Roberto Cecchini of bicoastal/international The Artists Company, and John Benson, formerly of Industrial Light+ Magic, San Rafael, Calif., have launched visual effects shop Orphanage Spots, which has offices in Los Angeles and San Francisco….David Bowie has signed with bicoastal RSA USA’s Top Dog Films to direct commercials and music videos. This marks the first time that the singer/songwriter/producer/actor has formally been represented as a helmer…. Director Earle Sebastian has signed with bicoastal You Media for exclusive commercial and music video representation….Hollywood-based Orbit Productions has signed director Paul Santana…. Nonfiction spots, Santa Monica, and Paris-based Dissidents have entered into a reciprocal representation and co-production agreement. Both companies represent documentary filmmakers for commercials. Dissidents will handle spot production and representation in France for nonfiction’s U.S. roster. Conversely, nonfiction will do the same in the U.S. for the Dissidents lineup of directors….After nine years, New York-based boutique agency Dweck! is closing its doors. The agency is perhaps best known for its Cannes Gold-Lion winning ads for Dial-A-Mattress, directed by John O’Hagan of bicoastal/international hungry man. At press time, the future plans of Michael Dweck, agency chairman/creative director, were not yet known….Director Sam Raimi is again available for commercials via bicoastal Zooma Zooma, after wrapping principal photography on Sony Pictures Spiderman feature…Kieran Walsh, creative director/senior visual effects/Henry artist, R!OT Manhattan (formerly Manhattan Transfer), New York, has been named as the North American regional winner of the International Quantel Artist of the Year Award presented at last month’s Promax & BDA Conference & Exhibition in Miami…OC Post, the Orange County, Calif.-based editorial, design and finishing house, has changed its name to Stun Gun. Involved primarily in spot work, the boutique continues to be headed by president/CEO Ken Anderson….
Curatorial Committee Roster Is Set For The 2025 AICP Post Awards
The AICP has set the full roster for the Curatorial Committee for the 2025 AICP Post Awards. The group, representing experts from the full gamut of postproduction crafts as well as from the agency and brand ranks, will meet this spring under the leadership of AICP Post Awards chairperson James Razzall, U.S. president of advertising, Framestore.
The extended entry deadline for the full suite of AICP Awards--which includes The AICP Show: The Art & Technique of the Commercial, and the AICP Next Awards--is Wednesday, March 5. Full entry details can be found here. The results of each show will debut during AICP Week in New York this June, and be featured at a gala celebration at The Museum of Modern Art.
One of Razzall’s key responsibilities as chair is to form the AICP Post Awards Curatorial Committee, which will determine the selection of the final winners and choose the Post Awards Best of Show from among the category winners. “I was looking for the best people at the top level in all their respective crafts,” explained Razzall. “We aimed to be as diverse and geographically as broad as possible. And we looked for cross-discipline opinions. We strove for a mix of people, including those who curate the work, not just our peers in post but also the best people we have worked with on the brand and agency side.
“Across the board, we were looking for people with a strong voice,” Razzall continued. “Our goal is to have a proper conversation, so we can filter through to make sure the best work is being recognized. When you consider the amount of effort that’s gone into these entries and the level of craft that they exhibit, we owe them that respect and honor of judging the work... Read More