Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1475973
BITS & PIECES www.postmagazine.com 13 POST JULY/AUG 2022 OPEN ROAD LAUNCHES NEW BRANDING DESIGN DIVISION, LOS ANGELES — Theatrical marketing agency Open Road (openroad.la) has launched a new branding and design division called PopClutch (popclutch. openroad.la). Coinciding with the announcement, Paul Brodie, senior creative director at Open Road, has been elevated to executive creative director/head of creative at PopClutch. Brodie's wide-ranging experience spans two decades in the broadcast industry, beginning with a fledgling Sky Sports in London, and followed by roles at Showtime Networks, ABC Entertainment Networks and branding agency Troika. He joined Open Road in 2020, running creative for all of their design and motion. Brodie will partner in the leadership of PopClutch with executive producer/head of production, Sharre Jacoby, who most recently spent more than seven years as SVP/executive producer at Known Global (previously Stun Creative), overseeing production and operations. Prior to this, she ran production for branding agency Pembrook Productions. She also spent more than 13 years supervising the motion-graphics division at New Wave Entertainment. In addition, Jacoby was a post production supervisor on multiple films and TV series. "Paul and Sharre are accomplished and highly regarded marketing and design executives," notes Alan Baral, CEO of Open Road. "Paul has played a pivotal role in evolving Open Road's design team into what it is today. Sharre has built and managed some of the most awarded marketing teams in town and maintains deep relationships across the industry. As we continue to grow, we want Open Road to better reflect our increased capabilities." PopClutch's expanded branding and design talents will operate in tandem with Open Road. Capable of editorial, music, copywriting and finishing, the businesses will take a specialized, multi-pronged approach to each project and provide a holistic suite of skills. Baral and Lon Moeller acquired Open Road in 2016. "Since 2016, our capabilities have expanded to include show opens and show packaging, conceptual launch pieces, the evolution of multiple entertainment brands and 360 marketing campaigns, including talent shoots," notes Moeller. "PopClutch will be a dedicated creative force of branding, marketing and design, backed by the creative and editorial power for which Open Road has always been known." Baral adds, "Open Road looks forward to expanding its creative hori- zons with the launch of PopClutch, which will undoubtedly attract new opportunities." To actively further those goals, PopClutch has brought on Astra Reps for sales representation. CINESITE ACQUIRES MONTREAL STUDIO L'ATELIER ANIMATION MONTREAL — Cinesite (cinesite.com) has acquired Montreal studio L'Atelier Animation, which gives the company further access to the city's highly skilled talent pool, while making animation content under the two brands. Cinesite is headquartered in London, with operations in Montreal and Vancouver. They also have VFX partner studios Trixter in Germany and Image Engine in Vancouver. The new deal will expand Cinesite's creative and production capacity to meet demand in Quebec and elsewhere. The L'Atelier Animation manage- ment team, led by GM Benoit Blouin, will be working with Cinesite Animation COO Brad Wald to integrate the two companies and expand their Montreal footprint to meet the growing demand for an- imated content. L'Atelier Animation specializes in feature-length 3D ani- mation and series. Established in downtown Montreal in 2012, the company is best known for its work on Leap! (Caramel Films/Quads), which generated over $110M in international box office revenues. The studio's most recent production is Fireheart (pictured), produced by Les Films Seville, Anton, Main Journey, Caramel Films and M6 Films SND. The film's voice talent includes Olivia Cooke, Kenneth Branagh and William Shatner. L'Atelier also worked on the series Robozuna (Kidscave Entertainment and ITV Studios), and is currently in pro- duction on the feature 10 Lives (GFM Animation), which is being directed by Chris Jenkins (Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King). "As one of the largest independent studios producing animation, we are al- ways looking to grow our team with talented artists, and the L'Atelier team has a strong track record of producing outstanding work while taking great care of their clients," says Cinesite's Wald. "Bringing our two teams together will allow us to serve our clients even better and on a greater scale in both feature films and episodic television. I know we will have great success working together and continuing to meet the growing demand for animated content." "I am so proud of where our team's incredible talent has brought L'Atelier," adds L'Atelier's Blouin. "We have been admirers of Cinesite for years, so joining the Cinesite family will allow us to reach new heights together. We believe this deal will have a significant, positive impact on the animation industry in Quebec." To date, Cinesite has delivered 10 feature films, with recent credits that include Paramount Pictures Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank and MGM's The Addams Family franchise. The studio is in production on Aniventure's upcom- ing films Hitpig and Animal Farm, as well as the six-part Disney+ series Iwaju. Sharre Jacoby and Paul Brodie