Independent agency 22Squared has hired Toygar Bazarkaya as chief creative officer. Bazarkaya comes over from Optimist where he was global chief creative officer. His industry experience spans multiple world class agencies including BBDO, DDB, Mullen, Havas and Jung von Matt. He has contributed to the growth and success of brands including Mercedes-Benz, Visa, P&G, McDonald’s, Dos Equis, Wrigley, Campbell Soup, HP, Nike and Amazon. Bazarkaya’s work has been widely recognized within the industry and beyond; he’s won awards at every major show including The One Show, Clios, D&AD and Cannes where he’s received over 30 Lions.
“Bringing in a chief creative officer that can galvanize the teams and push us forward has been a priority for us this year,” said 22Squared CEO Erica Hoholick. “Toygar brings a proven history of creative excellence and an agile approach that will elevate our team and grow our business.”
Bazarkaya said, “22Squared brings the high-touch service only an independent agency can offer at the scale of a network agency. It really is the best of both worlds. The agency is special–it has great fundamentals, is 100% employee owned and has put together an amazing team.”
The agency was behind the successful repositioning of Baskin Robbins last year delivering record growth for the brand, and work like “Invisible Hate” for the NAACP which was recognized by Cannes Lions. The agency has fully embraced remote work and has continuously attracted top executives and over 15 new clients in the last two years.
“There is no way an agency thrives for over 100 years without having a vision for the future. I can’t wait to continue this tradition and take the agency to new heights,” said Bazarkaya.
Review: Writer-Directors Scott Beck and Bryan Wood’s “Heretic”
"Heretic" opens with an unusual table setter: Two young missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are discussing condoms and why some are labeled as large even though they're all pretty much a standard size. "What else do we believe because of marketing?" one asks the other.
That line will echo through the movie, a stimulating discussion of religion that emerges from a horror movie wrapper. Despite a second-half slide and feeling unbalanced, this is the rare movie that combines lots of squirting blood and elevated discussion of the ancient Egyptian god Horus.
Our two church members — played fiercely by Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East — are wandering around trying to covert souls when they knock on the door of a sweet-looking cottage. Its owner, Mr. Reed, offers a hearty "Good afternoon!" He welcomes them in, brings them drinks and promises a blueberry pie. He's also interested in learning more about the church. So far, so good.
Mr. Reed is, of course, if you've seen the poster, the baddie and he's played by Hugh Grant, who doesn't go the snarling, dead-eyed Hannibal Lecter route in "Heretic." Grant is the slightly bumbling, bashful and self-mocking character we fell in love with in "Four Weddings and a Funeral," but with a smear of menace. He gradually reveals that he actually knows quite a bit about the Mormon religion — and all religions.
"It's good to be religious," he says jauntily and promises his wife will join them soon, a requirement for the church. Homey touches in his home include a framed "Bless This Mess" needlepoint on a wall, but there are also oddities, like his lights are on a timer and there's metal in the walls and ceilings.
Writer-directors Scott Beck and Bryan Wood — who also... Read More