Director Anthony Garth has joined Seed Media Arts, the Roy Skillicorn-founded company headquartered in Chicago with offices in L.A., for national representation except for Detroit. Avalon Films continues to handle Garth in the Detroit market. The director’s credits span such clients as Chevy, Ford, Lincoln, Dassault, GM, Jeep and Frontier. Garth’s Chrysler “Born of Choir” spot and Michigan Tourism’s “Pure Michigan” have won multiple awards for agencies McCann Erickson and Doner, respectively. He began his career turning out music videos for the likes of The White Stripes and Jim Jones, and later moving up the charts to Eminem and Kid Rock…..Ben Conrad has launched L.A.-based live action production company GenPop. As co-founder of Logan, creative director/director Conrad worked with brands including Apple, Nike, BMW and Ford. He is widely known for directing the viral Gymkhana series with rally driver Ken Block, which has racked up 200 million-plus views. Gymkhana also grabbed two Gold Pencils from The One Show, among many other awards. Gymkhana 5, set on the streets of San Francisco, is the most popular installment, reaching over 80 million views on its own. GenPop has assembled a roster of creative technologists and directors spanning live action, animation, projection mapping, experiential and virtual reality. The talent lineup includes Conrad, Andrew Bruntel, Fellow, Riley Blakeway, Collider Studio, Josh Forbes, Master of Shapes, Andrew Gura, Renascent, Steven Ilous, Geoffrey Lillemon, Pieter Henket and tabletop/lifestyle director Tiger in a Jar. Execs include EP Pierre Nobile, Nick Moceri who heads GenPop’s feature and TV ventures, and managing director Alex Anderson….Editor Chris Murphy has joined Whitehouse Post’s L.A. office. He spent the past nearly decade at Canadian shop Relish which continues to handle him for Toronto-based work. He has cut for clients including Google, Bose and Habitat for Humanity…..
Director Lu Villaca Joins MADRE
Production company MADRE has added Brazilian director Lu Villaça to its talent roster. With degrees in cinema and performance and a master’s in screenwriting, Villaça brings a multifaceted approach to filmmaking. Villaça’s tastes have been shaped by her childhood training in ballet, studying Greek theatre texts, her passion for music, and her contemplative nature. She honed her cinematic skills early on as an AD and creative assistant before becoming a director. Intent on capturing the drama of everyday life as it plays out, Villaça is tuned in to how the bodies in her frame move through their environments and what elements of the story can be extrapolated from these compositions. Her sharp attention to detail in every aspect, from lighting to the final edit, is designed to connect emotionally with her audience. Villaça has been awarded three Cannes Lions for her film “Next Minute Law,” which promoted awareness of a law in Brazil designed to address the rampant epidemic of sexual violence. “Next Minute Law” also garnered Best Direction at El Ojo and the Ciclope Latino Festival, where Villaça also won Best New Talent. Additionally, she has directed assorted commercial campaigns for brands like Johnnie Walker, Huggies Wipes, Nestlé, Amazon, A.C. Camargo Cancer Center, and a spot for Medley featuring Brazilian Olympic gymnast Rebeca Andrade. Prior to joining MADRE, Villaca had been repped by production house LOBO. Recognized in Brazil as a top music video director, Villaca won Best Female Direction for her work on “Nu” by Assucena and “Lovezinho” by Rachel Reis, which also won Best National Music Video at the MVF Awards. Villaça additionally co-directed the documentary Pagliacci, an homage to circus artist Domingos Montagner... Read More