Alan Irvin, former executive creative director of Grey Worldwide South Africa, has jumped over to the commercial production house side of the business, becoming a director at Picture Tree, Johannesburg…….New York-based mister boomboom, a label of bicoastal/international Believe Media, has added director Alistair Taylor-Young to its roster. Taylor-Young is well established in Europe but new to the American ad market; he is slated to move from London to Manhattan next month……Meanwhile designer and live-action director Monica Perez has come aboard Believe Media to helm spots and music videos. She previously served as a designer, creative director and commercial director at global creative agency Attik, New York and San Francisco, for six years…..Attik has opened its first permanent office in Southern California. Initially the West Hollywood quarters will be working on the Scion account. Rachel Newell, Attik’s West Coast business manager, continues to work out of the firm’s San Francisco office. Attik additionally maintains a New York office and its European headquarters in Leeds, England….Rhythm & Hues Commercial Studios, Los Angeles, has signed director Mark Dippe. Additionally, Lisa White has been promoted to head of production at the shop’s Commercial Digital operation….Director Adam Stevens has joined Notorious 24:7, Santa Monica, for U.S. spot representation. His work for New Zealand beverage brand L&P made this year’s Cannes short list and earned a gold award for direction at the ’05 Axis Awards of New Zealand….Washington Square Films, New York, has launched Washington Square International, headed by executive producer Brian Morris. The new venture opens with three directors: Steven Fong, Leandro Sanchez and Nick Santana. Washington Square International is repping these helmers to the general market, to U.S.-based Hispanic and Asian ad agencies, and to multicultural ad shops in foreign countries….Senior producer Andrea Sertz, formerly of bicoastal Brand New School, has come aboard bicoastal Transistor Studios. Meanwhile, relocating stateside is design director Anders Schroder, who’s now based in Transistor’s Venice, Calif., office….Tammy Walters, acting executive producer at FlickerLab, has become a partner in the New York-based design/animation studio….Creative director Mikon Van Gastel and executive producer Saffron Kenny–both formerly of bicoastal Imaginary Forces–have launched A Very Small Office, a design-driven live-action studio in New York….. Charlex, New York, won a BDA World Gold Award for its M&M’s “River Rock” spot via BBDO New York….The Omnilab Group, one of Australia’s largest privately owned media services companies, has acquired AAV Limited’s Digital Media Services group, which includes Digital Pictures Melbourne and Sydney, Iloura Melbourne, Comcopy Imagestream, Flagstaff Studios, Digital Pictures Interactive, AAV PAX, AAV New Zealand, and a 50 percent stake in DubSat. Omnilab adds these assets to its existing independent businesses, which include: The Lab Sydney, Ambience Entertainment, The Playroom Sydney, Cornerpost and Island Films….
Breakout Films and Major Takeaways From This Year’s Sundance Fest
Film wasn't the only thing on people's minds at this year's Sundance Film Festival, which comes to a close Sunday in Park City, Utah ( and online ).
The effects of the wildfires in Southern California loomed large, as did the bittersweet knowledge that this year will be the second to last Sundance based in Park City. Some films offered an escape from reality; others were a pointed reminder of the domestic and international political landscape, from transgender rights to the war in Ukraine.
Here are some of the key takeaways from the 41st edition of the festival.
The effects of the Southern California fires were deeply felt
The wildfires were still burning in parts of Los Angeles when Sundance began last week and reminders of its devastation were everywhere, even on screen. Max Walker-Silverman's "Rebuilding," starring Josh O'Connor as a cowboy who loses his ranch in a wildfire and forms a community with fellow survivors in a FEMA camp, hit close to home for many.
Filmmakers Meena Menon and Paul Gleason lost their home in Altadena where they filmed some of their zombie apocalypse movie "Didn't Die." Sundance artist labs head Michelle Satter lost her Palisades home as well. Satter had an audience of Sundance Institute donors in tears early in the festival while accepting an honor at a fundraising gala.
"It's a deeply devastating time for us and so many others, a moment that calls for all of us coming together to support our bigger community," Satter said. "As a friend recently noted, and I have to listen to this, 'Take a deep breath ... We lost our village, but at the end of the day we are the village.'"
The festival's move to another city dominated conversations
It was a topic... Read More