London-based integrated agency Once Upon A Time (OUAT) has acquired IdeaWork Studios, broadening its offerings and expanding for the first time into the U.S. Headquartered in New York, IdeaWork specializes in branding and digital for the hospitality, luxury, entertainment, and gaming sectors. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The addition of IdeaWork to the Once Upon A Time stable is the group’s seventh acquisition and aligned with its strategy to offer an independent, integrated approach from media buying and advertising to in-store retail marketing. The acquisition is OUAT’s first in the States and gives the agency offices in New York, Las Vegas, and Santa Barbara. In addition, the founder of IdeaWork, Jay Schwartz, will take on the role of executive creative director for the OUAT group, while retaining his position as CEO and ECD at IdeaWork Studios. Joe Garton is OUAT CEO.
Founded in 1999, IdeaWork is an established branding and digital agency that counts Michelin-starred chefs like Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Eric Ripert, Daniel Boulud, Charlie Palmer, and Michael White; boutique hotels like Ian Schrager’s PUBLIC and EDITION, RFR’s Gramercy Park Hotel, 11 Howard, and The Jaffa; and resorts like Gurney’s Montauk and Carillon Miami amongst its clients.
Ryan Stasyshyn named head of Rodeo FX’s Toronto office
Rodeo FX has appointed Ryan Stasyshyn as the new head of its Toronto office and its offering of visual effects, animation and creative services. Stasyshyn has been part of the production teams for projects including WandaVision, Watchmen, John Wick: Chapter 4, The Handmaid’s Tale, 1923, and Priscilla. Throughout his career, Stasyshyn gained invaluable on-set experience serving as the head of production, head of operations, and managing director.
“In an era where VFX companies are often bought out and focused solely on the bottom line, Rodeo FX stands apart. The company sets a high bar for talent and work, creating an environment that fosters collaboration like I’ve never seen before,” said Stasyshyn.
“With Ryan stepping in as head, we aim to grant the Toronto studio greater autonomy, enabling it to lead its own projects while supporting our headquarters and our other studios with their global initiative,” explained Sebastien Moreau, president and founder of Rodeo FX.
Well known in the Toronto community, Stasyshyn has worked with several of the biggest local studios including Intelligent Creature, Monsters Aliens Robots Zombie and Maverick VFX.
The Toronto studio, which recently finished projects for Netflix, Warner Bros. and Nissan Canada, marks the fifth international location of Rodeo FX, along with Montreal, Quebec City, Los Angeles and Paris.
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