As declarations of “Fake News” seemingly run rampant worldwide, Collective (Magnolia Pictures/Participant) underscores the true value of an independent press during partisan times. The documentary--which unfolds like a detective thriller--has earned acclaim for its gripping cinematic storytelling as well as its sense of purpose in combating injustice. The film recently earned a pair of Oscar nominations, for Best International Feature and Best Feature Documentary. The recognition from the... Read More 

NEW YORK (AP) -- Ninety seconds. That's how quickly Steven Soderbergh believes the Academy Awards will convince viewers that this year's telecast is different. The concept for the show, which Soderbergh is producing with Stacey Sher and Jesse Collins, is to treat the telecast not like a TV show but a movie. And he's convinced he's got a doozy of an opening scene. "We're going to announce our intention immediately," says Soderbergh. "Right out of the gate, people are going to know: 'We've got to put our seatbelt... Read More 

LOS ANGELES -- Director Chloé Zhao won the marquee honor at the Directors Guild of America (DGA) Awards for Nomadland (Searchlight Pictures). She becomes the second woman--and the first woman of color--to earn the top DGA prize. Kathryn Bigelow was the first woman director to score the kudo for 2090’s The Hurt Locker . In her acceptance remarks via Zoom during Saturday night’s (4/10) virtual ceremony, Zhao paid tribute to each of her fellow nominees: Lee Isaac Chung for Minari ; Emerald Fennell for Promising... Read More 

LOS ANGELES -- The third time proved to be the charm--and historic--for director Melina Matsoukas who won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials on Saturday evening (4/10) during a virtual ceremony. On the strength of her stirring “You Love Life” for Apple’s Beats by Dr. Dre from agency Translation, Matsoukas--whose commercialmaking home is PRETTYBIRD--became the first woman and first person of color to win the Guild’s spot honor. Matsoukas’ first career DGA win came for her... Read More 

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Right down to its production design, the Oscars have not always felt like the most welcoming place for the disabled. "I've always seen that stage with its stairs as a symbol that they don't expect people who had mobility issues to be nominated or to win an award," said Jim LeBrecht, the co-director and co-star of the Oscar-nominated documentary " Crip Camp." "It's always been this kind of negative tacit statement." This year shows signs of change. LeBrecht, who has spina bifida and uses a... Read More 

LONDON (AP) -- Gig-economy Western “Nomadland” won four prizes including best picture on Sunday at the British Academy Film Awards, which were handed out during a pandemic-curbed ceremony that recognized a diverse array of screen talent. “Nomadland” filmmaker Chloe Zhao became only the second woman, and the first woman of color, to win the BAFTA for best director, and star Frances McDormand was named best actress. “Nomadland” also took the cinematography prize. Emerald Fennell’s revenge comedy “Promising... Read More 

NEW YORK (AP) -- The AICP’s Equity & Inclusion Committee, an integral part of the association’s commitment to facilitate real and sustainable long-term equity shifts within the industry, has unveiled plans for its new AICP Mentoring Program, which launches this month and is now accepting applications for prospective mentees. Aimed at everyone from those just launching their careers to working professionals with production and post experience, the program was developed by a subcommittee led by Gloria... Read More 

Cannes Lions has unveiled its jury lineup of global experts selected to award the world’s very best creative work and benchmark excellence this June. The Lion-winning work will be announced and awarded during Cannes Lions Live, a fully digital experience, running from June 21-25, 2021, that’s included for free as part of the new LIONS Membership, launching in May. Jury members hail from across the world and represent the global industry’s leading talent from the broadest spectrum of disciplines... Read More 

CULVER CITY, Calif. -- Production company Superprime has added award-winning director Spencer Creigh to its roster for commercial representation in the U.S. Creigh's background in documentary filmmaking informs his instincts on performance and ignites his interest in telling genuine stories with purpose and depth. He has directed campaigns for Merck, the YMCA, Johnson & Johnson, GSK, X-Prize, Olympus, Citibank, and many others. In 2019, Creigh won the Cannes Silver Lion for Direction of Reversal , a film for... Read More 

BOULDER, Colo. -- Marianne Malina, former president of GSD&M, will join CPB as global CEO, starting on May 17. Malina joins an expanding leadership team, including recently hired chief creative officer Jorge Calleja, and CPB veteran and managing director Ryan Skubic. In over two decades at GSD&M, Malina touched every department and held deep longstanding client relationships that served as the bedrock of the agency. Malina was instrumental in rebuilding the firm over the past decade and led disruptive... Read More 

NEW YORK -- Alejandro Lopez, former McCann Worldgroup Japan chief creative officer, will serve as U.S. head of Interpublic’s newest creative practice, Mediabrands Content Studio (MBCS), effective immediately. Launched in November 2020 by Mediabrands global chief content officer Brendan Gaul, MBCS is designed to network and grow the content capabilities within Mediabrands’ agencies--UM, Initiative, Reprise, Rapport, MAGNA and Orion--around the world. In his new role, Lopez will oversee the development and... Read More 

LOS ANGELES -- FELA, a Toronto-based production house launched in summer 2020 by founding partners Taj Critchlow and Julien Christian Lutz (professionally known as Director X), has extended its reach to the U.S., opening an office in Los Angeles and securing strategic sales representation on both coasts, connecting with Dana Balkin and Frank Antonoff from Resource in the West and Barrie Isaac Management in New York. FELA plans to engage in the U.S. ad arena in the same way Critchlow and Director X have... Read More 

LOS ANGELES -- Logan Industry, a full-service production company which launched earlier this year, has brought award-winning director Tibor Glage aboard its roster for U.S. representation spanning commercials and branded content. Glage studied film at the London International Film School where he worked with Terry Gilliam, Mike Figgis, Piotr Sobociński and Freddie Francis. Glage is known for his cinematic visuals, kinetic shooting style and narrative storytelling. He has directed commercials for a wide range... Read More 

NEW YORK -- Nancy Reyes is being promoted to CEO of TBWA\Chiat\Day New York. Reyes takes over full leadership of the agency from Rob Schwartz, who has been CEO since 2015. It’s the latest step in a steady rise since Reyes joined the agency in April 2016 as managing director, becoming president in July 2018. She will report to Troy Ruhanen, CEO, TBWA\Worldwide. Working in partnership with Schwartz and the agency’s executive leadership team, Reyes has led the shop through a resurgent period, growing more... Read More 

NEW YORK (AP) -- Will Smith and director Antoine Fuqua have pulled production of their runaway slave drama "Emancipation" from Georgia over the state's recently enacted law restricting voting access. The film is the largest and most high profile Hollywood production to depart the state since Georgia's Republican-controlled state Legislature passed a law that introduced stiffer voter identification requirements for absentee balloting, limited drop boxes and gave the State Election Board new powers to intervene... Read More 

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Despite women making history in the top categories at the Oscars, the number of female nominees in the 18 non-acting categories increased by only two percentage points this year, according to a Women’s Media Center analysis. Of the total of 205 nominees for directing, producing, writing, editing, and other crucial behind-the scenes roles, 140 (68%) are men and 65 (32%) are women. Last year, women received only 30% of the nominations, while men received 70%. For the first time ever, the Best... Read More 

"Man. That ending!" That's likely what you'd hear everyone saying on the way out of the multiplex — if we were all still going to the multiplex — after "Promising Young Woman." In an audacious and provocative film (nominated for five Oscars), there's no part more audacious and provocative than the final act, in which former medical student Cassie (Carey Mulligan) exacts her very unique form of revenge. But though some call the film a black comedy, there's nothing funny about the end — it's... Read More 

NEW YORK (AP) -- How have Hollywood and Broadway responded to an exposé detailing routine abuse and bullying by producer Scott Rudin? Mostly, with crickets. The Hollywood Reporter's cover story Wednesday on Rudin was, undoubtedly, a must-read for anyone in the film, television and theater businesses. Stories about a Hollywood heavyweight throwing glass bowls, staples and baked potatoes at underlings are hard to put down. The trade publication spoke to four former employees who agreed to be named on the record... Read More 

LOS ANGELES -- Green The Bid , the grassroots initiative and community supporting the advertising industry in shifting to zero-waste, net-carbon neutral, sustainable and regenerative practices, has added key leaders to its Advisory Board. Green The Bid is a community of over 100 companies and organizations, and will hold its next member meeting on April 28. The newly added Advisory Board members are: Samira Ansari, ECD FCB NY Osei Kakari, EP, co-founder, Contrast Eye Fiona King, global director of production... Read More 

LOS ANGELES -- Production company Interrogate has signed director Rhett Wade-Ferrell, known under his alias of Uncle Friendly. Marking the Aussie creator’s official debut in the U.S. market, Interrogate will represent Wade-Ferrell for commercials, branded content and music videos. Uncle Friendly is widely recognized for his work with Flight Facilities, including their iconic video for “Down to Earth” featuring Sam Rockwell. Uncle Friendly has been a longtime collaborator with the electronic duo since... Read More 

LOS ANGELES -- Production company JOJX has added director Per-Hampus Stålhandske, professionally known as Per-Hampus, to its diverse and growing roster for commercials and branded content in the U.S. Per-Hampus has established himself as an international directing talent in the U.S., Europe, and Canada, among other markets. Per-Hampus discovered filmmaking through his passion for snowboarding, lensing his daredevil friends as they took to the slopes near his village in northern Sweden. Before long, he was... Read More 

LOS ANGELES -- Hybrid creative and production studio Ammolite Inc. has added director JIHYE to its roster of multi-hyphenate talent. Ammolite will rep JIHYE in the U.S. for commercials and branded content. This marks her first signing with a production company. Born on a farm in South Korea and raised by her grandparents, JIHYE is out to make good stories with good people. She has lived in New York for over 25 years, taking a brief hiatus in Virginia to attend UVA and gain some work experience. After... Read More 

LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- The leaders of three-dozen major Michigan-based companies, including General Motors and Ford, on Tuesday (4/13) objected to Republican-sponsored election bills that would make it harder to vote in Michigan and other states. The businesses issued a joint statement saying they are united for principles such as equitable access to the ballot and the avoidance of moves that reduce voting, particularly among historically disenfranchised communities. The GOP-led state Senate is expected to soon begin... Read More 

NEW YORK (AP) -- Screenplay writing, usually a fairly solitary, uneventful process, is more of a full-contact sport for a movie like "Borat Subsequent Moviefilm." Work for the nine Oscar-nominated writers of the "Borat" sequel began conventionally enough. Brainstorming, a draft, a table read. But as soon as shooting starts, there's no telling what can happen, how people will react to Sacha Baron Cohen's Kazakh alter-ego, or what strange circumstances might befall their protagonist. As Borat hurtles through the... Read More 

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. -- The Art Directors Guild (ADG, IATSE Local 800) unveiled during a hybrid virtual gala on Saturday evening (4/10) the winners of its 25th Annual ADG Awards in 11 categories of film, television, commercials, and music videos. Topping the Best Production Design for Feature Film were Mank (production designer Donald Graham Burt), Tenet (Nathan Crowley), Da 5 Bloods (Wynn Thomas), and Soul (Steve Pilcher). Television winners included The Mandalorian , episode “Chapter 13: The Jedi” (Andrew L. Jones,... Read More 

LOS ANGELES -- Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Mulan and Promising Young Woman came up winners in the feature film categories at the 23rd CDGA (Costume Designers Guild Awards) which took place Tuesday evening (4/13) on Twitter. Taking the TV honors were Westworld, The Queen’s Gambit, Schitt’s Creek and Hamilton . The short form winner was Apple’s “The Stunt Double.” Damien Chazelle directed the Apple short. Lana Condor hosted the evening’s ceremony which also celebrated award-winning producers Shonda Rhimes and... Read More 

LOS ANGELES -- Casting Society of America honored excellence in casting across feature films, television and theatre on Thursday evening (4/15) at the 36th Annual Artios Awards. This marked the competition’s first ever worldwide virtual ceremony. Film winners included Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, Minari, One Night in Miami..., Soul, The Forty-Year-Old Version, The Surrogate and The Trial of The Chicago 7 . Among the TV honorees were A Black Lady Sketch Show, Euphoria, Normal People, Queer Eye, Succession, The... Read More 

MILAN (AP) -- The great-grandchildren of Guccio Gucci, who founded the luxury fashion house that bears his name nearly a century ago in Florence, are appealing to filmmaker Ridley Scott to respect their family's legacy in a new film that focuses on a sensational murder. "The House of Gucci," starring Lady Gaga and Adam Driver, is based on a book about the 1995 murder-for-hire of one of Gucci's grandchildren, Maurizio, and the subsequent trial and conviction of his ex-wife. Patrizia Reggiani, portrayed by... Read More 

SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- STARZ will partner with Alliance of Women Directors (AWD) to increase representation of female directors through the STARZ #TakeTheLead Directors Program. The partnership--announced by STARZ president and CEO Jeffrey Hirsch during the company’s first #TakeTheLead “Transparency Talk” session--includes a commitment to staff emerging episodic directors for their first television directing assignment. “We’re proud of the opportunities we’ve created for female and diverse directors thus far, but... Read More 

NEW YORK (AP) -- People have been stuck at home for a year due to COVID-19 restrictions, with movie theaters closed, concert venues closed, restaurants closed, sports attendance restricted — yet television viewing is down? That makes no sense to networks and cable and satellite providers, who are complaining that the Nielsen company is inaccurately counting how many people are actually watching. Nielsen's reply, in a nutshell: the truth hurts. It's an argument with financial implications, since networks later... Read More 

Barilla is repositioning itself with a global brand campaign from Publicis Italy that shows the true value of preparing a dish of pasta for someone: a sign of love to express what we cannot say with words. Hard-to-pronounce statements like “I love you,” “I missed you” or “Sorry, it’s my fault” can be demonstrated with a dish of pasta. The new campaign will be launched in 40 countries and brings together classical stories with a highly contemporary flavor. The relationships show today’s families... Read More 

Five mothers who lost their sons to violence and knife crime have bravely shared their emotional stories as part of a new campaign created by AMV BBDO London, supported by the Metropolitan Police Service and independent charity Crimestoppers. “Hard Calls Save Lives” hopes to prevent knife crime in London by encouraging people to share information. The campaign acknowledges that it can be hard to phone in with information--but reminds us that there are harder calls. In a series of films directed... Read More 

A global digital ad promoting the brand’s commitment to sustainability employs Artificial Intelligence to create imagery enhancing a message of ‘connectedness.’ When you think of Artificial Intelligence, do flowers come to mind? How about forests, leaves, trees or waves? If the concept of the natural world doesn’t automatically conjure up ideas of machine learning, robotic scriptwriting programs or optimization algorithms, then Beko’s “Connections” may change your mind. That’s the title of a... Read More 

How long do you think it takes to glance at a text message when you’re driving? One second? Two seconds? Most drivers believe that texting and driving creates only a momentary distraction. With the help of agency partner Team One, Lexus has created a new video called “Driving Disrupted,” to shatter this common misconception. The average length of time it actually takes to send or receive a text message when you’re behind the wheel is 4.6 seconds, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety... Read More 

How do you launch a movie-themed scratch-off game for the New York Lottery? With the same approach a film studio premiering a movie in Hollywood would take, of course, beginning with an epic trailer. Together with McCann New York, the New York Lottery launched the campaign, titled $1,000,000 Premiere, with an edge-of-your-seat :30 trailer for the ultimate whodunit – a family lottery win celebration turned Clue-style mystery when the winning $1 million ticket suddenly goes missing. McCann New... Read More 

There are far more exciting things in life than shopping around for car insurance. In fact, a recent Leger survey conducted on behalf of RATESDOTCA found that 77 per cent of insurance policyholders in Ontario, Canada’s largest province, didn’t compare car insurance rates in the past 12 months. RATESDOTCA, a rate comparison website, wants to change that by letting Canadians know that there is a better way to shop for insurance--and to stop getting milked. Towards that end, ad agency Zulu Alpha... Read More 

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