Crispin Porter + Bogusky (CP+B) has promoted Jason Gagnon to the role of executive producer, head of radio + audio. Gagnon, who is based out of Miami, will oversee all sound production at the agency, including radio commercials as well as audio needs relating to TV or Internet-based work. Gagnon has been with CP+B since 2005, producing much of the agency's radio work since that time. In 2008, he was promoted to head of radio production, where he took a further lead on related work for CP+B clients including Domino's Pizza, vitaminwater, belVita, Best Buy, MetLife, Arby's, Applebee's, Old Navy and KRAFT. Gagnon got his start in advertising in the late 90's, spending five years as an audio engineer at a South Florida agency before becoming a studio director at another local agency, writing jingles and producing and mixing spots in the automotive industry. His work has been awarded with Silver at the London International Awards and Bronze at the Clios as well a Titanium Lion at this year's Cannes for the KRAFT Ted Williams-Fight Hunger campaign. In addition to acting as sr. integrated radio producer on the campaign, Gagnon was instrumental in locating, connecting, and signing singer Ted Williams, 24 hours after the viral video that propelled his notoriety hit the web…Sydney-based design, visual effects and animation studio Animal Logic has expanded its advertising creative team with the addition of director Simon Robson and VFX supervisor/lead Flame artist Jonathan Hairman. BAFTA-nominated Robson, who spent over 10 years in London making his mark in various production and animation studios, joins Animal Logic as director in its advertising and multimedia division. While working with London's Nexus Productions, Robson collaborated with high profile agencies and directors, turning out work for such clients as Mars, Nike and Adidas. Now living in Australia, Robson has been busy directing work for an international stable of clients bringing his animation sensibilities to the live-action realm on commercials for MasterCard, Coke, Kia Motors, Telstra and award winning promos for SBS. Meanwhile Hairman, an 18-plus year industry vet, returns to Animal Logic. After nine years at Framestore, London, where he rose to being a leading spot VFX supervisor, Hairman is back home in Sydney. Known for his distinctive eye for detail Hairman has worked with such noted directors as Martin Krejci, Tom Hooper, Johnny Green, Frank Budgen, Chris Palmer and Jonas Akerlund….New York-based Cause & [Effect] has signed director Moh Azima for U.S. commercial representation. A music video director with output for Cold War Kids, Interpol and more to his name, Azima has also helmed spots for MTV, Marc by Marc Jacobs and American Express. The director recently completed an Olympics-themed spot for Nick Jr., produced by Cause & [Effect]. Azima is currently repped on the West Coast and for music videos by Doomsday and was most recently repped at Paydirt Pictures….Editor Tracy Hof has inked a deal with Stitch to work on commercial, music video and narrative work. Her credits in the commercial field include Bud Light, Adidas, Sony, Toyota, Xbox and DirecTV. She had a recent stint as sr. editor at Oprah Winfrey's OWN network…..Barbary Post has promoted Matt O'Donnell to editor. O'Donnell was hired in January as a senior assistant/junior editor but has done very little assisting and quite a bit of editing. O'Donnell has recently cut a package of spots for XOJet, directed by Jeff Iorillo, and videos for Salesforce.com and Barefoot Wines, through BBDO/SF. O'Donnell joins the Barbary roster of editors Bob Spector and Nick Tomnay, VFX compositor Greg Gilmore, VFX designer Steven McEuen and colorist Kent Pritchett. O'Donnell had been a part of the San Francisco post community for seven years, including five on staff at Bonfire/Phoenix….The VIA Agency has hired Dustin Levine as integrated producer reporting to Sven Fahlgren, director of new media and production services. Levine will work on the Welch's and DuPont accounts. Prior to joining VIA, Levine was employed at Sony PlayStation Marketing Werks as marketing manager where he helped to launch the PlayStation Vita and 3D TVs….
Utah Leaders and Locals Rally To Keep Sundance Film Festival In The State
With the 2025 Sundance Film Festival underway, Utah leaders, locals and longtime attendees are making a final push — one that could include paying millions of dollars — to keep the world-renowned film festival as its directors consider uprooting.
Thousands of festivalgoers affixed bright yellow stickers to their winter coats that read "Keep Sundance in Utah" in a last-ditch effort to convince festival leadership and state officials to keep it in Park City, its home of 41 years.
Gov. Spencer Cox said previously that Utah would not throw as much money at the festival as other states hoping to lure it away. Now his office is urging the Legislature to carve out $3 million for Sundance in the state budget, weeks before the independent film festival is expected to pick a home for the next decade.
It could retain a small presence in picturesque Park City and center itself in nearby Salt Lake City, or move to another finalist — Cincinnati, Ohio, or Boulder, Colorado — beginning in 2027.
"Sundance is Utah, and Utah is Sundance. You can't really separate those two," Cox said. "This is your home, and we desperately hope it will be your home forever."
Last year's festival generated about $132 million for the state of Utah, according to Sundance's 2024 economic impact report.
Festival Director Eugene Hernandez told reporters last week that they had not made a final decision. An announcement is expected this year by early spring.
Colorado is trying to further sweeten its offer. The state is considering legislation giving up to $34 million in tax incentives to film festivals like Sundance through 2036 — on top of the $1.5 million in funds already approved to lure the Utah festival to its neighboring... Read More