Burnett officially intros Greenhouse digital studio

GREENHOUSE, Leo Burnett’s nimble, in-house digital studio is now an official agency offering, having been formed earlier “to meet the demand of content production across a brand’s digital channels.”

Greenhouse’s staff of 30, led by Vince Geraghty, EVP/EP Production, internally produces content that falls outside of tradition production and, in many cases, can be turned around the same day.

This work is in addition to the agency working with production companies on broadcast and digital that’s supported by large media buys.

Catch Geraghty speaking on a panel, “Fast, Good or Cheap: The Reality of Today’s Content Creation,” at recently held Advertising Week.  

MICHAEL MOORE’S NEW FILM, “Where to Invade Next” — his first film in six years — will showcase at the 51st Chicago International Film Festival ChicagoFilmFestival.com/tickets Friday, Oct 23 at the AMC River East, with director Moore scheduled to attend.  In his new doc, Moore plays the role of “invader” as he visits a host of nations to learn how the U.S. could improve its own prospects. 

Moore’s first doc, the acclaimed “Roger and Me,” premiered at CIFF in 1989.  He returned in 2002 to present Oscar-winning “Bowling for Columbine.”

McDONALD’S AGENCY COSSETTE hired Sweta Kannan as Head of Strategy, who was previously VP/Strategy at DDB working with McDonald’s Kraft, Kohler and the American Cancer Society.  Earlier Kannan was with the Richard Group, Dallas, as senior strategic planner on Red Lobster. 

The possessor of degrees in psychology, economics, sociology and business, Kannan began her career in 2000 working on accounts throughout Asia for Leo Burnett and Ogilvy. 

GOOD NEWS FOR PRODUCTION HOUSES. Newly merged Kraft Heinz has started a review for a creative agency (or more than one) for its $600 million account, in an effort to cut costs. 

Agencies that received RFPs were told that they’d be responsible for creative – but they won’t be handling production, which will be outsourced to production houses, according to Ad Age.

Among Kraft’s current four agencies are Chicago’s McGarryBowen and Leo Burnett, while Heinz’ shops’ include Cramer-Krasselt.

AFTER A TWO MONTH REVIEW, MillerCoors, the $156 million account that cut ties with WPP’s Cavalry this summer, has landed at 72andSunny, which has offices in LA, New York and Amsterdam.

MACARTHUR GENIUS GRANT RECIPIENT LaToya Ruby Frazier is one of three Chicagoans out of 24 nationally who were chosen to receive a $625,000 grant.  An assistant professor, Dept. of Photography at the School of the Art Institute, Frazier uses visual autobiographies to capture social inequalities as examined in her images of the decay of the former steel town of Braddock, Pennsylvania.

CHANGING TIMES. Abelson-Taylor promoted Annie Burger to broadcast producer, from associate studio manager, reporting to EP Melissa Taylor.  Previously she was a production coordinator at McGarryBowen … Leo Burnett hired Josh Crick as SVP/director of digital integration, from LA-based David & Goliath … Meagan Ross rejoined Avid as field marketing manager, America, after 18 months as Resolution Production Group’s director of marketing … Lauren Delaney joined Abelson Taylor as an assistant producer, from associate producer at Mimi Productions, where she started as an intern.    

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