Lots and lots of moves for you this week, with new signings at Partizan, Rokkit, Crossroads Films, Godman, Reactor Films, and many more, as well as agency changes in Amsterdam, New York, London, Sydney and Melbourne.
Partizan in London has signed two new directors, Saam Farahmand and Chris Cairns, for music video representation. Farahmand has gained attention for his shorts and idents for MTV as well as live visuals for bands. He has just confirmed his first music video through Partizan, for Bugz in the Attic's Booty La La. Cairns won best video at Kodak's Promo Academy 2003 for Pink Grease's Shake, which he co-directed. He has also just confirmed his first promo for Partizan, for Lady Sovereign.
New production company Rokkit, set up last month by Dan Dickenson and Daniel Bergman, has signed two young directors: Saiman Chow and Duane Hopkins. Hopkins has mainly worked in short films until now, while LA-based animator Chow is known for his work for Nike, VH1 and Fox NFL. His work can be viewed online at http://www.saimanchow.com. Rokkit is the first time the directors have been repped commercially.
Director Wayne Isham has signed to X-Ray Productions, part of the Crossroads family of companies, for commercials representation. Isham is well-known for his music videos for the likes of Sheryl Crow, N'Sync, Britney and Bon Jovi, as well as his commerical campaigns for clients including Budweiser, Target and Coors Light.
Reactor Films in Santa Monica has signed director/cinematographer Thomas Kloss for exclusive US spot representation. Kloss' latest work includes spots for Target, State Farm, Blockbuster, and Asience.
Director Jon Favreau has signed to Pacific Rim Films for exclusive worldwide spot representation. Favreau is also well-known as an actor, appearing in, amongst others, Swingers, Friends, The Sopranos, and Marciano.
Godman in London has signed Danish director Jan Gleie for UK representation. Gleie has directed numerous spots for international brands including Mercedes, Nokia, Boots, Danish Bank and Kelloggs.
New York-based photographer and commercials director Warwick Saint has joined the Cape Town-based Pistoleros Films. Saint has shot campaigns for Adidas, Costume National, Diesel and BMW, amongst many others. He will remain in New York but will visit South Africa regularly for work projects.
Director Arni Thor Jonsson has signed to Cohn & Company in New York. Reykjavik-based Jonsson has shot spots for Vodaphone, Toyota, Volkswagen and Sunbeam.
Directing team The Brothers Strause has joined production company Tight in Santa Monica for commercials and music video representation. The directing team recently completed the visual effects for feature The Day After Tomorrow, and have also completed spots for Toyota and promos for artists including The Pharcyde, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Linkin Park.
New York-based Plates Animation has signed to the Revolver Film Company in Toronto. Promos by the team are currently showing as part of onedotzero, and can be viewed online at http://www.platesanimation.com.
Directors' rep Chia Tucker has moved from Tomboy Films to MJZ London. Tucker will now manage the roster which includes directors Rocky Morton, Fredrik Bond, Dante Ariola, Spike Jonze, Nicolai Fulgsig, Matthijs Van Heijningen, and Kuntz & Maguire.
Wieden + Kennedy in Amsterdam has appointed Al Moseley as joint executive creative director. He will be running the agency alongside David Miller. Currently creative director at Mother, Moseley was instrumental at winning the Boots and Orange accounts. Prior to joining Mother, Moseley was creative director at TBWA and worked with clients including PlayStation, Apple, The Labour Party and Strongbow Cider.
In another move at Wieden + Kennedy Amsterdam, copywriter Joe Staples has moved from Mother London to join the Nike Europe creative team.
Writer/art director Todd Lamb has joined the creative team at Mother New York. Lamb joins the agency from Goodby Silverstein & Partners in San Francisco, where he won the company's first Emmy in 2001.
Farah Ramzan Golant, the managing director of AMV BBDO in London, has been promoted to chief executive of the agency as part of a management restructure which sees the agency's existing CEO, Cilla Snowball, promoted to the position of chairman. Peter Souter remains as the agency's executive creative director. Michael Baulk has stepped back from his position as chairman, but continues as chairman and CEO of the AMV Group. In other changes at the agency, Richard Swaab has been promoted to executive vice-chairman, and Mark Petersen is now client service director.
Senior writer Craig Moore has joined the creative department at Clemenger BBDO Sydney. He will join the Clemenger team in January from Campaign Palace Sydney.
Cummins & Partners in Melbourne has hired creative team John Skaro and Roger Nance. The team were previously senior creatives at DDB Melbourne. They have been working at Cummins on a three-month trial on the Holden account.
Hugh Nairn has joined Clemenger BBDO Melbourne as director. Nairn was previously managing director of Smart (Melbourne).
James Allen has joined Absolute Post as a senior flame artist. Allen joins from Glassworks, where he worked as a flame operator on commercials for directors including Chris Cunningham, Vaughan Arnell, Phillipe Andre and Will van der Vlugt.
Editing company FilmCore has hired Andrew Linsk as executive producer for its new office in New York. Linsk was formerly senior producer at Euro RSCG Worldwide in New York.
