• Friday, Oct. 21, 2016
Superlounge names Vicki Ordeshook EP, national sales & marketing
Vicki Ordeshook
SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- 

Vicki Ordeshook has been named executive producer, national sales and marketing, for Superlounge, working alongside EP/partner Dave Farrell. In the newly created role, Ordeshook will oversee sales and marketing for the production company. She has secured James Bartlett of Mr. Bartlett for East Coast representation, and John Buckley of Buckley Reps on the West Coast. Kristina Kovacevic-Plunkett and Joanna Miller of KK&Joanna remain in place in the Midwest. Prior to joining Superlounge, Ordeshook spent three years at Elias, where she served as an EP across all facets of its business with a concentration on sales and marketing.
 
Ordeshook graduated from LMU’s School of Film and Television with a degree in Film Production, then joined music/sound company Machine Head, where she rose through the ranks to executive producer. Over the next decade, she expanded her producing skills beyond advertising into film, television and video games, including serving as executive music and sound roducer of The Call, starring John Malkovich and Uma Thurman, directed by Antoine Fuqua and sponsored by Pirelli Tires. Additionally, Ordeshook worked in artist management, live action production, post and sales, before joining Elias in 2013.
 
“I’m excited to be involved in taking Superlounge to the next level,” said Ordeshook,-“building the roster and spreading the news about their talents, delightful personalities, hands-on approach and commitment to making great stories come to life. This position is also a great opportunity to get back to my first love, filmmaking.”
 
Superlounge recently completed production on its second round of Toyota’s “Built To Amaze” digital campaign (via Saatchi LA), and a Ford campaign created via GTB (formerly Team Detroit). Both projects were directed by Jordan Brady.
 
In addition to Brady, the Superlounge roster is comprised of award-winning commercial directors Daniel Sheppard, Brett Wagner, Barton Landsman, Jeff Aron Lable and Jeanette Godoy.

  • Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2016
Ronen Tanchum to head The Artery’s new VR/AR division
Ronen Tanchum
NEW YORK -- 

The Artery (formerly The Artery VFX) has named Ronen Tanchum to serve as creative and technical director who will head the company’s newly launched VR/AR division. The announcement of his addition was made by Deborah Sullivan, The Artery’s EP/managing director.

Prior to joining The Artery, Tanchum produced complex FX setups and overseen digital tools development for such recent blockbuster features as Deadpool, Transformers, The Amazing Spider-Man, Happy Feet 2, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and The Wolverine.
 
Recent projects for which The Artery has created visuals include the Sony Pictures Classics film Norman starring Richard Gere; the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards; the new Netflix TV series “The Get Down”; and social media imagery for Pepsi.
 
Given the rapidly burgeoning demand for virtual reality and augmented reality content from major brands and creators of filmed entertainment content around the globe, The Artery sees an enormous new potential market, worldwide, for the company’s development of original content in VR & AR on behalf of a diverse range of clients, prompting the formation of its new division.
 
“VR today stands at just the tip of the iceberg,” says Tanchum. “Before VR came along, we were just observers, and controlled our worlds through a mouse and a keyboard. Through the VR medium, humans become active participants in the virtual world – we get to step into our own imaginations with a direct link to our brains for the first time, experiencing the first impressions of a virtual world. As creators, VR offers us a very powerful tool by which to present a unique new experience.”
 
Tanchum added, “We inform our clients that VR shouldn’t be created just because it’s ‘cool.’ The new VR platform should be used to play an integral part of the storyline itself – a well crafted VR experience should embellish and complement the story. We pride ourselves in our ‘story first’ approach to this new platform.”

  • Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2016
Jordanna Fraiberg named head of development at Insurrection Media
Jordanna Fraiberg
LOS ANGELES -- 

Insurrection Media, Inc. has hired veteran executive Jordanna Fraiberg to head development for the company, overseeing all aspects of its growing slate as well as its strategic partnerships with Skybound Entertainment, Abominable Pictures and HarperCollins.

A senior industry executive, producer and published author, Fraiberg has nearly two decades of experience in TV, film, and digital development. Most recently she helped launch a new original digital content initiative at Audible, an Amazon Company. Previously, she was VP, production and development for Village Roadshow Pictures Entertainment where she served for nine years helping shepherd projects such as The Dukes of Hazzard, License to Wed, Nights in Rodanthe, The Invasion and The Reaping.

Kiliaen Van Rensselaer, CEO of Insurrection Media, said of Fraiberg, “Her direct experience as a writer gives her the wisdom and empathy to guide and inspire the talent Insurrection is so fortunate to work with.”

Fraiberg has authored two YA books, Our Song and In Your Room, both published by Razorbill/Penguin. She has also been a television writer, serving as consulting producer and writing four episodes for the TV series Duality developed by Televisa USA.

Fraiberg said of Insurrection that she was “greatly inspired by the company’s unique model, which empowers creators in the expanding digital TV and OTT landscapes. Working with writers and directors is my passion, and I couldn’t be more excited to develop world class series with Kiliaen and his team.”

  • Monday, Oct. 17, 2016
Lauren Hertzberg named EP of Cut+Run NY
Lauren Hertzberg
NEW YORK -- 

Lauren Hertzberg has joined Cut+Run as executive producer of its New York office. She will work closely with a team which includes West Coast managing director Michelle Eskin and company partners/editors Akiko Iwakawa and Jon Grover.

Hertzberg joins Cut+Run from the Whitehouse, where she was the NY EP  for the last four-and-a-half years. She started with the company in 2003 and worked her way up the ranks from receptionist to producer, working on projects ranging from global television commercials to music videos, short films, and social media content.

Cut+Run maintains offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Austin and San Francisco.

  • Monday, Oct. 17, 2016
Editor Nikki Vapensky joins Hootenanny
Nikki Vapensky
CHICAGO -- 

Hootenanny, a Chicago-based post house, has hired creative editor Nikki Vapensky.  With nearly 25 years of experience, Vapensky comes to Hootenanny from Whitehouse Post where she spent most of her editing career.  

Hootenanny’s storytelling acumen has helped her land spot work for clients like McDonald’s, Allstate, Walmart, Disney and Always. For the latter P&G brand, she cut the lauded “Like a Girl” campaign. Most recently Vapensky worked on Jello’s “Delightfully Honest” campaign with Leo Burnett. She also has extensive experience collaborating with agencies including DDB, Y&R, Burrell and Cramer-Krasselt. 

Vapensky looks forward to the new opportunities that Hootenanny has to offer. “I really love that it is a woman-owned boutique,” she stated, alluded to owner/editor Liz Tate.

Vapensky joins a Hootenanny roster that includes editors Tate, Graham Metzger, Sean Halvorsen and Hannah Stephens.

  • Friday, Oct. 14, 2016
Mike Amour named chairman/CEO of APAC for Havas Creative Group
Mike Amour
NEW YORK -- 

Havas Creative Group has appointed Mike Amour to the position of chairman and CEO of Asia Pacific, effective October 17. 

In this new role, Amour will be responsible for leading and driving continued collaboration and growth in one of the most dynamic regions for Havas Group. The appointment is a key milestone in the group’s ongoing efforts to build agile teams and integrated structures to deliver the most impact for clients. Amour will report to Andrew Benett, global CEO of Havas Creative Group, and will be based in Singapore.

Prior to joining Havas Creative Group, Amour was president, Asia Pacific at Starcom Mediavest Group. Previously, he was CEO Asia Pacific at Project: Worldwide. Amour also led Grey Group Asia Pacific for four years as chairman and CEO, where he oversaw significant growth, including acquisitions in China, India, and Vietnam. Prior to that, based in London, New York, Tokyo, Paris and Portland, Amour held senior management positions at McCann, TBWA, and Wieden + Kennedy. Amour will take over from Juan Rocamora, currently chairman, Havas Creative Group APAC, who will retire at the end of the year.

  • Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016
RKCR/Y&R appoints Priya Patel as managing director
Priya Patel
LONDON -- 

RKCR/Y&R has named Priya Patel to serve as its managing director. Patel, who was previously managing partner at RKCR/Y&R, will continue to run a portfolio of client business, oversee the agency operations and will report to Jon Sharpe who took over as CEO in December 2015.

Vicky Jacobs, managing director since 2014, is taking time out of the agency for health reasons. 

Patel has been at RKCR/Y&R for 10 years and during her time at the agency has led and helped create award-winning campaigns for accounts including Virgin Money, Volvic, BBC, Bank of Scotland, TUI and M&S.

Patel was integral to the team that launched Virgin Media and was responsible for the lauded campaign “Fantastic Journey.” She also ran the M&S account between 2012-2016 helping to launch the multi award-winning M&S Food campaign “Adventures in...” and the highly acclaimed “Leading Ladies” campaign.

Previously, Patel was new business director when RKCR/Y&R was topping the new business league tables between 2010-2012.

  • Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016
Nomad NY adds editor/partner Amanda Moreau
Amanda Moreau
NEW YORK -- 

Nomad Editing Company’s NY office has signed editor/partner Amanda Moreau, continuing its expansion this fall. She is the most recent addition to the roster along with editors/partners Jim Ulbrich, Adam Schwartz and Jai Shukla. They joined a team which already included long-time staff editor Tyler Peck. Earlier this year, EP/partner Jennifer Lederman joined the company.

Moreau helped launch the New York office of Beast, where she gained 10 years of experience as a sr. editor. She has worked with brands including Reebok, Garnier, Duke Energy, IKEA and Champs. However, it was at Hunter College/CUNY under Roy DeCarava, where her passion for editing was first kindled.

With the new team in place at Nomad, bigger changes are on the horizon for the NY operation which is preparing to begin construction on a larger space just up the street with a move scheduled in early 2017. “Our new location will have more edit rooms and finishing suites for Flame and After Effects--not to mention other fun distractions like a custom bar, darts and ping pong,” added Lederman.

  • Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016
Director Tyler Sharp joins Reel FX
Tyler Sharp
DALLAS -- 

Digital studio Reel FX Dallas/Santa Monica has signed director Tyler Sharp for U.S. commercial representation. Sharp is a director, photographer, writer and creative director specializing in Americana/Western lifestyle, adventure, and sporting life documentary. Splitting his time between Texas, Montana, and East Africa, he is also a contributor to the Filson Life Blog, Garden & Gun, Modern Huntsman, Covey Rise and Texas Highways Magazine. His passion for exploration and ceaseless fascination for capturing authentic moments is evident across his documentary and branded film work, as well as his photography.

A Texas native, Tyler attended USC in Los Angeles, where he studied photography, film, psychology and Italian. His first photography gig out of college was in Tanzania, Africa, where he lived off the grid for six months filming and photographing safaris, and ignited a passion for finding the last frontiers. This newfound desire for adventure, combined with his passion for the outdoors, led Sharp to spend several years filming for various TV shows for the Travel, Outdoor and Sportsman Channels, taking him to over 30 countries, and on countless adventures.

  • Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016
Optimus promotes Tim Cahill to editor
Tim Cahill
CHICAGO -- 

Production and post house Optimus has promoted Tim Cahill to editor. Cahill brings almost a decade of experience with top agencies and brands, as well as significant industry recognition, to the chair.
 
“Tim’s easygoing manner belies the fact that he is a true professional in the edit chair,” said Optimus EP/managing director Brian Hrastar. “He runs the room effortlessly, balancing the creative and technical needs of the project while simultaneously making the clients feel immediately comfortable. Clients and Optimus producers alike know their projects are in good hands with Tim. He has built lasting relationships inside and outside the building.”
 
A University of Dayton graduate, Cahill started at Optimus in the fall of 2009 as an intern and worked his way up to assistant editor two years later. He has worked with agencies including Edelman, Leo Burnett, mcgarrybowen and Ogilvy for clients such as Barilla Pasta, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Capri Sun, Coca-Cola, DSW, Humana, JCPenney, Lincoln, and Olive Garden. Earlier this year, Cahill was nominated for AICE Awards in two different categories for his work on Leo Burnett and Off the Street Club’s “One Chicago,” which also made the AICP shortlist in 2016. 
 
“It means everything to have accomplished my goal of making editor,” said Cahill. “Years of hard work, learning, dedication and patience have paid off, and I look forward to creating and collaborating with clients and colleagues alike on exciting new projects and brands. I’ve met amazing people along the way, and look forward to continuing to do so. My new goal is to establish myself as a top-tier talent in the postproduction community.”

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