Chuck Studios, an Amsterdam-based food brand production specialist, is accelerating its presence in the U.S. The company, known for its “Culinary Identity” branding programs that develop distinctly appetizing brand imagery for Unilever, KFC, McDonald’s, Heineken and others, will bring this approach to the U.S. market led by newly named managing director Daryl Devlin. Olaf van Gerwen, Chuck’s global creative director, has collaborated with Devlin for years, including during Devlin’s stretch heading up U.S. sales for the company. In addition to its Amsterdam headquarters, Chuck maintains offices in Los Angeles, London, Berlin and Moscow…..
Havas Media Group (HMG) has named Sarah Ivey as its chief strategy officer, North America. Her appointment comes on the heels of her predecessor in that role, Meghan Grant, being elevated to president of HMG U.S. and chief experience officer for North America last month. Based in Toronto, Ivey will report directly to HMG North America CEO Greg Walsh and serve on the agency’s North American executive leadership team. Ivey spent four years consulting with HMG, working with the global team on the agency’s unique Mx, or Media Experience, system. She also consulted on key growth opportunities, working on high-profile pitches such as Hyundai Kia, and Facebook. Most recently, Ivey served as founder and head strategist for Agents of Necessity, a global strategy agency…
London-headquartered global creative agency Amplify, which also maintains hubs in Sydney and L.A., has hired Bonnie O’Hara as EVP heading up the Live arm of its L.A. office, becoming a member of the sr. management team and working alongside Mark McDermott, EVP, clients, and Marcus Childs, president. This marks a return to the agency for O’Hara, who was Amplify’s third employee when it launched in 2008. O’Hara brings years of transatlantic experience with a focus on culture shaping work for brands such as adidas, Converse, Samsung, Barclaycard and Google….
“Heretic” and “Maria” Set As Red Carpet Premieres At AFI Fest
The American Film Institute (AFI) has announced that Heretic, the psychological thriller starring Hugh Grant, and Maria, based on the life of opera singer Maria Callas starring Angelina Jolie, will round out the Red Carpet Premieres section at this year’s AFI Fest. The Heretic Gala Screening will take place on Thursday, October 24, and the Maria Gala Screening will be held on Saturday, October 26. The complete Red Carpet Premieres section includes the world premieres of Music By John Williams, Robert Zemeckis’ Here, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl and Clint Eastwood’s Juror #2. All Red Carpet Premieres will take place at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre. The full lineup for AFI Fest 2024 will be unveiled on October 1.
“At the heart of AFI Fest is an unwavering dedication to celebrating the best in global cinema--together,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI president and CEO. “We look forward to uniting artists and audiences once again to be inspired by the art form in a powerful sense of community.”
Heretic follows two young missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) who are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed (portrayed by Grant), becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse. The film is directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods and produced by Stacey Sher, Beck, Woods, Julia Glausi and Jeanette Volturno. The film will be released nationwide by A24 on November 8.
Directed by Pablo Larraín, Maria presents a tumultuous and beautiful depiction of one of the world’s most renowned artists and reimagines the legendary soprano in her final days in Paris, as Callas (Jolie)... Read More