DAN WAYMACK, DICTIONARY FILM’S NEW DIRECTOR/DP filmed the entire Colorado town of Crested Butte, population, 1,500, for Bud Light/Energy BBDO’s “Up for Whatever” campaign, in which they painted the main route through the town bright “Bud Light Blue.”
Anheuser-Busch paid $500,000 to the small ski community to rent the town for two days, turning its historic downtown into “Whatever USA.” About 1,000 visitors were flown into town for the big weekend.
Waymack, of Little Rock, Ark.-based Waymack and Crew, a pioneer and specialist in HD production, is the seventh director on Dictionary’s directorial roster.
Waymack and Dictionary’s managing director Chris Rossiter go back a long way. They had worked together on many commercials for Leo Burnett clients when Rossiter headed the agency’s production department.
“Up for Whatever” was edited by Cutters’ Jacob Kuehl. Cutters is prepping more Energy BBDO work.
In other Cutters news: Editor Andrea Mendoza joined Cutters Studios’ New York office, from Charlie Uniform Tango in Austin, Texas. Mendoza, who also specializes in Hispanic commercials, started her career in New York …. Cutters’ EP Craig Duncan will attend the 2014 ANA Masters of Marketing Annual Conference in Orlando Oct. 15, representing the national AICE of which he is national co-president.
WISCONSIN-BASED KOHLER bathroom and kitchen fixtures awarded its estimated $34 million account to DDB Chicago, without a review. The account moved over from Havas’ Arnold New York, its agency since 2012.
New campaigns will include TV spots, digital ads and appearances at Fashion Week and music festivals, events that may produce material for a branded content play.
Not so good news is DDB Chicago’s recent downsizing of its staff by 2-3%, affecting an estimated 15-30 employees. The cutback is said to be largely due to DDB client McDonald’s shifted its rebranding campaign from DDB to Leo Burnett last August.
AWARD WINNING ACTRESS KATHLEEN TURNER was named president of the 50th Chicago International Film Festival’s International Feature Competition Jury. Turner will talk about her career during “An Evening with Kathleen Turner,” Oct. 14, at the AMC River East theatre.
A SHOUT OUT TO IFP’S board of directors formed last July, who are diligently working to sustain its many helpful programs for indie filmmakers.
Officers are president Carrie Holt de Lama, feature producer; VP Nicole Bernard-Reis, producer; treasurer, Dan Moore, retired DGA Midwest executive director; secretary, Lisa Swanson, IT strategist.
Board members: Kathy Byrne, director, TV/Theatrical, SAG-AFTRA Chicago; Kamelya Alexan, filmmaker; Nate DuFort, producer, Second City Theatricals and Producing Director, The Second City Touring Companies; Stan Glapa, Cineverse; Katherine Imp, attorney, Cummins & Associates, Ltd.; Mike McNamara, executive director, Midwest Independent Film Festival; John Mossman, director, Mossman Films; John Otterbacher, Orange Chair Productions, Ltd.; Amy Rising, Tribeca Flashpoint; Sherilyn Slawinski, Cinespace; Ines Sommer, co-founder/ executive director, Percolator Films; Laurel Ward and Kit Woods, senior advisor, film, TV, digital media, TEAM Talent.
THE BOLLYWOOD MOVIE, “Dhoom 3,” which shot here last year, has been released on Netflix and other streaming media services. It’s the highest-grossing Indian film made to date, probably due to hand-to-hand fights and chases that took place on highest-end BMW motocycles throughout our city streets.
Busy weeks ahead, so you should have plenty of production news to share with the Reel’s 25,000 readers. Send it to ruth@reelchicago.com.
