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    Wayne Best Named Chief Creative Officer of VMLY&R NY

    By SHOOTUpdated:No Comments4952 Views
    Wayne Best
    NEW YORK --

    Wayne Best has been appointed chief creative officer of VMLY&R New York. In his new role, he will drive creative work for clients including Dell Technologies. Best will report to Jason Xenopoulos, CEO of New York and co-CCO of North America. Debbi Vandeven is VMLY&R’s global CCO.

    Best joins VMLY&R from McCann NY, where he was co-deputy CCO on the Verizon account, which won multiple Cannes Lions for the “First Responders” campaign.

    Best’s hiring comes at a time of creative momentum for the VMLY&R network, which landed 31 Lions and 69 shortlists at this year’s Cannes Lions, including two Grand Prix and a Titanium Lion. VMLY&R’s client roster includes Wendy’s, Office Depot, the U.S. Navy, Pepperidge Farm, New Balance and Pfizer. 

    Prior to McCann, Best was the creative lead on Walmart, working with Saatchi, Publicis, and their partner agencies to shift perceptions of the brand. Before running Walmart, Best founded his own agency, Cog NYC, which led accounts including Boar’s Head and LG Appliances. He has also worked for JWT, TAXI NY, Fallon, Wieden+Kennedy, Kirshenbaum + Bond, Cliff Freeman & Partners and Ammirati & Puris. 

    As ECD at JWT, Best created the primetime CBS animated holiday special Yes, Virginia for Macy’s. His work for JetBlue, Cadbury, ESPN, Starbucks, Pepsi, Virgin Mobile, Amp’d Mobile, Staples, Coca-Cola, AT&T, Fox Sports, Halls, Macy’s, Adopt US Kids, GoDaddy and other clients has resulted in numerous Cannes Lions, One Show Pencils, Effie honors, Webby Awards and the Jay Chiat Planning Award.  

    Best also spent five years as chair of The Ad Council’s Creative Review Committee and was a mentor in the  4A’s Institute for Advanced Advertising Studies program. He has been a judge at the One Show and jury chair for the Art Director’s Club Hybrid awards. 

    VMLY&R is a WPP company (NYSE: WPP).

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    Robert Eggers and Willem Dafoe Reunite For “Nosferatu”

    Tuesday, December 24, 2024

    When Willem Dafoe enjoys working with a filmmaker, he'll often jump at the chance to do it again.

    The list of directors with whom the 69-year-old has worked with more than once is extensive, including Wes Anderson,Yorgos Lanthimos,Paul Schrader,Lars von Trier and, now for a third time, Robert Eggers. "If it's good, you come back," Dafoe said plainly.

    The pair spoke about Eggers' adaptation of "Nosferatu" that hits theaters Wednesday, some of the challenges they faced making "The Lighthouse" — their first project together released in 2019 — and the unique relationship that exists between actors and directors.

    The interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

    Q: Willem, I read that you called Robert after you saw "The Witch." What did you say?

    DAFOE: I want to meet you and I want to know who this filmmaker is.

    Q: What is it about him that keeps bringing you back?

    DAFOE: Well, if it's good, you come back. When I saw "The Witch," I thought, "Wow, this is a film about a period that I'm not particularly knowledgeable about, but I enter it so easily. This is relevant. It's rooted. It's my story. I'm with these people."

    That's quite an incredible trick because a lot of period films, they're always pointing to themselves. They're always sending messages. They're always showing. This had a kind of energy and the kind of physicality and sensuality that I thought, "Who does this? I gotta see this guy." And then I had a wonderful experience in "The Lighthouse" and I played a part that was really fun in "The Northman." So, when he wants to do this passion project and offers me this beautiful role of Professor Von Franz, I say,... Read More

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