Global production studio UNIT9 has added filmmaker and screenwriter Maya Albanese to its roster of creative storytellers. UNIT9 will represent the director for commercials and branded content in the U.S. and U.K. She had been directing freelance for the past year prior to joining UNIT9. Earlier she was with production house brother for representation in the ad arena.
Albanese brings global expertise in filmmaking, branded entertainment and screenwriting to UNIT9. As a trilingual director, she has crafted work in English, Spanish and French, for brands including Disney, Warner Brothers, Chevrolet, L’Oreal, IBM, VISA, Google and more. Albanese is fresh off directing a series of magical realism spots for BIC and comedy spots for VISA, all of which combine her expertise in directing celebrity talent, visual effects and animation.
Earlier this year, she finished a dark surrealist comedy, Freeze, which she wrote and directed about women’s fertility. It stars Chris Parnell, Adrien Grenier, Mindy Sterling, Nora Zehetner, Rick Overton, Kel Mitchell and Queen Jazzmun. Freeze is an official selection of the Diversity in Cannes Short Film Showcase at the 73rd Cannes Film Festival and is slated to screen at festivals worldwide in 2020-2021.
Albanese made one of her first major marks in the industry when in 2018 she became one of six directors chosen by the Association of Independent Commercial Producers and the Directors Guild of America for the competitive Commercial Directors Diversity Program (CDDP) fellowship. In making the final CDDP cut, Albanese earned some funding for a spec commercial, which turned out to be “History” for Georgia-Pacific. In “History,” director Albanese introduces us to a gay couple, a high school student with Down syndrome, and an immigrant to the U.S. who each receive a letter in the mail bringing life-changing news. The couple reads that its adoption of a child has been approved. The student is notified that she has been accepted to Syracuse University. And the immigrant is informed that he has been granted permanent residency status in the U.S. A supered tagline reads, “History is written on paper. Which is why paper will never be history.”
“History” went on to be honored in SHOOT’s Best of “The Best Work You May Never See” gallery in 2018, named the second best piece of work in that year’s rundown.
UNIT9 executive producer Emily Malito said of Albanese, “I knew that we needed to sign her from the moment I saw her work while she was a DGA fellow. Maya brings a unique perspective to the table and a way of telling stories that captivates audiences.”
Albanese shared, “Telling moving stories that create more inclusivity in front of and behind the camera, whether that’s women, minorities or people with disabilities, is what drives me. I believe we need to continue pushing for this now more than ever. I’m really looking forward to working with the UNIT9 team to make bold, new stories come to life onscreen. Together, I believe we can make sure that all kinds of people get to see themselves reflected in media and advertising.”
First-Time Feature Directors Make Major Splash At AFI Fest, Generate Oscar Buzz
Two first-time feature directors who are generating Oscar buzz this awards season were front and center this past weekend at AFI Fest in Hollywood. Rachel Morrison, who made history as the first woman nominated for a Best Cinematography Oscar---on the strength of Mudbound in 2018--brought her feature directorial debut, The Fire Inside (Amazon MGM Studios), to the festival on Sunday (10/27), and shared insights into the film during a conversation session immediately following the screening. This came a day after William Goldenberg, an Oscar-winning editor for Argo in 2013, had his initial foray into feature directing, Unstoppable (Amazon MGM Studios), showcased at the AFI proceedings. He too spoke after the screening during a panel discussion. The Fire Inside--which made its world premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival--tells the story of Claressa “T-Rex” Shields (portrayed by Ryan Destiny), a Black boxer from Flint, Mich., who trained to become the first woman in U.S. history to win an Olympic Gold Medal in the sport. She achieved this feat--with the help of coach Jason Crutchfield (Brian Tyree Henry)--only to find that her victory at the Summer Games came with relatively little fanfare and no endorsement deals. So much for the hope that the historic accomplishment would be a ticket out of socioeconomic purgatory for Shields and her family. It seemed like yet another setback in a cycle of adversity throughout Shields’ life but she persevered, going on to win her second Gold Medal at the next Olympics and becoming a champion for gender equality and equitable pay for women in sports. Shields has served as a source of inspiration for woman athletes worldwide--as well as to the community of... Read More