VCCP, DIRECTOR SAM BROWN GO GOAT GLIDING
This Virgin Media spot out of VCCP London opens on a herd of goats stuck on a remote mountainside, each stumbling around on the precipice. As the ‘80s classic song, “St Elmo’s Fire” by John Parr, kicks in, the wheels of a hang glider come into view traveling across the rocky mountain terrain. As the glider gathers speed, a plucky goat is revealed as the pilot, and reaching the edge of the mountain, it takes off, soaring off into the skies. Having found a better way to the rest of the herd, the camera pans to its joyful face, at the same time the voiceover reveals the campaign strapline, “Why stumble when you can soar?”
Inspiring folks to reach their fullest potential and never settle for less, this “Goat Glider” commercial was directed by Sam Brown of Rogue Films, with VFX including a CGI mountain goat from Untold Studios.
VINCENT LIN MAKES FEATURE DIRECTING DEBUT
A 25-day shoot has been wrapped for Chopin–starring Eddie Liu (Kung Fu, Never Have I Ever, Silicon Valley) and Violett Beane (God Friended Me, The Flash)–which marks the feature directorial debut of Vincent Lin, who helms commercials through Valiant Pictures, the company he co-founded with executive producer Matthew D’Amato. Written by Lin, Chopin also stars Golden Horse Film Award winner Leon Dai (Your Name Engraved Herein, Cannot Live Without You) and Taiwanese legend Wu Min (The Queen!). Additional cast includes Jake Manley (The Order), Michael Bow (The Maze Runner, S.W.A.T) and Janet Hsieh (Fun Taiwan, Home).
Chopin tells the story of Chopin Wu (Liu), who returns home to small-town America where he grew up to amend an estranged relationship with his workaholic father. With a sudden appearance from his ailing grandmother, Chopin Wu is confronted by a past he had left behind. In the midst of a health crisis and a broken family, he is forced to re-examine old relationships, embrace a heritage he once denied, and discover the importance of family.
Lin is a Taiwanese-American writer and director. For his commercialmaking, he has received accolades including Cannes Lions, Clios, Tellys, Webbys, and D&AD Pencils.
PEOPLE ON THE MOVE….
London-based agency Above+Beyond has set its new leadership team following the promotion of internal talent, as well as the senior hire of Dena Walker, currently global strategy director at BBDO New York, as its new chief strategy officer. The leadership team comprises promotions of Laura Graham to the role of chief production officer, working alongside Walker who will join later this summer, and Jonny Ray to managing director. They join chief CCO Dominic Goldman, with Zaid Al-Zaidy remaining as Above+Beyond Group CEO. Graham joined the agency in 2021 and in that time she has transformed the agency’s production capabilities, and launched The Beyond Collective’s integrated production and design studio, Collective Studios. Ray has headed up Above+Beyond’s account management team for the past five years. In his new role as managing director, Ray will be responsible for the agency’s day-to-day leadership, and its clients including Amazon, Alzheimer’s Research UK, BoyleSports, Premier Foods, and Akzo Nobel. Walker will lead strategy for Above+Beyond across both existing clients and new business. Earlier she held positions at BBDO Dublin–for nine years–and DentsuX in Singapore….
