Chicago's Utopic Adds to its Talent Pool

Beh, Wyatt and Banna Join Utopic as Directors,
Adding to Production Capabilities
 

When he's not acting, he's directing: Alex Beh joins Utopic for commercials.

The Chicago-based Utopic has signed three new directors for commercial representation as the integrated production company continues to expand its production divisionl developing a full-service model that offers production, post, print, mobile, web, interactive and audio services under one roof.
 
Joining are Directors Alex Beh, Al Wyatt and Kevin Banna. They join Director Michael LaBellarte, who signed earlier this year.  (Click here for a peek at his signing news.)  "I'm extremely excited with the addition of these very talented directors," says Utopic EP Michael Antonucci.
 
Wyatt is a former Group Creative Director with over 20 years of agency experience.  For nine years he was at Energy BBDO and was responsible for some of the agency's most successful campaigns for brands including Juicy Fruit, Jim Beam and Dial. His foray into directing began with Smuggler, and he was most recently with 59 Films, where he shot work for such brands as Right Guard, Illinois Lottery and Jiffy Lube.

Director Al Wyatt is a former ad agency GCD.

His work has been recognized at the One Show and the Clios, and been shortlisted at Cannes. More recently he wrote and directed a short film titled "Pocus," a slightly dark and romantic comedy that's currently making the rounds of the film festival circuit.
 
Banna comes to directing after a career as a still photographer and cinematographer with a strong tradition of lifestyle and portraiture work. (Check out his stills here.)  His film work includes spots for Kellogg and Foster Grants and a series of offbeat Craigslist vignettes titled "I Really Need Your Help."  Among the agencies he's worked with are Leo Burnett, Cramer Krasselt, Y&R and Draftfcb.
 
Beh is a young filmmaker who plays multiple roles both in front of and behind the camera, directing and/or starring in spots for TV and the web for brands such as Motorola, Gillette, Sears, Axe Body Spray, Bud Light and Burger King.  He was formerly with Optimus One as a director/ writer/ producer/ actor.

Director Kevin Banna's work is strong on lifestyle.

His filmography includes short films, music videos and TV appearances, including the comedy shorts "Bus Stop" and "Sugar." The comedy web site Funny or Die recently produced his latest short film, "Coffees," which he wrote and directed, collaborating with cinematographer Morgan Susser and colorist Ian Vertovec. It stars Beh along with Nicky Whelan ("Scrubs"), Efren Ramirez ("Napoleon Dynamite," "Eastbound & Down"), Julie McNiven ("Mad Men") and Luka Jones (from NBC upcoming show "Best Friends Forever"). Upcoming projects for Beh include the development of a film to be shot in Chicago next year titled "Warren," in which Beh will direct and star.
 
"These signings underscore our commitment to building a formidable and relevant production division," Antonucci says, "and there are more to come."

Published 16 Nov., 2011