Alkemy X has brought on brand marketer and network executive Gary Freilich as head of content development & strategy. He will lead the company’s revitalized content partnerships and entertainment strategy. Freilich will work alongside Alkemy X’s team of creative talent to develop opportunities for brand and agency partners, and Alkemy X will tap Freilich’s expertise creating content that is highly strategic for brands and feels authentic for the talent, artists and content creators.
With over 20 years of experience and a big-tent, inclusive approach to creative development, Freilich led innovative production partnerships as SVP of strategic partnerships at NBC/Universal for celebrity talent including Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Fallon, the cast and writers of Saturday Night Live, network shows like the Today Show and MSNBC’s Morning Joe, and the Olympic broadcast every two years–each fostering direct creative collaboration with brands like Microsoft, Intel, Sharp, Samsung and American Express. Most recently, Freilich spearheaded a dynamic range of content development collaborations for Martha Stewart and MSC Cruises, as well as Jessica Simpson with Green Giant and No Kid Hungry. Freilich’s other notable recent strategy and partnership development work has included the creation and development of the U.S. Wildlife Trafficking Alliance for the U.S. Department of Interior, and the launch TEACH.org for Microsoft in collaboration with State Farm and the U.S. Dept. of Education.
Alkemy X created and is responsible for series such as TLC’s Dragnificent! and the cult favorite Restaurant: Impossible, currently in its 20th season on the Food Network, among others. At Alkemy X, Freilich will leverage his broad experience to lead Alkemy X’s development and creative teams to work closely with brands on content development, while continuing to align with longstanding agency partners.
Alkemy X president and CEO Justin Wineburgh noted, “Gary has such an impressive depth of experience across all sides of the industry, bringing a nuanced understanding of how creative development can help brands meet their business goals. His proven track record for building brand awareness through targeted content development demonstrates the effectiveness of his inclusive approach.”
Freilich added, “The most effective commercials, promos, experiential or short form content pieces are first and foremost entertaining. What I have seen Alkemy X deliver for clients is next level and, amazingly, all the creative and production talent, including world-class VFX, is in-house. The most innovative and successful partnerships always include the creative talent sitting at the ‘ideation’ table with the brand marketing people who know their consumers inside and out. I’m excited to work with Alkemy X’s creative team to continue the long history of creating visually stunning and impactful content for any platform in partnership with marketers, brands and their strategic agencies.”
Freilich began his career in packaged goods product management and marketing for brands including A+D Baby, Nivea and Dr. Scholls. He later moved to NBC/Universal, where he helped build and eventually led the Strategic Partnership Group, leveraging the creative, artistic, sales and celebrity/show strength of NBC/Universal with brands looking to creatively bolster their traditional advertising & marketing strategies.
Harvey Weinstein hit with new sex crime charge in New York
Harvey Weinstein pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a new sex crime charge in New York, as he awaits retrial in his landmark #MeToo case.
Details of the new allegations were not immediately available. He was charged with committing a criminal sex act.
The jailed ex-movie mogul has long maintained that any sexual activity was consensual.
Prosecutors revealed last week that Weinstein had been indicted on additional sex crime charges that weren't part of the case that led to his now-overturned 2020 conviction. But the new indictment was sealed until his arraignment.
Prosecutors have said that the grand jury heard evidence of up to three alleged assaults — two in hotels in the Tribeca neighborhood and one at a lower Manhattan residential building. The purported incidents took place from the mid-2000s to 2016, prosecutors said.
But it's not clear whether any of those allegations underlie the new indictment.
While bracing for the new charges, Weinstein also is awaiting retrial after New York state's highest court this spring overturned his 2020 conviction on rape and sexual assault charges involving two women. The high court, called the Court of Appeals, ordered a new trial, which is tentatively scheduled to begin Nov. 12.
The Court of Appeals ruled that the then-trial judge unfairly allowed testimony against him based on allegations that were not part of the case. That judge's term expired in 2022, and he is no longer on the bench.
Prosecutors have said they'll seek to fold the new charges into the retrial, but Weinstein's lawyers say it should be a separate case.
Weinstein, who also was convicted in 2022 in a Los Angeles rape case, remains behind bars while awaiting his New York retrial.
Weinstein,... Read More