Director Marina Zenovich, who won two primetime Emmy Awards this year for her documentary Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired, has inked a deal with Beverly Hills-headquartered Saville Productions for representation in commercials.
On the strength of the Polanski documentary, Zenovich earned this year’s Emmy both for outstanding directing as well as outstanding writing for nonfiction programming. (The writing honor was shared with fellow writers Joe Bini and P.G. Morgan). The feature-length doc. aired on HBO after the network acquired it at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival.
Just a couple weeks after the Emmy wins on Sept. 12, the Polanski documentary took on added significance and became a hot topic of discussion when filmmaker Polanski was arrested by Swiss police for possible extradition to the U.S. for having sex in 1977 with a 13-year-old girl. Polanski is currently in custody at a Swiss jail (he had flown into Switzerland to receive an honorary award at the Zurich Film Festival) awaiting what looks like pending extradition to the U.S. to stand trial on a 31-year-old arrest warrant.
Zenovich’s Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired is a fascinating and compelling study of the judicial system and the nature of celebrity. The documentary earned acclaim at both the Sundance and Cannes Film Festivals.
“Marina’s style of directing is gripping and entertaining and lends itself to those commercials or branded content films that are trying to communicate a strong message,” said Johnny Doran, Saville’s executive producer. “Marina’s ability to put people at ease results in a rare honesty in her filmmaking.”
Prior to directing, Zenovich acted in theater and film and believes it helps her enormously as a filmmaker. “I think acting teaches you to really listen, and I think people aren’t used to really listening these days,” said Zenovich. “When interviewees feel that you’re listening, they open up more than they would normally.”
Zenovich’s other directorial film credits include: Who Is Bernard Tapie?, a study of the French former politician/convicted criminal turned actor; and Estonia Dreams of Eurovision!, which centers on the wacky world of Tallin, Estonia, as it prepares to host the Eurovision Song Contest. Her first documentary, Independent’s Day, a look at the struggles of independent filmmakers set at the Sundance and Slamdance Film Festivals, featured Steven Soderbergh, Neil Labute and Greg Mottola.
Zenovich has also profiled Julian Schnabel, Robert Wilson, John Baldessari, Takashi Murakami and David Lynch for Gallery HD’s Art in Progress series.
The Many Hires Jeremiah Wassom As Group Creative Director
Independent agency The Many has added Jeremiah Wassom as group creative director.
Wassom most recently worked a decade at Deutsch LA where, as SVP/creative director, he led the Taco Bell account and won new business for the agency. His agency past also includes AKQA and TBWAChiatDay. His creative work has touched the QSR, video games, automotive, fashion, and culture brand sectors. He also served eight years with the United States Marine Corps.
“Throughout his career, Jeremiah has helmed work that has not only made me personally jealous but has consistently pushed brands to show up in memorable and innovative ways,” said Josh Paialii, head of creative at The Many. “One look at his body of work and you will see his passion for storytelling and craft has raised the bar for entire categories, driving participation with many brands’ most loyal fans. Beyond being a world-class creative director and maker, Wassom is a proven team player and strategic thought leader. He’ll be a great addition to the leadership team at The Many working across all accounts. His role will be immediately felt as he guides and supports each of the creative leads in the department.”
A 20-year creative with agency, brand, and freelance experience, Wassom has forged a creative approach which focuses on crafting engaging connections rather than simply make ads. He sees the need for advertising to mean more, not simply do more.
The Many believes that true business growth is made possible by harnessing the power of participation and partners with brands to forge deeper connections with consumers, cultivate trust and loyalty, and maximize marketing spend and execution. The agency is built around a flexible model that offers a suite of capabilities, including... Read More