NEW YORK -- Winners of the AICP Show: The Art & Technique of the American Commercial were presented tonight (6/6) at The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City. Each category of the AICP Show may have up to three winners, with the exception of Advertising Excellence/Single Commercial, and Advertising Excellence/Campaign, which each may have only one honoree, making those pieces “Best in Show.” “Dream Crazier” for Nike out of Wieden + Kennedy and directed by Kim Gehrig of Somesuch was honored for... Read More, Comment

NEW YORK -- SHOOT ’s New Directors Showcase Event provided varied industry perspectives during two afternoon sessions, and then an evening display of up-and-coming filmmaking talent with the debut screening of the Showcase reel followed by a Meet the New Directors panel discussion, all held at the DGA Theatre in NYC on Thursday, May 30. Capping the evening was the NDS Event After-party, hosted by The-Artery at its facility in Chelsea. Among the highlights was the annual In The Director’s Chair session,... Read More, Comment

After GLOW season one, the creative and logistical challenges of the critically acclaimed Netflix series--centered on a group of female wrestlers vying for celebrity on the syndicated pro circuit--took on a new dimension, meaning that creators/showrunners Liz Flahive and Carly Mensch couldn’t rest on the show’s considerable laurels. The challenges of the first season were inherent and continue, they pointed out. “We’re filming essentially an hour-long show in the space of a half-hour show--with... Read More, Comment

NEW YORK -- Topping the 2019 AICP Next Awards, which debuted this evening (6/4) at The Tischman Auditorium in NYC, was Pernod Ricard’s “The Time We Have Left” from Leo Burnett Madrid. The entry earned the coveted Most next honor, which is selected from all the winners in the Next categories. Also honored in the Next Social category, the holiday-themed ad for the Spanish liqueur Ruavieja (a Pernod Ricard brand) focuses on a tool that allows people to calculate how long they have left to spend time with... Read More, Comment

NEW YORK -- Margaret Johnson’s first tour of Cannes Lions jury duty came in 2013 as a Titanium and Integrated Lions judge. Back then she was ECD/partner at Goodby Silverstein & Partners (GS&P). In 2017, a year after having taken the reins as GS&P’s chief creative officer, Johnson judged the Promo & Activation Lions. Now she returns as president of this year’s Cannes Film Lions jury. Johnson is enthused over her plum Film Lions assignment, sharing, “The film track is the most emotionally... Read More, Comment

NEW YORK -- Among the seminars held at AICP Base Camp during the just wrapped AICP Week in New York--also highlighted by the AICP Next Awards and AICP Show--was a session exploring “Life in the Intersection Between Advertising and Television.” Panelists from the agency, production company, post and indie documentary worlds shed light on stellar projects including Montefiore hospital’s feature-length film Corazon , a Cannes Grand Prix winner and Entertainment Gold Lion winner last year, as well as the... Read More, Comment

NEW YORK (AP) -- Ron Howard recalls seeing his first opera when he was 4 years old. Just don't ask him to tell you much about it. The budding child star and future director was in Austria with his parents to shoot a movie, and they took him to a performance at the Vienna State Opera House. "I remember this soprano hitting this note in this unbelievable gown," Howard said, gesturing with his arms to conjure up the scene, "There's the set, she's over here on the left in profile, and she's singing, and she turns... Read More, Comment

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Denzel Washington was the man of the hour Thursday night with everyone from Julia Roberts to Spike Lee turning out to celebrate him as this year's recipient of the AFI Life Achievement Award. But when he finally took the stage to accept the honor he did something unexpected: At his own award ceremony, Washington turned the spotlight away from himself and gave his wife of 40 years, Pauletta Washington, her own standing ovation. The crowd of multigenerational Hollywood A-listers, from Michael B... Read More, Comment

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The first Oscar winners of the season are already here. Groundbreaking filmmaker David Lynch, Cherokee-American actor Wes Studi director Lina Wertmüller and actress Geena Davis will all be receiving honorary Oscar statuettes at the Governors Awards in October, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said Monday. Davis will receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for her work advocating for gender equality in media as the founder of a non-profit organization, the Geena Davis... Read More, Comment

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- "Late Night ," a new comedy from Mindy Kaling, establishes itself as a fantasy from the outset. It's about a veteran late night talk show host who is a woman, after all. The film was directed by Nisha Ganatra (who's handled by Chelsea Pictures for spots and branded content). Emma Thompson plays said host, Katherine Newbury, who decides to allow the hire of a very green, but very eager newcomer, Molly (Kaling) to her all white and male writing staff. It scored a record acquisition at the... Read More, Comment

LOS ANGELES -- Anh-Thu Le and Guia Iacomin have been promoted to co-directors of content production at TBWA\Chiat\Day. With more than 40 combined years at the agency, both seasoned producers embody Chiat’s pirate philosophy and have continued to create ambitious, bold work on behalf of some of the world’s leading brands. In their new roles, Le and Iacomin will co-lead the production department working across disciplines to carry out the agency’s vision of Media Arts, an integrated approach to advertising that... Read More, Comment

NEW YORK -- Moxie Pictures has added Ivan Bird and Giles Lovell-Wilson to its directorial roster for global representation spanning commercials and branded content. Bird, who was formerly handled by production house Rattling Stick, has turned out work known for its exquisite cinematography, dynamic precision, technical sophistication, and pitch-perfect natural performances. Bird began his career as a stills photographer before seamlessly transitioning to a DP and director. His iconic and much-emulated work... Read More, Comment

LOS ANGELES -- Creative content company Chromista--founded by Oscar-nominated ( Black Swan ) director Darren Aronofsky and partners/EPs Scott Franklin, Sandy Haddad and Ted Robbins--has added directors Eddie Alcazar and The Roosens to its roster for spot and branded content representation in the U.S. Alcazar is an award-winning filmmaker, writer, producer, and game developer. Named one of 25 up-and-coming faces in Hollywood by Filmmaker Magazine , Alcazar has directed a diverse body of work including the HBO... Read More, Comment

LOS ANGELES -- Preston Garrett and Brad Johns, former live action executive producers at Tool of North America , have launched Rakish, a boutique live action production company focused on commercials, branded content, and IP development. Feature and commercial director Marc Forster is a co-founder along with Garrett and Johns. Forster is joined by directors Kevin Foley, Noah Marshall, and Columbia Tatone on the Rakish roster for commercial representation in the U.S. Golden Globe-nominated Forster has over two... Read More, Comment

LOS ANGELES -- Furlined, a production company with bases of operation in L.A. and London, has added director Ben Tricklebank to its roster for commercial representation in the U.S. and U.K. He had previously been handled in the ad arena by Smuggler. Tricklebank hails from the U.K. He comes to directing from a background in design, as a multidisciplinary artist and director creating interactive films, virtual reality installations and digital experiences— always with a focus on story. His commercialmaking... Read More, Comment

NEW YORK -- Derby has signed writer/director Emily Elizabeth Thomas for advertising, branded content and music videos. Thomas is best known for her narrative work, including the award-winning short film Lola: Girl Got a Gun . The Derby deal marks Thomas’ first foray into advertising and she’s off to a fast start. Thomas has already collaborated with Derby on a pair of projects, the latest, a provocative short film, out of TBWA\Chiat\Day NY, for this month’s Brooklyn Film Festival. Derby executive producer... Read More, Comment

LOS ANGELES -- Sweetshop has signed director Nicolas Jack Davies for commercials and branded content globally. Davies, whose work spans film, TV, spots and music videos, had previously been represented by Pulse. Davies’ work has been nominated at the Grammy Awards and MTV MVAs, and has won a host of awards across advertising, film and TV, including a prestigious Grierson award for the Channel 4 documentary Payday. Commercially, he humanizes brands by bringing a sense of drama and passion, working with clients... Read More, Comment

NEW YORK -- Director Anthony Pellino has come aboard the roster of Alkemy X for exclusive representation for advertising and branded content. His credits span such brands as Nike, Reebok, Lexus and Uber. Pellino’s most recent effort is a spot for Peloton in which a trainer describes her passionate approach toward working with athletes. Alkemy X director of production Jim Huie said of Pellino, “His sports imagery is authentic and exhilarating, and he makes brilliant use of lighting and camera movement to... Read More, Comment

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Netflix is made for bingeing, but filmmaker Ava DuVernay thinks that audiences should watch her Central Park Five miniseries "When They See Us " at their own pace. The four-part series explores the true story of five black and Latino teenagers from Harlem who were coerced into confessing to a rape they didn't commit in 1989 and follows them over the course of 25 years. It's currently available to Netflix subscribers. DuVernay said the viewing experience will be different for everyone. "I think... Read More, Comment

LOS ANGELES -- CNN Worldwide was named Global Excellence Marketing Team of the Year, while FX Networks has won North America Marketing Team of the Year at the Promax Awards 2019, the industry’s top prize for entertainment marketing and design. Amsterdam-based DutchToast was named Global Excellence Agency of the Year, while Los Angeles-based MOCEAN won North America Agency of the Year. The awards were presented Thursday night in a ceremony hosted by Penny & Sparrow at the JW Marriott at L.A. LIVE. Two... Read More, Comment

LOS ANGELES -- The International Cinematographers Guild (ICG, IATSE Local 600) has named 10 honorees for the 2019 Annual Emerging Cinematographer Awards (ECA), spotlighting promising cinematographers and providing crucial exposure needed to succeed in the motion picture industry. The collection of 10 selected short films will be showcased at the ECA premier event in Los Angeles on October 6, 2019, at the Saban Media Center’s Wolf Theatre. Additionally, screenings will follow in New York at the SVA Theatre on... Read More, Comment

"The Last Black Man in San Francisco " is deeply, even spiritually, connected to its home city, but Joe Talbot's film resides in such a dreamy, plaintive register that it feels like a broader lament for the displaced. It's an unrequited love story for an out-of-reach America. Jimmie Fails (the actor shares his character's name) is a nursing-home attendant who pines for the house he grew up in: a gorgeous, ornately decorated Victorian in the Fillmore district. Once a bastion of African American... Read More, Comment

If the sweet, animated 2016 film "The Secret Life of Pets" was mostly for kids, its new sequel might be for another segment of the audience altogether — whoever is buying the tickets. Amid the cute critter shenanigans, this one has plenty of lessons for the parents. Most of the same gang is back this time: Kevin Hart as the fluffy white bunny Snowball, Eric Stonestreet as the goofy giant Newfoundland, Lake Bell as the laconic cat Chloe and Jenny Slate as the plucky Pomeranian Gidget. This time... Read More, Comment

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Is Big Tech headed for a big breakup? The U.S. Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission are moving to investigate Google, Facebook, Amazon and Apple over their aggressive business practices, and the House Judiciary Committee has announced an unprecedented antitrust probe , promising "a top-to-bottom review of the market power held by giant tech platforms." In addition, at least two 2020 presidential hopefuls have expressed support for breaking up some of technology's biggest players... Read More, Comment

NEW YORK (AP) -- The NBA’s first international Finals may be a coup for Canada, but decidedly not for ABC. Viewership for the first two games of the series between the Golden State Warriors and Toronto Raptors was down sharply from last year’s finals — 24 percent for the first game and 26 percent for the second, the Nielsen company said.. While LeBron James fans may point to the star’s absence, geography likely accounts for most of the drop. Toronto’s television audience is not included in the Nielsen ratings,... Read More, Comment

NEW YORK (AP) -- The latest iteration of the Godzilla franchise took over the top spot from "Aladdin" and roared louder than Elton John at the weekend box office, but it still left a notably smaller footprint on North American theaters than its city-wrecking predecessors. "Godzilla: King of the Monsters," Warner Bros. and Legendary Entertainment's sequel to 2014's "Godzilla," was brought down to size by poor reviews and middling interest from moviegoers, selling $49 million in tickets, according to studio... Read More, Comment

Antoine Bardou Jacquet of Partizan directed this cinematic spot which promotes a way for customers to bypass checkout and long lines at French retailer Monoprix. Conceived by agency Rosapark, the film shows how long humanity has been lining up and trying to do anything to avoid a lengthy wait time. Titled “Humanity’s First Queue,” the spot takes us back thousands of years, to the dawn of civilization: the prehistoric era. Here, in the first long line ever formed by mankind, the first line-... Read More, Comment

The fastest snake on earth, 100 drones and a stunt driver up to the challenge: Peugeot and agency BETC put the precision of the new 508 SW to the test by scanning a snake’s movements to create the snakiest road in the world using drones. During an entire night, the abandoned airport in Athens trembled to the sound of a challenge that was at the time technical, human and artistic. All to show that precision is like a second nature to the brand. A world first performance that put the precision of... Read More, Comment

Samsung has launched its global “TV Is Making History Again” campaign to celebrate the newly released QLED 8K TV, created in partnership with adam&eveNYC The “Making History Again” campaign draws its story from the Apollo 11 moon landings of 50 years ago. A 60-second TV spot shows how the world gathered together to witness 1969’s historic moment of human achievement on televisions around the world. This is then brought forward to the modern day as we witness those same characters watch this... Read More, Comment

Taco Bell and Deutsch released this mock-movie trailer titled,“Chasing Gold,” featuring Golden Globe-winning actor Darren Criss and actor/comedian Chris Diamantopoulos. Watch the rise-and-fall of a singer who makes it big off Nacho Fries, only to learn that fame is fleeting in that Nacho Fries, are available for a limited time only. Alongside the mock-trailer is a fully produced, original song written by Jingle Punks and sang by Criss. “Taco Bell fans continue to go through this emotional... Read More, Comment

Ad agency 180 Kingsday has launched its latest campaign for Qatar Airways. The 60-second centerpiece commercial titled “Our Newest Destination” celebrates the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019. The tournament, which kicks off in Paris on June 7, is expected to be the biggest event in women’s football to date. The campaign honors the significance of this by creating a land dominated by the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 It begins with a mother telling her daughter an enchanting bedtime story. In... Read More, Comment

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