LOS ANGELES—British comedy director JJ Keith has signed with Los Angeles-based A Common Thread for exclusive representation for commercials in the United States. Keith, who has an Academy Award nomination as well as a slew of advertising awards to his credit, has earned high regard in the U.K. and elsewhere in Europe for an inventive style of comedy that he has applied to such brands as Guinness, Subway, Coca-Cola, Land Rover, Vodafone and The BBC.

A Common Thread became interested in signing Keith through an Olympics campaign that he directed earlier this year for Shanghai agency BBH and Coca-Cola’s Ice Dew. The spot, in which pint-sized athletes attempt (but fail miserably) to compete with normal-size athletes, was short-listed at Cannes.

The Artery VFX, led by Partner/CD/VFX supervisor Vico Sharabani and Partner/EP Yfat Neev along with Harbor Picture Company, fronted by Founder/President Zak Tucker, Partner/Colorist Joe Gawler and Partner/Director Theo Stanley, are forming an artist-driven alliance for post-production in New York City. Fusing The Artery VFX’s A-level CG artists with Harbor Picture Company’s production and postproduction expertise, this collaboration serves every stage of content creation – from creative direction, production, creative editorial, high-end VFX, commercial color correction, feature film DI and the full spectrum of deliverables for feature films, commercials, web, installations and music videos.

New studio offers full spectrum of content creation services for commercial advertising, film and television.

Los Angeles—Antenna (http://www.antennacreates.com/), a full-service studio focused on multi-platform content creation for commercial advertising, film and television has launched in Los Angeles. The new company, which also features a satellite production facility in Europe, offers design, animation, visual effects, live action production, music composition and a broad range of digital services. It aims to provide advertising agencies, motion picture VFX producers, television studios and others with turn-key content-creation services for all media: theatrical, broadcast, online and print.

Kenny Barrickman returns as producer; facility launches new growth effort that includes the addition of a “virtual” editing room.

NASHVILLE—Filmworkers, a leading independent provider of post-production services for advertising, film, television and music videos, has appointed Robert Zimmerman as executive producer of its facility in Nashville. Zimmerman has more than 20 years of experience as a producer of commercials, music videos and corporate media. He will oversee all aspects of Filmworkers operations in Nashville and will initially focus on expanding the facility and growing is customer base.

Director, represented in the U.S. by Bully Pictures, also directs new campaign for Toyota.

LOS ANGELES— Fredrik Callinggard, represented in the United States by Bully Pictures, has directed a new, international campaign for Volvo re-launching its mid-sized, luxury, crossover SUV the XC90. Filmed in Norway’s spectacular fjordlands, the 60-second launch spot offers a rich and deeply affecting montage of landscape imagery and scenes of families traveling and enjoying life. Farmlands populated by ancient wood structures, quaint hamlets, gorgeous beaches and snow-swept mountains, all appearing under a cool autumn chill, float by as a young girl sweetly recites the words of “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.”

Following his work as lead producer on HUSH’s lauded “Camp Victory” project for Nike, the design agency is bringing Eric Alba on full time as its lead technical producer. Alba will play an indispensable role in creating the broad-ranging and brand-defining design projects molded around one-of-a-kind experiences for which HUSH is known.

East Pleasant is pleased to announce that Director Bradonio has been selected to join this year’s class of ADC Young Guns, an annual competition established by The Art Directors Club. Young Guns, which honors talented creatives working across a variety of visual media, has become renowned for identifying rising stars on their way to the vanguard of their disciplines.

Check out STLforSANDY.com, where the City of St. Louis engages residents to donate much needed supplies to victims of Sandy. The effort is the brainchild of Switch, an agency used to producing major events for its clients.

"The idea came up in a meeting here at Switch; knowing how many times we’ve done quick-turn, multi-faceted initiatives for our clients; it only made sense for us to mobilize our resources for this truly worthy cause. We all have friends, clients and relatives benefitting from these efforts. It really is as simple as one community helping another in need," said Switch Marketing Manager Andrew Mullins.

Production Company signs directors Mike Chaves and Andrews Jenkins.

HOLLYWOOD—The Traveling Picture Show Company has named advertising industry veteran John Noble to head its commercial production division as Executive Producer. Noble, who also becomes a partner in TPSC, brings broad experience in both agency and production company roles, including senior production posts with The Martin Agency, Element 79, Eyeball, and Optimus.

Director/cameraman marks his return to STORY with a 5-spot package for GMC and Digitas.

Continuing to grow its roster of commercial filmmakers, STORY has signed director/cameraman Scott McCullough for exclusive representation in the United States. It marks McCullough’s second time with STORY; he was earlier on staff from 2005 to 2008, when his credits included work for General Motors, The Home Depot and Jeep, among others. He marked his return to STORY by shooting a package of five spots for GMC and Boston agency Digitas.

Santa Monica, Calif., November 7, 2012 – RPA, the largest advertising agency headquartered in Los Angeles, and the third-largest independent agency in the country, welcomes Albert Ocampo as RPA’s first-ever Brand Experience Director, reporting to Joe Baratelli, EVP, Chief Creative Officer.

Fresh off a round of exciting wins at the 2012 AICE, Cannes and CLIO awards, jumP has done it again – with Editors Luis Moreno and Michael Saia taking home a trifecta of prizes in Editing from this year’s London International Advertising Awards.

Tool boosts its already considerable in-house interactive team with the addition of noted designer Michael Sevilla as associate creative director. A multidisciplinary creative specializing in direction, branding, print, and all things interactive, Sevilla brings a fascination with the convergence of art, design, music, technology and life to his new role.

MAS, an acronym for ‘music and strategy’, specializing in creative solutions for brands and agencies, is pleased to announce the promotion of founding partner and EP James Alvich to the role of managing director. An award-winning talent known for his ability to successfully manage client relationships while overseeing multi-million dollar TV, radio and online commercial productions, Alvich – who created MAS along with music vets Gabe Hilfer and Jim Black – is an indispensable part of the company’s mission.

Santa Monica, Calif.—Don Burgess, the award-winning cinematographer of such classic films as "Forrest Gump", "Cast-Away" and "Spider-Man", has joined The Joneses for exclusive representation as a commercial director. Burgess’s latest project, "Flight", his sixth film with director Robert Zemeckis, was released worldwide last week.

Burgess’s link to The Joneses actually marks a return as he was previously represented by the production company for several years during the mid-2000s. During that time, he directed ad campaigns for Cox Communications, and State Farm among others. In discussing his return, Burgess said that he plans to be more selective in taking on feature film projects in the future, leaving him more time to direct commercials.

CHICAGO— Design-driven production studio Vitamin expands its roster with the addition of Associate Creative Director Sam Gierasimczuk. Sam, whose background includes work as a designer, animator and technical director, will work with Vitamin Creative Director Danny DelPurgatorio in overseeing the studios array of projects. Gierasimczuk will assume a hands-on role in design and production as well as supervising the work of other members of the creative team.

Winner of Cannes and LIAA awards gains U.S. representation for the first time.

LOS ANGELES—Comedy director Dave Klaiber has signed with Bully Pictures for exclusive representation in the United States. It’s the first time that the young, Australian-born director has pursued work in the U.S. In 2008, Klaiber won a Silver Lion at Cannes for the Thrifty spot Birthday Girl. He is also the winner of two Gold London International Advertising Awards and a Gold Mobius Award.

Following the promotion of Megan Meloth to EP, a52 has continued to bolster its roster with the signing of Andrew Bate as VFX Supervisor/Flame Artist. A multitalented VFX pro whose work spans the commercial, music video and film worlds, Bate’s recent efforts include a Cannes Gold Lion-winning, Emmy-nominated Olympics spot for Procter & Gamble, a D&AD Annual-winning ad for Xbox, a Sports Emmy-winning promo for MLB, and Honda’s infamous Matthew Broderick’s Day Off Super Bowl ad from earlier this year.

Former executive producer at Directorz plans to develop the company into a post-production leader.

DALLAS—Jeremy Besser, a producer with more than 28 years of experience in the Dallas advertising industry, has joined the editorial boutique Treehouse. Formerly executive producer and partner at the commercial production company Directorz, Besser will oversee operations, direct sales and serve as chief liaison between the company and its advertising agency and production company clients.

Entertainment advertising agency honored for its work on campaigns promoting Activision and Sega games, as well as Martin Scorsese’s George Harrison documentary.

Los Angeles—The Ant Farm, a leading entertainment advertising agency, took home four awards at the 41st Annual Hollywood Reporter Key Art Awards held Wednesday night at the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood. The Key Art Awards are the entertainment industry’s most recognized awards for advertising and communications.