the community of... Read More