Bicoastal Epoch Films has acquired Kirt Gunn & Associates to facilitate the launch of Dandelion, a N.Y.-based independent company dedicated to creating programming and entertainment sponsored by brands. The new venture will be headed by managing partners Kirt Gunn, whose firm has a track record in new media content creation, strategy and production (Mercury’s Meet The Lucky Ones online series, the Volvo: Drive for Life Xbox video game), and Epoch mainstays, partner/executive producer Jerry Solomon and founder/exec producer Mindy Goldberg. Greg Schultz, an Emmy award-winning producer with branded entertainment and television production experience (Mad Men, Iconoclasts, Seinfeld and Superman, Meet The Lucky Ones), will lead day-to-day operations as executive producer. Tara Averill in N.Y. and Mal Ward in L.A. will serve as co-heads of sales and development…..Faris Yakob has joined McCann Erickson, New York, as exec VP/chief technology strategist. He comes over from Naked Communications, New York, where he was chief strategist. At McCann, Yakob will report directly to Lori Senecal, president of the N.Y. agency….London studio Hibbert Ralph Animation has brought director George Bowler on board. Already at his new roost, he has secured a Nokia-sponsored short film…..New York-based content-creation studio HUSH has added veteran exec producer Casey Steele. The move is part of a growth initiative as HUSH, known for its work in the nontraditional and integrated arenas, looks to ramp up in the commercial and broadcast sectors. Steele earlier served as director of design for network G4TV, and held exec producer positions with such shops as Stardust, Logan and Brand New School….
Director Cassandra Brooksbank Joins Monument Content For Spots and Branded Content
Monument Content has signed director Cassandra “Cassie” Brooksbank for U.S. representation spanning commercials and branded content. She brings to her directing and storytelling the experience and skills of a writer, conceptual artist, editor and visual effects artist.
Her body of work as a director includes Pepsi’s “Selfie” featuring Lionel Messi amid a flurry of fans, Barclays madcap women’s Soccer League spot where she collaborated closely with the agency to develop the creative, ultimately winning the Grand Jury Prize at the Sports Industry Awards, and a grass-roots campaign for Fellow Coffee. The latter just didn’t brew buzz; it helped raise $1.2 million on Kickstarter.
Prior to joining Monument Content, Brooksbank had been repped in the U.S. for commercials by production house Hey Wonderful.
On the long-form front, she is repped by CAA for film and television. And on the horizon is her debut feature, My Masterpiece, produced by Sylvester Stallone’s Balboa Productions and backed by Amazon.
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