Big Block has extended its position at the intersection of advertising, entertainment and technology with the creation of a powerhouse team of executive producers at Big Block Live in New York. Big Block Live’s head of production Corwin Carroll has been elevated to executive producer. Noted film, television and theater producers Scott Prisand and Tom Pellegrini, who currently lead Big Block Entertainment Group, will also assume concurrent roles as executive producers at Big Block Live.
The new infrastructure reflects Big Block’s vision as a bicoastal content creation entity. Carroll, Prisand and Pellegrini will work logistically and creatively with Big Block’s producers, design team and artists at its Santa Monica studio. Scott Benson, president of Big Block, said “This is the beginning of a broader initiative to bring the exponential force of our producers, directors, artists and proprietary technology to branded content for agencies, networks and brands. In the coming months we will be rolling out a unified brand identity for Big Block, as well as a slate of feature films under our own digital distribution banner.”
Carroll is a multi-faceted producer experienced in all aspects of production, from live action, visual effects and post production to coding, making him ideally suited for all stages of technically challenging projects. Carroll, who has been a freelance and agency producer, got his start when he was recruited by Ogilvy’s Chief Interactive Officer. Over the course of the next five years, he went on to hold multiple roles at Ogilvy’s in-house production company Eyepatch.
At Big Block Live Carroll served as head of production on Sam Adams “The New Guy,” directed by Big Block Live directors Josh + Vince for agency History; head of production/producer on Save The Children “The Most Important Sexy Video,” directed by Josh + Vince; and head of production on Greenpeace “#Clickclean,” directed by Josh + Vince for The Via Agency. He was also producer on the HBO movie “East of Main Street,” directed by Jonathan Yi. Carroll’s most recent project for Big Block is an interactive campaign for Nissan by digital agency Critical Mass. “Meet the Machines,” which was directed by Big Block Live’s Paul Trillo, offers the ultimate experience in user control and will go live in mid-February.
Big Block Live signs and represents its own roster of directorial talent. Directors Paul Trillo, Josh + Vince, John Poliquin, B&W and GHOST+COW are all new media storytellers who thrive in in a collaborative culture and whose impact on advertising and social media provides unlimited opportunity for innovative brand integration.
At Big Block Entertainment Group, Prisand and Pellegrini have teamed with YouTube sensations and directing duo The Fine Brothers (“Kids React”) on an unnamed teen comedy film and are also working on the feature film “Ride,” starring Luke Wilson and Helen Hunt. Big Block Entertainment Group produced the well-received Off Broadway run of the musical adaptation of “Heathers” and has Broadway plans for “A Family Thing,” a new play by “Orange is the New Black” writer-producer Gary Lennon.
Prisand, a 17-time Tony Award nominee, has among his Broadway credits “Rock of Ages,” “Legally Blonde,” “Bombay Dreams” and “BKLYN the Musical.” He also served as producer on the feature films “Rock of Ages,” “Jiro Dreams of Sushi” and “Hesher.” Pellegrini was producer on the feature films “Jiro Dreams of Sushi,” “Sympathy for Delicious,” “Hesher” and “Barry Munday.”
“Our collective knowledge base is a force multiplier,” Benson stated, “which greatly amplifies the value of the creative content Big Block is able to offer to all of our clients.”
ABOUT BIG BLOCK
Based in Santa Monica and New York, Big Block is the production and design studio division of Big Block Media Holdings. Big Block specializes in digital content and design for commercials, broadcast, interactive, feature films, television, gaming, mobile and enterprise platforms. From concept and design to live action direction, advanced filming techniques and visual effects, Big Block represents the ultimate in integrated end-to-end services for multimedia campaigns and branded content.
A key component of Big Block’s culture is Big Block Design Group (BBDG), whose creative leadership infuses design sensibility and brand strategy throughout the totality of the studio’s productions from inception through live action and production.
In New York, Big Block Live extends the studio’s mandate with an emphasis on live action and branded content, while Big Block Entertainment Group focuses on the development, production and distribution of live theater, feature films and television. Big Block Entertainment Group represents the most significant creative and financial evolution of the Big Block brand since its inception. The group will acquire the rights for the properties they will develop and will also co-finance their production partnerships.
Big Block was launched by business developer Scott Benson and executive producer Kenny Solomon, whose collective experience with the production of branded content makes them uniquely suited to meet the challenges of creative communication.
Big Block is housed in the Art Deco Ilona Building on Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica and at 68 Jay Street in Brooklyn.
For more information, please visit: www.bigblockLA.com
