Director Samuel Bayer, who is repped by bicoastal RSA USA in the American ad market, has extended his relationship with the RSA family. Bayer has shifted his U.K. spot representation from Serious Pictures, London, to RSA Films, London….Greg Popp, senior VP/group executive producer at DDB Chicago, has made his solo directing debut with a new series of Budweiser commercials for the agency. Production was run through bicoastal Chelsea Pictures. Popp’s prior directorial endeavors had been in tandem with former DDB creative John Immesoete…Director Rebecca Blake has partnered with executive producer Mark Androw, principal in the Chicago-based The Story Companies, to launch commercial production house Rebecca Blake Films. The new shop is a satellite of The Story Companies. Blake and Androw plan to bring several other helmers on board, as well….Toronto-headquartered 3-D software developer Alias has finalized its acquisition of Kaydara, a Montreal-based company known for its real-time character animation and motion editing technology. The deal was announced this past summer during the SIGGRAPH confab in Los Angeles (SHOOT, 8/20, p. 1)….Juicy Fruit’s "Office Flage" won Best of Show honors for television at the Chicago Creative Club Awards, held Wednesday night (Sept. 29) at Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art. Blue Source of Blink USA, Venice, Calif., directed the ad, which was done via BBDO Chicago….
Golden LA Signs Director Ashley Armitage
Golden LA has added filmmaker Ashley Armitage to its talent roster.
Originally from Seattle, Armitage attended UCSB for Cinema Studies before pursuing her BFA in Photomedia from UW, often skipping classes to fly to New York City for shoots as a photographer. This early success opened doors to commercial filmmaking, fast-tracking her rise as a director. Armitage’s first commercial film was the product launch for Billie, “Project Body Hair.” The campaign won a People’s Voice Webby for Advertising, Media & PR Brand Strategy, racking up over one million views in its first 24 hours and aired in Times Square. “Project Body Hair” made history in 2018 as the first film to show female body hair being removed.
As a visual storyteller, Armitage’s filmmaking seamlessly fuses lighthearted humor with a powerful drive for social change, using her art to challenge and dismantle outdated concepts of identity and gender. By bringing levity and a modern sensibility to her films, Armitage’s directorial eye has caught the attention of companies seeking to create authentic, meaningful brand films. Her signature style of colorful tableaus has been seen in films and stills for brands like H&M, Levi’s, Nordstrom, Adidas, Nike, Bumble, Showtime, First Aid Beauty, Viceland, and Billie. She continues to work behind the camera as a photographer, with her images featured in i-D, Dazed, Teen Vogue, Vogue UK, and Vogue Portugal, and in front of the camera, appearing in campaigns for Gucci’s Guilty fragrance, Nylon x Polaroid, Nordstrom, and Chanel x i-D.
“I love the people at Golden LA,” remarked Armitage. “I’m fortunate enough to have worked with [Golden LA EP] Dahlia Stone before. [Managing director] Matt Marquis is so... Read More