The Association of Independent Commercial Producers (AICP) released a sneak peek at the thoughts and insights the AICP Next Awards jury presidents and curators at large will share via a series of films at the premiere of the AICP Next Awards on June 6. Directed by Sarah Rinaldi, the films are an integral part of the awards ceremony. Nick Law, vice chairman/global chief creative officer at R/GA, and the 2017 AICP Next Awards judging chair, will serve as emcee at the premiere. In addition to screening the winning work, and insights from those who selected the winners–including Most Next (Best in Show)–the winners of the Integrated Campaign category will present live case studies. Besides earning Best in Show distinction, the Most Next winner also directs a $5,000 grant from the AICP Foundation to an educational initiative of their choice.
The Integrated Campaign winners are: “Blind Taste Test” for Kraft Macaroni & Cheese out of CP+B; and Boost Mobile’s “Boost Your Voice” from 180LA. Presenting from CP+B are: Adam Chasnow, VP/executive creative director; D’Arcy O’Neill, creative director; and Devin Reiter, VP/managing director. Presenting from 180LA are: William Gelner, chief creative officer; Natasha Wellesley, head of integrated production, and David Emery, executive producer.
Serving as jury presidents and curators at large, comprising its Curatorial Committee under Law for the 2017 AICP Next Awards are:
- Tim Allen, Microsoft (Mobile)
- Jill Applebaum, Facebook (Social)
- Winston Binch, Deutsch North Amercia (Website)
- Susan Credle, FCB (Viral/Web Film)
- Kerstin Emhoff, PRETTYBIRD (Experiential – Live Events/Broadcast)
- Jessica Greenwood, R/GA (Curator At Large)
- Jeff Kling, Fallon Worldwide (Curator At Large)
- Jonathan Mildenhall, Airbnb (Branded Content);
- Chris Milk, Within & Here Be Dragons (Virtual Reality)
- Tor Myhren, Apple (Curator At Large)
- Rob Reilly, McCann Worldgroup (Curator At Large)
- Jaime Robinson, Joan (Integrated Campaign)
- Vivian Rosenthal, Snaps (Innovation)
- Jimmy Smith, Amusement Park Entertainment (Cause Marketing)
- Tereasa Surratt, Ogilvy (Experiential)
Rinaldi is an Emmy-award winning director who has worked on both brand promotions as well as sports programming and features. She was recently selected for the first-ever Commercial Directors Diversity Program (CDDP) Showcase. The CDDP is a joint effort of AICP and the Directors Guild of America (DGA) to increase the number of women and minority directors in the commercial industry.
AICP Week includes the debut of The AICP Next Awards, and the premiere of The AICP Show will premiere on June 7 at The Museum of Modern Art. The AICP Base Camp will be open on June 6 and 7 with a full slate of programming, including panel discussions with industry leaders, the opportunity to experience the Virtual Reality Shortlist for the AICP Next Awards, and fuel up on snacks and coffee. The full schedule of programming for the AICP Base Camp can be found here. Week Passes and tickets to all events are now available here.
Review: Director-Writer Megan Park’s “My Old Ass”
They say tripping on psychedelic mushrooms triggers hallucinations, anxiety, paranoia and nervousness. In the case of Elliott, an 18-year-old restless Canadian, they prompt a visitor.
"Dude, I'm you," says the guest, as she nonchalantly burns a 'smores on a campfire next to a very high and stunned Elliott. "Well, I'm a 39-year-old you. What's up?"
What's up, indeed: Director-writer Megan Park has crafted a wistful coming-of-age tale using this comedic device for "My Old Ass" and the results are uneven even though she nails the landing.
After the older Elliott proves who she is — they share a particular scar, childhood memories and a smaller left boob — the time-travel advice begins: Be nice to your brothers and mom, and stay away from a guy named Chad.
"Can we hug?" asks the older Elliott. They do. "This is so weird," says the younger Elliott, who then makes things even weirder when she asks for a kiss — to know what it's like kissing yourself. The older Elliott soon puts her number into the younger's phone under the name "My Old Ass." Then they keep in touch, long after the effects of the 'shrooms have gone.
Part of the movie's problem that can't be ignored is that the two Elliotts look nothing alike. Maisy Stella plays the coltish young version and a wry Aubrey Plaza the older. Both turn in fine performances but the visuals are slowly grating.
The arrival of the older Elliott coincides with her younger self counting down the days until she can flee from her small town of 300 in the Muskoka Lakes region to college in Toronto, where "my life is about to start." She's sick of life on a cranberry farm.
Park's scenes and dialogue are unrushed and honest as Elliott takes her older self's advice and tries to repair... Read More