Traveling Picture Show volunteers at food bank
It’s a holiday tradition for Reel Chicago to cover the good things that Windy City ad agencies and production companies are doing for the community, like Scott Marvel’s annual Give a Shirt drive to help the homeless.
But, what’s happening on the west coast?
After contemplating all that they could do this year for the holiday season, production company, The Traveling Picture Show Company, which features directors like Chris Woods and John Alan Thompson on its roster, felt that giving back was the best way to celebrate in lieu of a party.
Last Saturday, TPSC, along with friends and industry colleagues, descended upon The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank as the focus of their efforts as an ideal way to get everyone together, celebrate the season, and give back. The Food Bank distributes food and other essentials to children, seniors, families and others in need. The community support enables the Food Bank to serve more than 300,000 people a month.
“We felt that giving back this year would be the best way to celebrate the holiday season,” said Executive Producer Dawn Clarke. “The LA Food Bank is an organization that we’ve volunteered with throughout the years, it’s the perfect way to bring everyone together for a fun social event while helping so many people in need.”
According to Clarke, even with the strenuous work involved with volunteering at The Food Bank, the experience proved to be fun and worthwhile, adding, “nothing like a bunch of producers driving an assembly line!”
Producer David Lawson, who also volunteered said, “Any company can organize a fun holiday party, it takes a special group of people to realize that there is a wonderful opportunity to give back to the community. That is exactly what TPSC did and I truly was an honor to help them out. The staff and other volunteers were so much fun to be around that it barely felt like work. And even though I was quite sore the next day, that was just a further reminder that I had done some good in this world.”
Within a 3-hour time frame, the group was able to fulfill 2,960 kits, each of which feeds an elderly person for a month. This is just a small part of what they do each day and throughout the year.
“It was wonderful to see so many of our friends participate in this great and very necessary charity. On behalf of TPSC we are thankful for all of those who donated their time for this great cause. Thank you again to all who participated,” TPSC CEO Carissa Buffel told The Reel.
Sharla Sumpter Bridgett joins Tim Story
The Story Company, co-founded by Barbershop director Tim Story, has brought on veteran film and television producer Sharla Sumpter Bridgett as President of Production.
Bridgett, who previously served as development executive/producing partner at Kerry Washington’s Simpson Street, will now guide Story Company’s new slate of film, television and digital projects.
Prior to the new post, Bridgett also was partner and President of Production at Varsity Pictures and President of Film at Tollin/Robbins Productions.
Her film producing credits include Coach Carter, The To Do List, and Wild Hogs; TV credits include Blue Mountain State, and Disney Channel’s So Random! and Sonny with a Chance.
“Joining a well-respected veteran Director like Tim Story is not only a foundation for a great partnership but is also a chance to create and develop projects that features smart, interesting and compelling narratives,” Bridgett told The Reel.
In looking toward the future, she was visibly excited, “Our future looks very bright. We’re excited by the opportunity to tell new stories across all platforms.”
Innocean acquires David& Goliath
And you thought the only acquisition going down today was Disney and 21st Century Fox.
Multiple sources are reporting that South Korea-based Innocean, the agency created to handle Hyundai’s business around the world, has agreed to acquire David & Goliath, AOR for its sister brand Kia.
According to the story, rumors have been swirling around for some time, and the partnership makes sense: both agencies primarily handle auto work; they’re both based in the L.A. area; they both operate outside the “big six” holding company bubble; they work on brands whose fortunes are closely tied together.
The agency reportedly has bought 100 percent of the shares of David & Goliath, which was founded in 1999 and has about 200 people on staff.
Work from both Innocean and David & Goliath will appear in the Super Bowl in 2018. The agency is handling creative work for Hyundai, an NFL sponsor, though there are few specifics, including how many ads will run during the game.
Ruby joins Bailey Lauerman
After finishing a freelance creative stint at 72andSunny, Bailey Lauerman has tapped talented Cary Ruby as a group creative director.
Prior to that, Ruby spent two and a half years as an associate creative director and copywriter with 180LA, where he worked with brands including Miller Lite, Expedia and HP. Before joining 180LA full-time, he freelanced as a creative director and copywriter with agencies including TBWA\Chiat\Day, Deutsch and Weber Shandwick, as well as 180LA.
During this period, he worked with brands including Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Burger King, Adidas, Target, Volkswagen, Verizon, Fisher-Price, Dr. Pepper and Energizer. Ruby served as an associate creative director and copywriter with Deutsch for five years before going freelance in 2011, working with brands such as Volkswagen, DirecTV, Cici’s Pizza and California Milk.
Bailey Lauerman opened in L.A. earlier this year as part of an effort to win new business and facilitate partnerships with area groups like United Talent Agency.
Star Wars opens today
Like you didn’t know. Final trailer below:
Contact Colin Costello at colin@reelchicago.com or follow him on Twitter @colincostello10.