SERENA WILLIAMS MEETS MATRIX FOR DIRECTV 
This third installment of the DIRECTV Stream campaign featuring Serena Williams shows the tennis champion in a mash-up with the fan favorite Matrix movies--timed prior to the release of The Matrix Resurrections. The coming together of Williams and the cinema (earlier spots had her live TV sports juxtaposed with Wonder Woman 1984, and then scary feature films) underscores how DIRECTV Stream brings viewers the best of both worlds--live and on-demand entertainment.

TBWA\Chiat\Day L.A. and Critical Mass conceived of the campaign, with the Traktor collective directing via Stink Films. 

CELLULOID CEILING REPORT
After reaching historic highs in 2020, the percentages of women directing top grossing films declined in 2021, according to the annual Celluloid Ceiling Report released by the Center For The Study Of Women In Television & Film at San Diego State University.  Women comprised 17% of directors working on the 250 top grossing films in 2021, down from 18% in 2020.  The percentage of women working as directors on the top 100 films retreated from 16% in 2020 to 12% in 2021.  

Overall, women accounted for 25% of those working in key behind-the-scenes roles (directors, writers, executive producers, producers, editors, cinematographers) on the top 250 grossing films in 2021, up from 23% in 2020.  The rise in the overall number is due to increases in the percentages of women working as executive producers and producers. By role, women accounted for 17% of writers (even with 17% in 2020), 26% of executive producers (up from 21% in 2020), 32% of producers (up from 30% in 2020), 22% of editors (even with 22% in 2020), and 6% of cinematographers (even with 6% in 2020).  For the second consecutive year, the study also tracked women’s employment on films included on the Digital Entertainment Group’s “Watched at Home” list from January through December 2021.  This analysis found that the majority of the percentages of women working on films on the watched at home list were slightly below those calculated using the box office grosses list.

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE....
Boutique post company WAX, NYC and Boston, has expanded its roster with the addition of editors Cass Vanini and Jeremy Huff. During his time at Psyop, Vanini worked on a variety of projects including Coca Cola’s “Happiness Factory” and Converse’s “My Drive Thru” as well as gaining experience in the world of VFX. Next Vanini joined Work Editorial, where he was guided by such inspiring talents as Rick Orrick, Neil Smith and Stewart Reeves. Vanini has cut for brands including Samsung, Under Armour, UNIQLO, FedEx, JBL, Coca Cola and Huggies. He has edited music videos for Pharrell Williams, Kid Cudi, Smirnoff Sound Collective and Sweethead to name a few. Huff’s career began in San Francisco where he started as an assistant editor at post house Teak. There, for the next four years, he continued to hone his skills, working on a range of brands including Jansport, EA Sports, Comcast, Google and H&M. In 2011 he relocated to NYC where he worked for companies Superfad, Lost Planet and Consulate before settling in at WAX as a roster editor. Over the years Huff has collaborated with such brands as Verizon, NFL, Spotify, Planned Parenthood and Chanel.....