Valiant Pictures has added director and DP Danny Corey to its roster for U.S. commercial representation. Corey, who helmed the NY-based independent production company’s recent CarMax “Call Your Shot” campaign starring Stephen Curry and Sue Bird, has leveraged his human-focused directing sensibilities in branded content for clients including MTN DEW, Larabar, Snapchat and Margaritaville, among others. His kinetic work remains heavily inspired by his background in documentary-style production, as well as the anamorphic photography style of 1960s' Spaghetti Westerns and independent films.
Corey, who has always been a fan of movies, didn’t even know growing up it was possible for him to have a career making them. After receiving a Communications degree and encouragement from his partner Heather, he began making films of his own and networking with film professionals. He spent the next few years working as a PA in Philadelphia and NYC, frequently collaborating with now-Valiant Pictures West Coast EP Adam Zimmer, and never looked back. Corey moved to Los Angeles in 2011, reconnecting with Zimmer and the Valiant Pictures team, later collaborating on multiple campaigns for their shared client CarMax.
“It’s been a joy getting to know Danny over the past few years and I’m thrilled to make him a formal part of our team. His passion for capturing authentic humanity in film aligns with our mission to create diverse stories representative of all the world’s cultures,” noted Valiant Pictures EP Matthew D’Amato.
Corey said of his Valiant colleages, “I’ve come to know the whole team over the last few years and consider them friends. And who doesn’t want to work with their friends? But for me, the most exciting part is the behind-the-scenes work I’ve observed. Matt, Vince (Lin, Valiant's founding partner, director and EP) and Adam regularly champion passion projects and offer all sorts of guidance and support to enthusiastic filmmakers from all walks of life. This just feels like the right place to be.”
Nikki Baker Becomes CEO At Fallon
Fallon has appointed Nikki Baker as its new CEO. Baker, who joined the creative agency in 2018 and has served as co-chief creative officer with Leslie Shaffer since 2021, succeeds Rocky Novak, who has been in the role since 2019.
Baker’s promotion to CEO comes at a time of significant momentum for the agency, including six consecutive years of growth and award-winning work.
Baker’s recent career highlights include creatively leading the Walmart partnership with the Publicis Groupe team and spearheading innovative campaigns such as the award-winning “RomCommerce” 23-episodic series and the internet-breaking Mean Girls campaign, among hundreds of other campaigns together with the brand over the past few years. Together with Shaffer, Baker has also been instrumental in elevating Fallon’s creative output for longstanding clients like Arby’s, Mattress Firm, and Front Door/American Home Shield.
“I’ve always been an admirer of Fallon, even before I joined. The chance to lead the agency is an absolute honor. Fallon is a place like no other with amazing talent and a legacy of building big, innovative, creative ideas,” said Baker. “Rocky has represented the best of Fallon. He’s been a great leader, and I couldn’t be more excited to take the reins and lead the agency through to the next chapter. With creativity at our core, we’re going to be as ambitious as ever, push boundaries, and continue embracing emerging platforms to deliver work that truly resonates in culture.”
Prior to joining Fallon six years ago, Baker held positions as creative director and art director at agencies including DDB and GSD&M, working with major brands such as McDonald’s, Southwest Airlines, and Wrigley. Her work has been recognized by... Read More