Havas has launched Prose on Pixels (POP). With an AI powered, engagement-centric “Audience First” model, the new venture will work with agencies, their clients, and, increasingly, direct-to-clients, to break through and connect with audiences by creating, scaling, and personalizing impactful, meaningful content. Led by Steve Netzley, who assumes the role of global CEO, and Paul Ward as global president, the new, standalone network further unifies the various production practices that exist across Havas’ global networks, bringing creative, BETC, health, and media studios together to operate as one unified global content creation offering. Comprising over 550 talents, across 13 locations, Prose on Pixels integrates Havas’ network of expertise and maximizes the affiliation with the wider Vivendi Group through technology, tools and talent. Havas chairman and CEO Yannick Bollore said, “Havas is incredibly well positioned to leverage its wide network of expertise and unique position within Vivendi to deliver meaningful content at scale to brands, business and audiences. AI’s potential to accelerate the impact of the “Audience First” model is truly exciting and presents a unique opportunity to deliver unprecedented business outcomes for our clients“….
Megan Ferrara has been hired in the newly created role of managing director and Mili Marcetic has been promoted to director of production at MKG, a creative agency for experiential marketing and brand action. Ferrara will report directly to MKG president Christine Capone. Based in Los Angeles, Ferrara will oversee the agency’s West Coast operations and be responsible for driving strategic growth for the agency through implementing and executing strategies for best-in-class client services. Ferrara brings more than two decades of experience to the role, having previously held leadership roles at creative agencies including The XD Agency, Jack Morton Worldwide, and Imagination. She has spearheaded global strategy campaigns across marketing, PR, digital and brand experience. Meanwhile Marcetic was recently promoted from executive producer to director of production. Marcetic, who is based in New York, now reports directly to MKG chief creative officer Lauren Austin. Marcetic originally came to MKG as a freelance producer before rising the ranks due to her talent for, and expertise in, producing events for fashion, beauty, travel and spirits clients. Prior to MKG, she held a variety of event manager and account executive roles…
Full Lineup Set For AFI Fest; Official Selections Span 44 Countries, Include 9 Best International Feature Oscar Submissions
The American Film Institute (AFI) has unveiled the full lineup for this year’s AFI Fest, taking place in Los Angeles from October 23-27. Rounding out the slate of already announced titles are such highlights as September 5 directed by Tim Fehlbaum, All We Imagine As Light directed by Payal Kapadia, The Luckiest Man in America directed by Samir Oliveros (AFI Class of 2019), Zurawski v. Texas from executive producers Hillary Clinton, Chelsea Clinton and Jennifer Lawrence and directors Maisie Crow and Abbie Perrault, and Oh, Canada directed by Paul Schrader (AFI Class of 1969). A total of 158 films are set to screen at the 38th edition of AFI Fest.
Of the official selections, 48% are directed by women and non-binary filmmakers and 26% are directed by BIPOC filmmakers.
Additional festival highlights include documentaries Architecton directed by Victor Kossakovsky; Cheech & Chong’s Last Movie directed by David Bushell; Devo directed by Chris Smith about the legendary new wave provocateurs; Gaucho Gaucho directed by Michael Dweck and Gregory Kershaw; Group Therapy directed by Neil Berkeley with Emmy® winner Neil Patrick Harris and Tig Notaro; No Other Land directed by a Palestinian-Israeli team comprised of Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor and Hamdan Ballal; Pavements directed by Alex Ross Perry; and Separated directed by Errol Morris. Notable narrative titles include Black Dog (Gou Zen) directed by Guan Hu; Bonjour Tristesse directed by Durga Chew-Bose with Academy Award® nominee Chloë Sevigny; Caught By The Tides directed by Jia Zhangke; Hard Truths directed by Mike Leigh with... Read More