Brand New School has brought Magnus Hierta on board as executive creative director at its Los Angeles studio. Hierta has had a diverse career, from ECD of Hue & Cry, the design and animation studio he founded, to a VP/creative director role at The Martin Agency. He earned his Bachelor of Architecture degree at the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) and began using animation as a means to relay concepts in his building designs. Hierta then shifted into design and animation, as the industry was beginning to coalesce in his native Los Angeles.
During his tenure at The Martin Agency, he was pivotal in winning and managing the global Oreo account, beginning with the “Wonderfilled” campaign. The need for consistent design-focused content led Hierta to start Hue & Cry in 2014 as an animation division of The Martin Agency, working on Geico and UPS, in addition to Oreo. In 2018 he spun-off Hue & Cry as an independently owned and operated studio, seeing the need for a top-tier design company that would use an amplified understanding of agency-side thinking to make better work for clients. Its efforts garnered international awards, including Cannes Lions, AICP, Effie, One Show, and D&AD.
“I think any creative will tell you that we pour all our love for design and making into what we do,” said Hierta. “Brand New School is the perfect place for me to contribute my varied experience and passion.”
Devin Brook, managing partner of Brand New School, added, “As we continue to develop relationships with both brands and agencies, Magnus represents the unique intersection of those two streams of our business. Having collaborated with Magnus over the years, his thoughtful leadership on both the agency and production sides combined with his acute eye for design add immense value to Brand New School.”
Pedro Almodóvar’s “The Room Next Door” Wins Top Prize At Venice Film Festival
Pedro Almodóvar's English-language debut "The Room Next Door," with Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton, won the Venice Film Festival's Golden Lion award Saturday.
Nicole Kidman was awarded the best actress prize, for her r aw and exposing portrayal of a CEO embroiled in an affair with an intern in "Babygirl," but missed the ceremony due to the death of her mother.
The 81st edition of the festival came to a close Saturday, with the Isabelle Huppert-led jury bestowing top prizes to Brady Corbet, for directing the 215-minute post-war epic "The Brutalist" and Vincent Lindon, for his lead performance in "The Quiet Son." Lindon plays a single father whose son is radicalized by the far right.
Maura Delpero's "Vermiglio" won the Silver Lion award. The Italian-French-Belgian drama is about the last year of World War II, in which a refugee soldier happens upon a large family.
The Venice Film Festival used its closing film slot to host the world premiere of Kevin Costner's "Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 2."
There was no real consensus pick for the top prize going into the evening, and eyes were focused on what the Isabelle Huppert-led jury would bestow prizes upon this year. Many of the 21 titles playing in competition have been divisive, with passionate supporters and detractors.
"I have good news for you," Huppert said at the ceremony. "Cinema is in great shape."
Among the highest profile of the films of the festival inlcuded: Todd Phillips' "Joker: Folie à Deux," the not-a-musical-musical with Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga ; Pablo Larraín's Maria Callas film "Maria," starring Angelina Jolie as the famed soprano; the erotic thriller "Babygirl" in which Kidman gets entangled in a complicated affair with an intern,... Read More