One more time with the disclaimer; this quarterly newsletter is intended to be is a celebration good work done by good people that you, the valued and respected recipient ought to be aware of. That being said, if you are not convinced that you should be reading this newsletter then you can unsubscribe below, no hard feelings. Once again, we welcome you to the edge. This is where we live. We like it here and we think you will too.
///:Gifted Youth tops difficult 'Humor' category at 2014 AICP
New York, NY -- Funny or Die commercial production unit Gifted Youth emerges victorious in the extremely competitive Humor category at this year’s AICP in New York. Director Pete Atencio, best known for his work with sketch comedy duo Key & Peele was tapped to follow up Pepsi Max’s incredibly successful “Joyride†campaign. When a Jalopnik blogger calls BS on Pepsi’s original execution, Jeff Gordon suits up as a cab driver in this elaborate prank to prove once and for all that his driving is no laughing matter.
Invalid Vimeo Video Id: 100858049 For a complete list of all this year's AICP winners, click here
///:Wildlife nabs Silver Lion for Fiat in 'Promo & Activation'
Los Angeles, CA -- Los Angeles interactive studio, Wildlife picks up their first Lion. Their work with Sapient and Fiat won Silver in the promo & activation category. Interestingly enough, this campaign had no interactive component, but rather showcases Wildlife’s experiential and live action chops when they were tasked with creating and documenting the live painting of the sistine chapel on the inside of a Fiat. View the work here
///:Humble signs Marc and Merc
New York, NY -- Director Marc Wilkins joins the ranks at humble bringing with him an eclectic background and a flair for dramatic storytelling. Read more about Marc here. Kris Merc joins Humble’s post department as Creative Director along with Sam Stephens. Kris hails from 1st Ave Machine and brings myriad 2D and 3D design & animation capabilities to the table allowing Humble’s in house post department to offer even more across the board. Read more about Kris here
Click for Marc Wilkins' reel Click for Kris Merc's reel
///:Eff yeah! Cosmo Street cuts two Effie winners
New York, NY -- See what we did there? Nobody can possibly argue that there aren’t enough awards given in the advertising industry. It’s easy to get lost in Cannes, AICP, ADC and what have you, but the Effies however reward ad effectiveness in addition to creative…which is the name of the game, remember? Cosmo Street, being the effective creative editorial studio that it is cut not one but TWO Effie winners for DirecTV and Norelco both care of Tom Scherma.
///:Wildlife featured in SHOOT's 2014 DGA New Directors Showcase
Los Angeles, CA -- Lines continue to blur between the ‘traditional’ production company and the interactive production company and Wildlife as the name implies, is refusing to be compartmentalized. Brothers [and founders] Jake & Scott Friedman were selected to be featured in SHOOT’s DGA New Directors Showcase showing that while content is still king, there are others out there who can not only create it, but manipulate it in a million different ways. We at Obsidian call them the Interactive Artists. Click here to read the full write up and interview with the brothers Friedman.
///:Obsidian signs Los Angeles based Gifted Youth
Chicago, IL -- In keeping with Obsidian’s M.O. of bringing the best AND newest talent to the table, we are pleased to announce the addition of LA based production company Gifted Youth. Gifted Youth is the commercial production arm of the wildly successful Funny or Die [.com]. They have been quietly winning business [and awards] with a solid set of comedy directors such as Adam McKay, Peter Atencio and their most recent signing, Jake Szymanski [formerly of Caviar]. If you live under a rock and have never heard of Funny or Die then go to your internet machine and enter this website into your AOL search bar - www.funnyordie.com
This is typically the portion in the newsletter where I write some meaningful op/ed piece that ca somehow [albeit loosely] be related back to this advertising business. Well this time we’re going to do something different. Why? Because I can.
I haven’t always been very vocal about my panda theory - that pandas don’t actually exist, they’re just men wearing panda suits. While this footage won’t prove my point entirely I do think that it is compelling enough evidence to share. Find me evidence of any other bear sliding down a slide…YOU CAN'T!
