When ContagiousLA approached Cornelius Trunchpole in late 2010, it was with the same level of mystery and enchantment that seemed to captivate the industry’s response to the man and his sudden online phenomena. Who was he? Or perhaps more relevant, who was behind him?nnEither way, the man Facebook knew as ad legend Cornelius Trunchpole had created quite a stir in the Ad Community – winning thousands of online followers and sending gossip blogs into a frenzy. But with a simple e-mail to the address on Corny’s Facebook account, ContagiousLA director Andrew Laurich made contact.n n”I was shocked,” Laurich says. “He (Trunchpole) responded within an hour.” Laurich expressed interest in working with Trunchpole on future projects; and within a few months of online exchange, Trunchpole – or the person behind him – offered Laurich the directing job on a short documentary about the return of Trunchpole.nn
nn”The next year was an absolute whirlwind,” says Natalie Sakai, executive producer and co-founder of ContagiousLA. Production traveled between Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco, interviewing some of advertising’s biggest luminaries. “We’d get an e-mail every other week or so from Trunchpole that would just say: ‘Lee Clow has agreed to be in the film on this date, please contact his assistant’, we really had no idea how involved the project would become”. The finished 15 minute mockumentary, “Art and Corny”, includes interviews from the likes of Lee Clow, Jeff Goodby, Steve Hayden, Michael Wolff, among others, discussing how Trunchpole influenced and shaped their careers. “It’s a way for the industry to sort of poke fun at itself. We had Steve Hayden singing Lady Gaga and Jeff Goodby storming out of an interview. It had this interesting communal effect. Everybody seemed to jump on board,” says Laurich.nnThe finished film charts the dramatic return of Cornelius Trunchpole to the top of the advertising industry without sacrificing any of the mystery. “We make no declarations as to Trunchpole’s real identity. You’ll just have to see for yourself,” Laurich quips. The film premieres during Creative Week in NYC next month and promises to be a can’t-miss event. Following the screening, a panel discussion addresses the Trunchpole phenomenon and how social media can affect the industry at large. Details below:nn“Art & Corny” Premiere / An Evening with Cornelius Trunchpole and Friends“nTIME: Wednesday, May 09 / 5:00 PM – 6:00 PMnVENUE: Galapagos Art Space 16 Main Street, Brooklyn, NYnTICKETS: RSVP HEREnnCreditsnTitle: Art & CornynProduction Company: ContagiousLAnDirector: Andrew LaurichnProducer: Natalie SakainEP: Natalie Sakai, Jeff Jenkins, Andrew LaurichnnEditorial: ContagiousLAnOn-Line: Local HeronColorist: Robbie RenfrownnAudio Post: Lime StudiosnMixer: Lindsey AlvareznnAbout CONTAGIOUSLAnContagiousLA is a full-service production company and creative collective, founded by film and commercial producer Natalie Sakai and directors Andrew Laurich and Jeff Jenkins. A young, energetic, and collaborative crew, they are a vendor of Google’s ad creation platform and work with growing businesses and agencies alike. The ContagiousLA roster highlights directors that have been chosen as the next rising stars and is known for incessantly nurturing their creative abilities. The team is in on the advertising industry’s most talked about documentary "Art & Corny" covering the legendary advertising mogul who vanished in the 1960’s: Cornelius Trunchpole and starring the likes of Lee Clow, Gerry Graf, and other famous culture-makers. www.contagiousla.com.Natalie Sakai Executive Producer 323-303-3527 Contact Natalie via email
The Light and BIEN Form Creative & Strategic Alliance
Production company The Light and motion design studio BIEN have forged a strategic alliance that nurtures inclusivity and sustainability throughout the life cycle of every project.
The Light Founder/CEO Becky Morrison and BIEN Co-Founder Ricardo Roberts were first introduced by a mutual client who recognized their parallel ethos. Both Morrison and Roberts are advocates for industry change, and have built successful companies that demonstrate the benefits of human-centered and sustainable production in live action and motion design, respectively.
“I admire the thoughtfulness, specificity, and artistry with which BIEN produces animation and design and their attention to representing the full spectrum of humanity,” notes Morrison. “Their work behind the scenes to foster a diverse creative community is equally impressive. It feels like the perfect moment to partner with another mission-driven company who cares so deeply about creative excellence and social change.”
“I immediately hit it off with Becky and love that she has so many ideas that are tactical, scalable and make a powerful difference,” adds Roberts. “She challenges the status quo while producing beautiful, world-class content. With this partnership, we can better serve our clients and carry our mission forward together.”
The Light is a production company guided by the principle that an emotionally healthy environment is paramount for creativity and high performance. From its inception in 2014, The Light has centered under-represented talent, with equity and sustainability as key pillars to delivering creative projects for... Read More