Editorial and postproduction studio Cartel has appointed Alaina Zanotti as executive producer to drive business development and to help oversee creative operations. This marks her return to the company where she now joins partner and EP Lauren Bleiweiss in a joint collaboration to helm studio expansion across the commercial market. Additionally, Cartel has signed comedic editor Kevin Zimmerman.
With more than 15 years of experience leading creative teams and growth across advertising and entertainment industries, Zanotti brings to Cartel a proven track record for executing projects across all verticals for high-profile clients, including BBDO, Wieden+Kennedy, Deutsch, Google, Paramount and Disney. Zanotti most recently served as sr. EP at Method Studios, where she oversaw business development for global VFX and postproduction. Prior to this, she joined Cartel in 2016 to assist the newly established post and editorial house cement a strong reputation as a creative leader in the commercial market. Zanotti previously spent more than a decade driving operations and raising brand visibility for Method and Company 3.
“Cartel’s boutique studio atmosphere and collaborative environment attracts the industry’s top and up-and-coming editorial talent,” said Zanotti, “By returning to Cartel, I look forward to actively seeking new opportunities and helping our talent connect with leading brands and clients to develop top creative work.”
Zimmerman joins Cartel following a successful tenure as a freelance editor, where his knack for comedic timing and entrepreneurial spirit earned him commercial work for Avocados from Mexico and Planters that aired during 2019 Super Bowl. Throughout his two-decade career in editorial, Zimmerman has held positions at Spot Welders, NO6, Whitehouse Post and Filmcore, with recent high-profile work for Sprite, Kia, hotels.com, Microsoft and Miller Lite, and a PSA for Girls Who Code. Having previously worked with Cartel partners Adam Robinson and Leo Scott, Zimmerman is eager to join the team and collaborate at the studio.
Cultivate.Media Signs Director Stefan Pflug For U.S. Spot Representation
Danish director Stefan Pflug has signed for exclusive U.S. spot representation with bicoastal Cultivate.Media, the commercial and content production company overseen by managing director/executive producer Mark Thomas and executive producer Stuart Wilson. Cultivate.Media is the first U.S. spot roost for Pflug, who is represented in France by Frenzy Paris, Le Berg Berlin in Germany, Holy Ravioli in Denmark, and Thirsty Film in Finland and Sweden. Pflug's filmography includes memorable work for major brands and lesser known alike, including Arla, Danske Spil, Adidas, AXA, the PlayStation game trailer for PayDay 3, Danone, Pfizer, Puma, Santander, and Vivo. “When I first screened Stefan’s work, I came away with this impression: his film can give you a warm smile or even cause you to shed a tear, but it always compels you to think,” said Thomas. “Rare is the filmmaker who possesses those attributes. It’s the visceral reaction followed by the contemplation of what you experienced when you screen Stefan’s reel that I can only describe as total engagement with his film.” “I feel that my reel is now in a place where the timing is right for an expansion in the U.S. market,” said Pflug. “My conversations with Mark and Stu have been really substantial and comfortable and I trust their evaluation of the work that I have done, because they took the time to dig in and analyze it. Further, I like them as individuals, and we share a very clear ambition for the kind of work I want to do, and the journey I am on as a director.” Pflug’s love of professional sports--the immediacy of the event, the focus, and yes, the emotion--led, unexpectedly, to his career in advertising: after earning a Master’s in Business, he worked in sports sponsorships and... Read More