• Thursday, Mar. 14, 2024
Alvin Cruz joins JAMM as creative director 
Alvin Cruz
LOS ANGELES -- 

JAMM Visual, the L.A.-based VFX and color studio, has hired Alvin Cruz to serve as creative lead on projects across its client roster. 

His creative tenure at world-class studios led to years of collaboration with heralded directors such as Fredrik Bond, Georgia Hudson, Peter Thwaites, US, Doug Liman, and the Daniels duo. For the latter, Cruz was VFX supervisor on the film Swiss Army Man.

Cruz, who had most recently been freelancing and prior to that with The Mill in New York, will play a pivotal role at JAMM as its creative director, spearheading the studio’s creative endeavors. His body of work includes assorted spots and branded content projects.

“We are excited about the fresh perspectives and dynamic energy he brings to our creative processes,” said Jake Montgomery, co-owner of JAMM.  “We look forward to a future filled with groundbreaking projects, collaborative ventures, and unparalleled creativity.”   

Cruz is originally from Spain, where he studied film directing and developed a lifelong fascination with visual storytelling regardless of the platform. After spending many years in London and New York, he has sought out the sun and surf of the West Coast, where he can shine his creative light on projects at JAMM.

  • Tuesday, Mar. 12, 2024
Kirsten Arongino joins ArtClass as EP and managing director
Kirsten Arongino
LOS ANGELES -- 

Kirsten Arongino has joined ArtClass as its executive producer and managing director. As an agency producer for 25-plus years, she scaled revenue and built brands at shops like Deutsch and Ogilvy & Mather and later served as VP and executive producer at Publicis. 

Arongino thrives on building partnerships with brands and agencies and managing multidisciplinary teams. Her prowess as a producer is reflected in digital and traditional media campaigns for major brands like Honda, Campari, Walmart, Tiffany & Co., and several culture-forward work music-driven campaigns for The Gap and McDonald’s. Arongino was also formerly the director of production at Yard NYC and managing director at Ammolite Inc.

Recent notable projects from ArtClass include the first ever brand campaign for Lilly Pulitzer, directed by Matvey Fiks and made in partnership with Yard NYC, using AI to marry the brand’s rich heritage with the industry’s newest technology; the new original show Bedtime Stories with Ryan, directed by Vincent Peone and starring Ryan Reynolds for streamer Fubo; and Charlie Kaufman’s dreamy short film Jackals & Fireflies, produced in partnership with Likely Story and shot by Chayse Irvin.

“I was fortunate enough to walk into so many great projects within my first month at ArtClass,” said Arongino. “Every director on their roster is wildly inventive and inspiring to work with. I think it’s a testament to ArtClass taking risks on new talent and supporting them as they grow as commercial filmmakers and its inclination to tackle projects with a diverse range of budgets. I look forward to adding my leadership skills and creative guidance into the mix as ArtClass continues to produce amazing work.”

Geno Imbriale, managing partner of ArtClass, added, “You can’t teach what experience gives you, and Kirsten has that in spades. She’s worked on every side of branded filmmaking and created every iteration of content you can imagine. She’s a joy to work with and the missing ingredient we needed as a company.”

ArtClass partner/director Peone said, “We brought Kirsten on under the pretext of executive producer, but quickly realized that her skills were completely off the charts, not to mention a perfect fit for our shared vision of future growth. I still regret waiting ten full days to promote her to managing director.”

  • Tuesday, Mar. 5, 2024
Ex-BBC Studios VP Simon Shelley joins Hi Impact as chief commercial officer
Simon Shelley
LONDON -- 

Hi Impact Studio has appointed Simon Shelley, former global VP of BBC Studios, as chief commercial officer.

In this newly created position, Shelley will drive the global growth of Hi Impact, creating and curating stories that matter for audiences across the world to elevate major events and organizations. He will work closely with founders Andrew Cryan and Max McGill.

Founded in 2021, Hi Impact, a premium supplier of live-streaming at events, has offices in London and Dubai; it recently completed the production of 75 simultaneous live broadcast locations at COP28, bringing the solutions to the climate crisis to millions of viewers.

With traditional news media viewing figures and revenues falling, there is an ever-increasing role for events to fill the gap online, helping to explain the complex issues in society and find solutions to them. At COP28, Hi Impact’s partners saw their online audiences on average being over 50x larger than those watching in person.

At BBC Studios, Shelley formed the multi-award-winning program partnerships division, evolving the way brands tell stories. During his five-and-a-half years at the BBC, he oversaw the rapid growth of BBC.com series, focusing on issues that are shaping society, partnering with the likes of WWF, WHO, UN, CES, Google, L’Oreal, Airbnb, Cisco, Mastercard, eBay, Nintendo and more, to develop content strategies that put viewers’ first.

Shelley has brought depth to themes across climate, health, fashion, sport, music and technology to viewers in over 150 countries, but also charted the effect that powerful storytelling can have on us with a study of over 500 films on social media, correlating the traits of the best performing pieces in terms of viewing rates, comments, and shares. This experience will combine with the television backgrounds of Cryan and creative director Max McGill who have collectively produced flagship BBC programs such as Sunday Politics, Daily Politics, BBC London News and BBC Breakfast.

Shelley said, “Inspiring stories and indispensable content can make audiences think, feel, or do something, but the way in which these stories are captured and curated must be taken to a new level to meet viewers’ ever-changing expectations. I’m thrilled to be joining the immensely talented team at Hi Impact as they innovate major event coverage and create TV formats that connect deeply with audiences. My time at BBC Studios was very special, it’s a place brimming with creativity and ambition. I’m incredibly grateful for the firm friends made and immensely proud of the stories told.”

  • Tuesday, Mar. 5, 2024
Maxine Gervais joins Harbor as sr. colorist
Maxine Gervais
LOS ANGELES -- 

Postproduction studio Harbor has added Maxine Gervais as sr. colorist.

Gervais has garnered two Hollywood Professional Association (HPA) Award nominations for Outstanding Color Grading – Feature Film, for her work on Hughes Brothers’ “The Book of Eli,” and Guillermo del Toro’s “Pacific Rim.” Gervais made Hollywood history as the first woman to receive an HPA Award for Outstanding Color Grading for Albert Hughes’ “Alpha.” Gervais’ credits include Ryan Coogler’s “Black Panther,” Clint Eastwood’s “Cry Macho,” Peacock’s “The Continental: From the World of John Wick,” Netflix’s “The Brothers Sun,” Universal Pictures’ “Strays,” and Sundance Grand Jury Prize Winner, “A Thousand and One” directed by A.V. Rockwell. 

With a background in classical arts, Gervais earned her B.A. in visual art from Laval University in Quebec, demonstrating her passion for creative expression through color and technology. Recognizing the potential applications in the digital world, she furthered her education by obtaining a post-graduate certificate in computer technology for cinema and television. Gervais is also an associate member of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC). 

Gervais stated, “Like John Alton’s book ‘Painting with Light’ describes, a colorist paints with colors, shadows, and contrast to help define and spotlight the beauty of the captured images by the cinematographer. This is done to enhance the desired mood, feel, and direction of the film. I’ve been fortunate to have collaborated with amazing filmmakers for a long time now and am excited to continue doing so at Harbor.”

  • Tuesday, Mar. 5, 2024
11 Dollar Bill hires James Babiarz as exec producer
James Babiarz
CHICAGO, BOULDER & RALEIGH -- 

James Babiarz has joined 11 Dollar Bill as executive producer at its home studio in Chicago. A 12-year industry veteran with deep ties to the Chicago advertising community, Babiarz will oversee current projects, direct sales, recruit talent and pursue opportunities for growth. He spent the previous six years at The Mill, Chicago, where he recently produced work for the NHL, U.S Army, Jeep and Frito-Lay.

11 Dollar Bill managing director Del Feltz said that it was apparent from their first meeting that Babiarz was the ideal choice. “It wasn’t just a professional fit, he shared our work philosophy on a personal level,” Feltz explained. “He has a passion for the Chicago advertising industry and his take on postproduction resonated perfectly with what we all believe at 11 Dollar Bill.”

As a new member of 11 Dollar Bill’s leadership team, Babiarz will help formulate a strategy for growing the company through diversifying services, exploring new markets and adding new talent and resources. “I love 11 Dollar Bill’s focus on the local market,” Babiarz said. “I’ve been part of the Chicago advertising industry for 12 years and I’m very passionate about it. I’m looking forward to bringing great projects to 11 Dollar Bill, helping the company grow and being here for a long, long time.”

Babiarz is a Chicago native and a graduate of Columbia College with a degree in film production. He began his career with Method Studios and spent four years at the design studio Sarofsky. He joined The Mill as a producer in 2018 and was later promoted to head of production, then executive producer. His memorable projects include “Barbie’s Dream House” for Rocket Mortgage, which ran during the Super Bowl in 2022, and “Groundhog Day” (featuring Bill Murray) for Jeep, a Super Bowl spot in 2020, as well as the music video “Potion” featuring Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa. Babiarz’s experience as a producer spans production, editorial, post, design and visual effects.

  • Monday, Mar. 4, 2024
Sr. colorist Matt Osborne shifts over to Company 3's NY studio
Matt Osborne
NEW YORK -- 

Sr. colorist Matt Osborne has moved from Company 3’s Los Angeles studio to become a part of its talented New York roster. 

Osborne brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the East Coast team, boasting a portfolio spanning commercials, music videos, and feature films. He has helped bring music videos to life for top-level acts, including Ariana Grande, Dua Lipa and Drake.

Throughout his career, Osborne has collaborated with renowned directors, including Darren Aronofsky, Theodore Melfi, and Warren Fu. Osborne has also left his mark on projects for brands such as Google, Nike, Amazon, and Lexus. His diverse skillset allows him to adapt seamlessly to any creative vision, consistently delivering visually stunning results. Most recently, he collaborated with director Park Chan Wook on the upcoming war drama series for HBO produced by A24, The Sympathizer

“We’re honored to welcome Matt to our New York family,” said Stefan Sonnenfeld, CEO of Company 3. “His exceptional talent and collaborative spirit are a perfect fit for our dynamic team, and we’re excited to see him contribute to groundbreaking projects across all genres.” 

“I’m excited to embark on this new chapter with Company 3 New York,” Osborne shared. “The energy and creativity in this city are inspiring, and I look forward to working with the talented team here to push the boundaries of color grading.” 

  • Monday, Mar. 4, 2024
MADRE hires Paulina Zuluaga as exec producer
Paulina Zuluaga
LOS ANGELES -- 

Paulina Zuluaga is the newest executive producer at bilingual production company MADRE. She returns to the production house side after a tenure as sr. producer at Latino agency Conill Advertising. 

Born in Medellín, Colombia, and raised in Miami, Zuluaga began her career by joining In & Out Productions, producing work for brands like Volkswagen and Dish Network. She later joined Letca Films as an executive producer. She’s produced spots for brands like Jeep, Lincoln, Spectrum, Halls, LabCorp, Univision and many more. Most recently, at Conill Advertising, she worked with accounts like T-Mobile, Burger King, and Toyota. 

Jonathon Ker, owner and managing director of MADRE, said, “Paulina is a clear communicator and a good listener--both essential assets for an EP. She’s empathetic and an artist at heart, so she has excellent taste and knows how to collaborate with creative talent in a very immersive way. At the same time, her agency experience is invaluable; her fluency with every facet of production makes her an asset to MADRE.”

  • Monday, Mar. 4, 2024
Editor Dan de Winter joins The Den 
Dan de Winter
LOS ANGELES -- 

Editor Dan de Winter is now globally represented by The Den Editorial. The L.A.-based editor actually began his career in San Francisco where he studied cinematography and motion graphics at the Academy of Arts. His first job following graduation was with the ad agency Cutwater, where he served as an assistant editor. Since then, he’s been a rostered editor at edit houses Rock Paper Scissors and Work Editorial. De Winter’s breakout film LeBron: Uninterrupted for Samsung was edited on set to match the seamless transitions envisioned by director Andreas Nilsson. The film went on to win a Clio Award for Best Film Craft. Additionally, de Winter edited another Clio Award winner, the short film “Nzingha,” directed by Anderson Wright, which follows African American fencer Nzingha Prescod on her journey to the Rio Summer Olympics. 

De Winter’s work spans a diverse range of genres. On the short-form side, de Winter has cut commercials for brands like Sprite, FanDuel, Nike, and Jordan, and music videos for artists such as Common, Jorja Smith, Marvin Gaye, and IDK featuring Offset.

The editor’s long-form work includes season three of the Netflix series Untold, a sports anthology series. De Winter also cut the documentary The Heart Still Hums, directed by Savanah Leaf and Taylor Russell. The documentary, which follows mothers battling cycles of homelessness, neglect, and drug abuse as they fight for their children, won Best Short Documentary at the Palm Springs Film Festival.

 

  • Monday, Mar. 4, 2024
Jenni Sprunger joins RSA Films as executive producer
Jenni Sprunger
LOS ANGELES -- 

RSA Films has brought Jenni Sprunger aboard its team as executive producer.  Sprunger brings two decades of cross-disciplinary production expertise to RSA, along with a well-honed ability and passion for collaborating closely with directors and agencies on innovative creative and production solutions.

Prior to joining RSA, Sprunger was an executive producer at Bullitt where she collaborated with brands and agencies on campaigns for State Farm, PetSmart, TaylorMade and Tinder, among others, and partnered closely with Marvel on many award-winning projects. She was also a bidding producer at Biscuit Filmworks and brand-side producer for Microsoft/XBox where she managed all phases of live action production, animation, postproduction and live event production for the company’s business groups. 

“Jenni is an unflappable EP with an expert ability to navigate production opportunities of any scale,” said Luke Ricci, president of RSA Films U.S. “In our previous collaborations, she’s proven herself as an indispensable partner to agencies, brands and directors, always pushing to make creative work better at every step of the way. I’m overjoyed to welcome her to our team at RSA.”

“Luke is a powerhouse in our industry and someone I’ve always enjoyed working with,” said Sprunger. “I really admire his ability to be on the forefront of what’s new and what’s coming, which is essential. RSA has a legacy of great work and I’m thrilled with the opportunity to be part of the company. I look forward to collaborating with our talented directors and being a valuable partner to agencies and brands.”

  • Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024
Picture Shop adds sr. colorist Sam Daley to its roster
Sam Daley
LOS ANGELES -- 

Picture Shop, Streamland Media's picture division, has brought sr. colorist Sam Daley aboard its global roster. Daley has nearly 25 years of experience working on series such as HBO’s “Succession” and Amazon’s “Dead Ringers,” and features including “The Florida Project,” “Sorry to Bother You,” “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” and “Barbarian.”

Cara Sheppard, president of Picture Shop, said of Daley, “He is tremendously talented, and his experience and artistry will only further bolster Picture Shop’s creative expertise.”

Daley has been nominated for Hollywood Professional Association Awards (HPA) for Outstanding Color Grading in Documentary/Nonfiction for “Descendant” (2023) and for Outstanding Color Grading in Television for “Show Me a Hero.” His list of credits includes the feature films “Earth Mama,” “Charm City Kings,” “Sanctuary,” “Swallow” and “Beirut.”  Recent episodic credits include “Gossip Girl,” “I’m A Virgo,” “Station Eleven,” “Scenes From a Marriage,” “Harlan Coben’s Shelter,” and “I Know This Much Is True.” Daley is an associate member of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC). Prior to joining Picture Shop, he was at Light Iron and Company 3.

“I’m excited to be at a company with the scope and global footprint of Picture Shop,” said Daley. “I can continue to collaborate with the filmmakers I work with as they take their talents throughout the continent and across the pond.”

In addition to its New York facility, Picture Shop locations include Los Angeles, Toronto, and Vancouver with international locations in the U.K. that include London, Manchester, Bristol, Wales, and Pinewood Studios.

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