LOS ANGELES -- Filmmaker Shawn Levy is no stranger professionally to stranger things. In fact, he’s shown an affinity for them and most anything that’s atypical, spanning the horror, sci-fi, dramatic and comedy genres. He has brought exhibits to life in the wildly successful Night At The Museum franchise, directing and producing all three of those family comedy films which collectively earned in excess of $1.3 billion in global box office. He then explored as a director the quirkiness and strangeness of... Read More, Comment

LOS ANGELES -- Oprah Winfrey, Ava DuVernay, Damien Chazelle, Jordan Peele and Ted Sarandos were among the marquee speakers during the Producers Guild of America’s two-day (6/10-11) Produced By Conference held on the 20th Century Fox Studios lot in Los Angeles. All were interviewed by notables in their own right, including Jerry Seinfeld who asked questions of Netflix chief content offer Sarandos. During the Sarandos session, the Netflix exec refuted the contention that he is “anti-theater,” insisting he’s... Read More, Comment

CANNES, France -- Cannes Lions has announced final details of the work entered for the 2017 Festival. After submissions were checked and validated, a total of 41,170 entries were received across 24 Lions. The nascent trend of clients entering work directly continues to grow strongly across all Lions, and is up 69% year on year. Entries associated with Lions Health, (Health & Wellness and Pharma), now in its fourth year, were up 9% on last year, as this specialist area of the Festival builds a loyal and... Read More, Comment

LONDON -- AMV BBDO is introducing a new employment policy aimed at boosting numbers of female creatives at the London-based ad agency--and ultimately, the wider industry--by offering permanent, half-time roles. The new program is designed to identify the best female creative talents who may have taken a career break to raise a family or care for a family member, but feel unable to return to an agency creative department because of the time commitment required. The new creative roles will be built around... Read More, Comment

NEW YORK -- Per Pedersen has been appointed global creative chairman of Grey. He served most recently as chairman of the Grey Global Creative Council, a role he will continue to perform. James R. Heekin III, chairman/CEO of Grey Group, said, “Under Per’s leadership, our senior global creative leaders have delivered cutting-edge work--big ideas across disciplines--that have broken new ground in brand experience and helped forge our reputation for ‘Famously Effective’ creativity.” Pedersen serves as Grey’s... Read More, Comment

LONDON -- Director Luc Janin has come aboard the roster of SKUNK for transatlantic representation. He was previously handled in the U.S. and U.K. by Pulse Films. Janin becomes SKUNK London’s third U.K.-based signing since opening its doors last year. His body of work spans commercials, music videos and longer form content. His endeavors across motion graphics, music videos and commercials have seen him collaborate with major international brands including MTV, BBC, Pepsi, Adidas, Nike, Lacoste, Guinness... Read More, Comment

VENICE, Calif. -- Saville Productions has signed feature director John Waters for commercial and branded entertainment representation. The writer/director/actor helmed such cult films as Independent Spirit Awards winner Hairspray, Pecker and his debut feature Pink Flamingos , the first of a series of low-budget shock films made with his Dreamland repertory company including the actor known as Divine. Waters joins Saville Productions’ roster of filmmakers, including: Martin Campbell ( Casino Royale ), Paul Haggis... Read More, Comment

NEW YORK -- Believe Media has signed Stockholm-based director Filip Tellander for representation in the U.S. and U.K. Perhaps best known for his extensive automotive work, Tellander also has demonstrated his storytelling prowess in spots for such clients as Nike and H&M, as well as music videos and short films. Tellander worked his way up through the camera department, graduating to DP and then editor before turning to direction. He’s been directing commercials internationally for more than 10 years... Read More, Comment

LONDON -- Olly Chapman has been named managing director of U.K. operations for production house Furlined, which also maintains offices in Los Angeles and New York. Chapman previously served as head of TV production at high-profile London ad agency AMV BBDO. He brings more than 20 years of experience to Furlined spanning creative agencies and independent production companies. The move reunites Chapman with Ben Davies, EP/director of development at Furlined. “I’ve known Olly for many years. We were... Read More, Comment

VENICE, Calif. -- Production company Durable Goods has signed director Neil Tardio for U.S. commercial representation. Tardio’s signature comedic storytelling for brands such as AT&T, Budweiser, Coca-Cola, ESPN, Ford, McDonald’s, Nike, Verizon and Volkswagen has earned him numerous industry accolades, including Cannes Lions, Clios, Addys, Tellys, and London Art Director Awards. His natural knack for casting and dialogue can be seen in recent work, including a spot for Kaplan University out of Arnold Boston,... Read More, Comment

LOS ANGELES -- Director Sheldon Candis, best known for the 2012 Sundance feature LUV , has joined A Common Thread for advertising projects. Candis’ work encompasses features, episodic television, documentaries, branded content and spots. He has already directed commercials for Ford and Honda in tandem with A Common Thread, an L.A.-based shop headed by exec producer J.P. McMahon. Candis’ commercialmaking is rooted in emotionally driven storytelling. “Born to Roll,” his recent spot for Ford, weaves stories of... Read More, Comment

NEW YORK & PHILADELPHIA -- Creative content company Alkemy X has added Amsterdam-based collective Wefilm to its directorial roster for U.S. representation spanning commercials and branded content. The multiple Cannes Lions winner is known for its pioneering work in advertising and unconventional approach to branded content for such clients as Google, Heineken, Vodafone, and Tesla. To date, Wefilm’s work has been shared more than 300 million times and won over 120 international awards. The strategic alliance also bolsters... Read More, Comment

NEW YORK -- Director and video artist Luigi Pane has come aboard the roster of integrated content Humble, landing his first U.S. representation for commercials, branded content and music videos. He continues to work independently via his own production/creative studio, abstr^ct:groove. The Italian director’s work is characterized by a sensual fusion of auto, fashion, and beauty--drawing inspiration from art house films as well as classic live action style. He comes to Humble with a vast body of work... Read More, Comment

CULVER CITY, Calif. -- Directing duo The Queen--consisting of Dan Lumb and Crinan Campbell--has joined bicoastal The Famous Group for spots and branded content in the U.S. The Queen just wrapped its first job for the production company, a comedic campaign for YETI coolers and jugs out of McGarrah Jessee in Austin, Texas. The project started with the agency enlisting The Queen’s help with some single take videos showing off the product’s superiority. The directing duo ending up shooting 10 scenarios: five with the... Read More, Comment

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The culture clash drama "Beatriz at Dinner" wasn't written about Donald Trump, but Salma Hayek understands why you might think it was. In the film, Hayek plays a Mexican healer who finds herself at an intimate dinner party with her wealthy clients and their wealthier friends — including a ruthless real estate developer played by John Lithgow. They clash over the environment, hunting, immigration, money, greed — first politely, and then not so. "Remember, this script was written before Trump,"... Read More, Comment

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho has an answer to where the controversy over the theatrical releases of Netflix movies started: his cinematic ambition. Bong said Wednesday that Netflix never pushed for the theatrical release of his "Okja," but he did so himself so people could see it on the big screen. The controversy has hit home in South Korea where the top three movie chains are refusing the film's simultaneous theatrical and Netflix debuts. "Okja" by the internationally acclaimed... Read More, Comment

NEW YORK (AP) -- Tom Cruise was no match for Wonder Woman. Warner Bros.' "Wonder Woman" wrapped up Cruise's "The Mummy" at the weekend box office, pulling in an estimated $57.2 million in North American theaters, according to studio estimates Sunday. Universal's "The Mummy" looked its age, selling a relatively feeble $32.2 million in tickets in its debut weekend. That couldn't compete with "Wonder Woman" in its second weekend. The Gal Gadot superhero film, directed by Patty Jenkins, has quickly earned $205... Read More, Comment

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) -- Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama and Sen. Kamala Harris made surprise appearances at Women in Film's awards ceremony with special videos, while veteran newsman Dan Rather called the group's work toward gender parity in entertainment an example of "basic American decency, tolerance and generosity." Comedian Jessica Williams hosted the unexpectedly patriotic Crystal + Lucy Awards Tuesday at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, where F-bombs flew freely and "Wonder Woman" earned applause anytime it was... Read More, Comment

E3, the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo, opened Tuesday in Los Angeles with thousands of video game enthusiasts, analysts and industry representatives in attendance to play and show off the latest technology that will soon be hitting store shelves. The show at the Los Angeles Convention Center has typically only been open to those in the industry and media that cover it. But this year organizers allowed 15,000 members of the general public onto the show floor. "This is like the Mecca of... Read More, Comment

NEW YORK (AP) -- Until the current season, ABC had never cast a black man or woman as the lead character in "The Bachelor" or "The Bachelorette." There were suggestions that some at the network feared it would hurt the show among the primarily older people who enjoy the fantasy franchise. Three weeks into Rachel Lindsay's reign as "The Bachelorette," the show's audience is down from last year, the Nielsen company said. That doesn't make it unusual; ratings for reality series are down across the board this year... Read More, Comment

NEW YORK -- Patricia Flowers has broken through the political noise--while breaking herself into the directorial ranks--with Louder (please) , a documentary short which tapped into a diverse group of young people, ages 5 to 19, for their thoughts on the 2016 Presidential election campaign while it was happening. From those who are not yet of voting age to those who are first-time voters, the interviewees in this film shared fresh and insightful observations, expressing a deep level of concern as they try... Read More, Comment

This short film follows a girl as she is walking to her first day at a new school. During her commute, we see glimpses of what life holds for her in the coming years--growing up, traveling the world, settling down and raising a family. All of this comes to an abrupt stop as the girl steps out in front of an oncoming Volvo XC60. But the car’s safety system detects the girl and applies its autonomous emergency brake, preventing what could have been a life-changing collision. The film ends on: “... Read More, Comment

Laurence Thrush, who is repped by Splendid & Co. in the U.S., directed, wrote and edited this spot for Blindsquare, a GPS navigation app for the blind. Shot in Finland, the :60 was shot in Finland and produced through Helsinki-based Directors Guild and Thrush’s own company, Growth Films. The spot shows a blind lad on a lengthy commute to meet up with friends--a trip he is easily able to navigate thanks to Blindsquare. The commercial came about due to a feature documentary Thrush has been... Read More, Comment

A not-so-grand circle of critics--who for years have been scoring media points by taking NBA superstar Kevin Durant to task--is finally silenced when the Golden State Warriors win the NBA world championship with Durant named the Finals MVP. Titled “Debate This,” the Nike spot debuted right after Game 5 of the Finals on Monday night (6/12), in which the Warriors clinched the title. Tim Godsall of Anonymous Content directed the commercial for Wieden+Kennedy, Portland, Ore. Read More, Comment

Wayne McClammy of Hungry Man directed this latest spot, titled "Side Effects," from The Martin Agency for GEICO’s ongoing “It’s What You Do” campaign. This time around it’s Boyz II Men who appear in a pharmacy, crooning the impending side effects (dizziness, nausea, gas) of prescription medication for a customer. The :30’s message: If you’re Boyz II Men, you make anything sound good. It’s what you do. Just like if you want to save money on car insurance, you switch to GEICO. Read More, Comment

Toyota Motor North America and Saatchi & Saatchi unveiled this “A New Story Begins” campaign for the automaker’s new vehicle: the first-ever Toyota C-HR. The campaign inserts the Toyota C-HR into classic and traditional stories of mischief-makers, updated for the modern age. “We wanted to create a modern version of mischievous childhood fairy tales but with a twist and a fresh perspective to show that these stories are part of our present modern folklore. These stories are actually the... Read More, Comment

For the third consecutive year, Foot Locker has debuted new work for the NBA Draft as part of its ongoing #Approved campaign. This year’s installment, created by BBDO New York, involves a special Father’s Day tie-in acknowledging one of this year’s biggest draft narratives: Lonzo Ball’s father LaVar becoming one of the most polarizing and controversial sports dads of all time. The spot features Ball, along with fellow projected lottery picks Jonathan Isaacs, De’Aaron Fox, and Jayson Tatum,... Read More, Comment