East Pleasant has added directing team CRUSH+LAB to its roster, bringing Director David Solomini, Producer Alexander Kafi and Creative Director/Stylist Paula Tabalipa to the studio in one comprehensive package. The do-it-all collective brings a reel stuffed with fashion films, TV, branded content, commercials, along with an extensive client list that includes major broadcast and cable networks, fashion brands, auto companies, telecommunications, magazines and more.

On Wednesday, May 22^nd, join Click 3X’s beauty and fashion content division Raison D’Être for the most stimulating panel series and cocktail reception of Internet Week 2013. “Bringing Art Back to Fashion, Digitally,” is an exploration of art, authenticity and creativity in the digital age.

New encoding/uploading app makes uploading video to the web quick, simple and error-free.

Laguna Niguel—Simian, the global leader in creative workflow and media management solutions has announced the release of the Simian Real Time Video Encoder™, a groundbreaking app that makes it simple to simultaneously encode and upload any size video file to the cloud. Available free to Simian users, the new app reduces the complexities involved with encoding and uploading video files to a single drag-and-drop operation. Even large files can be quickly uploaded to Simian. The app also ensures optimal playback.

New York, May 9, 2013 – This Mother’s Day, leave the flowers and Hallmark cards to the traditionalists, and give your Mom a gift she deserves. Sundancechannel.com commissioned Tool and interactive director James Cooper for Mamma’s Day Cards – a tablet-optimized HTML5 experience and video series that puts a wicked twist on the usual Mother’s Day pleasantries. It’s not a Mother’s Day card; it’s a Mamma’s Day card – an e-card that celebrates all the unusual types of moms in the world.

East Pleasant has added Emmy Award-winning executive producer Michelle Cuccuini Hicks to its team. A production guru specializing in commercials, TV, online, music video, independent film and documentary producing, Michelle is a master of soup to nuts content creation. She joins East Pleasant following several years as head of production at Cause & Effect Productions in New York.

You may never have heard of Daniel Wallace until you just read that headline. Dan won a place at the SCA in London in January 2011. He worked at hard at school, happy to have found what he loved and wanted to do and he wrote this blog post, not long before he found out that he had terminal cancer.

Dan stayed in school. Worked hard. Made his portfolio. Freelanced for his mentors and even for the school itself until recently. Dan even made it into the D&AD book with a response to the D&AD Student Awards.

Studios plan to collaborate on advertising projects originating in the U.S., Europe and elsewhere.

Los Angeles—Seeking to extend its global footprint and add some European flair to its creative offerings, multi-platform content creation company Antenna (http://www.antennacreates.com/) has forged a strategic alliance with Barcelona-based Custom EFX. The agreement provides Antenna with access to the talent and resources of one of Europe’s top boutique providers of visual effects, animation and post-production services, with a client list that includes some of the world’s best known brands. Custom EFX secures access to the U.S. market via a well-established production services provider with a strong, national sales network. It will also have the opportunity to market Antenna’s services in Europe.

Following the success of its unofficial 2012 Cannes social planner, communications collective TRUST is at it again with an expanded version aptly named, TRUSTnav: Cannes. The upcoming website and subsequent app will be the go-to, one-stop source for planning your unsanctioned but essential Cannes itinerary. Get your event included by going to www.trustcollective.com/cannes.

The momentum continues to build in MPC New York, where the addition of interactive and experiential force Tim Dillon completes the aggressive expansion of MPC Digital. A go-to talent for cross-platform projects across the digital, mobile and physical realms, Dillon brings to MPC more than a decade of experience working as senior producer and design lead for big-league clients such as Coca-Cola, Google, Tate, Dewar’s, Intel and TED, as well as Creator’s Project and Lifetime’s “Project Runway Catwalk”.

Santa Monica, Calif., May 1, 2013 – RPA, a leading advertising agency headquartered in Los Angeles, announces the promotion of Jason Sperling, previously SVP, Group Creative Director, to the position of SVP, Executive Creative Director, reporting to Joe Baratelli, EVP, Chief Creative Officer.

Darkness and lust pervade this four-minute short film for Treats! magazine by Logan & Sons Director Paul Minor. Sexsomnia, which accompanies the eponymous editorial in the magazine, plays like a Cimmerian fever-dream, replete with a propulsive synth soundtrack (composed by Minor and David Baum) and a beautifully caliginous eroticism. Logan & Sons paired the acclaimed director with Treats! to great effect, delivering a powerful and captivating narrative.

Tool is pleased to announce the addition of Danielle Peretz as its newest EP. An award-winning professional with many years of creative, business and management experience, Peretz has led teams around the world on an impressive variety of projects in the advertising, film, and music worlds.

In yet another wonderful collaboration, RPS‘ Carlos Arias lends his deft talent to the forthcoming short film from Academy Award-nominated cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto entitled “Likeness.” The short, which is to debut at this year’s TriBeCa Film Festival, is the directorial debut of Prieto, who is known industry-wide as one o

Heard City Mixers Cory Melious and Dan Flosdorf recently teamed with Human Worldwide to work on, a powerful new documentary premiering at the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival.

A welcome addition to the MPC family, Chris Bernier joins as VFX Supervisor and CG Lead. “We are delighted that Chris has joined our growing team,” says NY Executive Producer Justin Brukman, continuing, “Chris is an immense creative talent as demonstrated by his impressive reel. We’re looking forward to him taking the lead on a number projects – both our creative and production teams are thrilled to have him on board.”

Forging ahead into 2013, creative collective Poetica has signed Aron Baxter to their expanding roster of top-tier talent. Aron joins as Senior VFX Artist, bringing with him an impressive resume with two-plus decades of experience, having garnered numerous awards and praise over his varied and exciting career.

MPC LA is proud to announce the addition of Andy Boyd as the studio’s new Head of 3D. A respected VFX supervisor in the commercial and film industries, he brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to MPC, as well as a client base built over his 15 years working around the globe.

“The hire of Andy Boyd marks an exciting new chapter in MPC LA’s progression,” notes MPC LA MD Andrew Bell. “He will be spearheading our already talented 3D team as we continue to flex our muscles and expand.”

Bicoastal production company GARTNER is pleased to welcome award-winning director Terry Rietta to its roster. The signing represents the company’s ongoing commitment to offering agency clients and brands cutting-edge filmmaking and production talent across the traditional and digital advertising landscape.

Wild’s credits include AT&T, Toyota, White Castle and Pert; Academy Award-winning documentarian Moll is making is commercial debut.

LOS ANGELES— Commercial production company Original has added David Wild and James Moll to its directorial roster. Wild brings more than 20 years of experience in commercials and documentaries, the former including recent work for AT&T, Pert, Toyota and Brut. Moll is an Academy Award-winning and two-time Emmy-winning documentary filmmaker who is entering the commercial field for the first time.

“Bruce and I have admired David’s work for a long time. He has a unique sensibility and a wonderful ability to tell stories and create memorable characters,” says Original partner/ executive producer Joe Piccirillo. “James’ accomplishments as a documentary filmmaker speak for themselves. His style and visual approach we believe will translate well to commercials. We are thrilled to welcome them to Original.”

The Cortez Brothers is pleased to welcome acclaimed Spanish filmmaker and visual artist César Pesquera to its roster. This latest signing aligns with the LA-based production company’s expertise in partnering multicultural talent with advertising agencies and major brands in the U.S.

"César's exactly the kind of director we love,” says Bernadette Rivero, The Cortez Brothers President. “We appreciate his eye and artistic vision, and that he sees the world as his sandbox -- but also that narrative storytelling is for him, as it is for us, the connective thread that ties the entire globe together.”