As the industry continues to embrace diverse voices and more flexible and nimble ways of working, brands, agencies and studios are increasingly seeking out new partners that are not only culturally aligned but provide a more hands-on approach. Enter industry experts Joanna Shaw, Sun Komen and Adrianne McCurrach, who have united their complementary skill sets to launch Unicorns & Unicorns, the LA-based creative studio specializing in world-class filmmaking, advertising production and digital.
“There's an exciting world of talent and creative out there that is not being harnessed. So we thought, how can we tap into that?,” says EP/Producer/Managing Partner Joanna Shaw. “Our model allows us to not only work with the big names in marketing and entertainment, but also the countless companies that need production or digital creative and are being ignored because of narrow margins, challenging markups and traditional structures that don’t allow for something specialized and curated. We are a true media platform, which is really what the future needs.”
Friends since their days at entertainment company Caviar, Shaw, Komen and McCurrach started Unicorns & Unicorns after long careers working across film, advertising and digital — becoming powerful female voices in an industry undergoing rapid cultural evolution. Shaw is a prolific purveyor of short-form and branded content, producing major music videos for world-famous stars like Jay-Z and P!nk and commercials for everyone from Nintendo and Ford to Toyota and the NFL. She also collaborated with Lionsgate and Relativity on features and executive produced the Netflix original documentary I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead. Meanwhile, Technical Director/Managing Partner Sun Komen has helped craft digital experiences for adidas, Toyota, Fanta and others, both through her own personal studios and via Caviar Digital — the digital arm of Caviar which she helped build from the ground up. Lastly, EP/Managing Partner McCurrach has worked with a range of different entertainment, film and production companies — resulting in a Clio award-winner for Pedigree, several Super Bowl spots including campaigns for TurboTax, Coke and Mountain Dew. Passionate about community building and inspiring social change, McCurrach has taught media literacy to young women, curated screenings and lecture series’ for marginalized filmmakers, and more.
As the leaders of Unicorns & Unicorns, they will team with some of the industry’s best directors and creatives, working with them in non-traditional ways to tackle any project need or format — script development, design, longform and short film, branded content, advertising, music videos and a host of digital executions. So far, they’ve already found success with work for Snapchat, Crate & Barrel, Burger King, Corvette, ACLU and most recently a mysterious, surreal short film directed by Kris Mercado promoting My Chemical Romance’s highly anticipated 2020 tour.
Video Credits: Starring Marcos Garcia the was produced by Produced by Joanna Shaw, Audrey Ellis Fox and Unicorns and Unicorns, Directed by Kris Mercado, DP Santiago Gonzalez, Edited by Reuter, Created and Executive Produced by Gerard Way and Brian Schechter, Music composed by Ray Toro and Jamie Muhoberac.
“The landscape is so different that it’s not enough to only have specific capabilities — you’re constantly expanding beyond the scope. That makes it hard unless you’re flexible,” explains McCurrach. “That’s where we come in — if you want to do branded content documentary but then also need to have the ability to do a social campaign and integrate that with a digital platform or app, we have the internal expertise to get it done. We’re also always looking for the best artists and directors and trying to find ways to support them. We don't just want a roster of talent, we want to create a family and a community.”
Ultimately, with Unicorns & Unicorns, the team hopes to provide something more holistic than your typical creative partner, featuring more diverse capabilities and greater avenues for creative collaboration. “We’re more than just a solutions provider. We’re a true partner, and we’re eager to work with clients that understand and value our voices. It's a dialogue where we all contribute valuable input, both creatively and strategically,” says Komen. “That kind of collaboration and openness to new ideas is why we started this company. We’re building a great team of people, clients and projects that are truly integrated — not just because it’s an industry buzzword, but because it's how we make the best work.”
About Unicorns & Unicorns
Based in Los Angeles, Unicorns & Unicorns is a diverse collective that curates its teams to elevate each project, boosting the overall creative and production experience. We bring good ideas to life through innovative storytelling. We are here to inspire and be inspired.
