Walker, with shops in Portland and L.A., and the NY-based Able Baker are merging under the banner We Are Walker (in partnership with boutique audio post company Heard City).
Collaborators and competitors for more than 10 years, Sara Matarazzo and Peter Gannon, respective founders of Walker and Able Baker, regularly license and create music for leading brands and filmmakers across feature films, television, commercials, mobile and digital platforms. Via content and licensing agency We Are Walker, Matarazzo and Gannon plan to drive innovation in content creation as well as in licensing, original composition, supervision, music strategy, sound design and library services.
“Clients are not satisfied with the limited scope of today’s licensing deals,” said Matarazzo, “which is why we are creating a company that combines original content capabilities with the administrative side. When we clear a song, that is the perfect time to ask an artist or label, what else can we do together?”
Gannon noted, “There is an opportunity to not just be reactive. We invest in content creation, collaborate with artists and champion new distribution channels.”
Gannon founded Able Baker (in partnership with Heard City) last year and has since created music for Verizon, Gap, Budweiser and Google Android (including the latter’s viral hit “Friends Forever”).
In addition to supervising and producing music for Nike, Google, Coca-Cola, Old Spice and director Noah Baumbach, Matarazzo’s award-winning Walker has transformed relationships with top musicians and brands into unique projects including a holiday album for Target, a series of 7-inch records for Nike and a comic book with singer-songwriter Daniel Johnston.
We are Walker will be represented by indie firm The Department of Sales.
Sinners and Saints Adds Apple Pie To Its Branded Menu
Bicoastal Sinners and Saints--the multidisciplinary studio overseen by managing director/executive producer Heather Heller, and partners/EPs Yann Henric and Thomas Carroll--has added Apple Pie Tabletop to its roster for branded content. Known for its food and beverage content creation, Apple Pie comprises the husband-and-wife team of director/DP Gene Dubin and director/art director Alisa Volodina. In addition to representation, the move expands Apple Pie’s production capabilities through the combination of its centrally located full-service studio in New York and a newly established mobile studio in Los Angeles. Apple Pie recently teamed with Sinners and Saints on a Wienerschnitzel project created by Innocean.
“We believe that our dual studio strategy positions us uniquely in the competitive landscape of food and beverage storytelling,” said Heller. “By blending the artistry of the New York studio with the flexibility of our Los Angeles location, we can tailor our productions to meet the unique demands of each project, regardless of geography.”
“Working with Sinners and Saints in the demanding field of tabletop was an absolute pleasure,” shared Apple Pie Tabletop in a joint statement. “Warm welcome, unwavering support and dedication--everything a director can ask for. The entire experience was both enjoyable and rewarding. We will not miss an opportunity to collaborate with them again.”
“The first thing you notice is that Apple Pie has beautiful work,” Heller observed. “Having worked with them, I can say that Gene and Alisa are extremely meticulous and detail-oriented; their combination of talent and agility appeals to agencies and clients.” Also appealing to Heller is Apple Pie Tabletop’s brisk international... Read More