MULTI-HONORED JEAN BATTHANY has departed DDB as ECD/EVP after four years to join Walt Disney Parks and Resorts as VP / Global Creative in LA. A native New Yorker and an art director by profession, with more than 20 years experience, Batthany has been an advocate for changing the ratio of men to women in creative leadership roles.
At DDB she received tons of industry awards including Women in Film’s Focus Award, Business Insider’s Most Creative Women in Advertising and the Keith Reinhard People Award. Chicago will miss her.
JUST-ENDED CANNES 2016 was bigger and better than ever, especially for Leo Burnett and FCB Chicago. Burnett’s highly heralded “Van Gogh BnB” spot for the Art Institute won 14 Lions, for a grand total of 17 trophies. Meanwhile, out of FCB Chicago’s total of 14 Lions, eight of them were awarded for “Countours Baby Stroller Test Ride,” plus an additional eight for other work.
SHOT AT WRIGLEY FIELD is a video of country music artist Brett Eldredge singing “Wanna Be that Song,” now playing on YouTube.
It was produced by Trey Fanjoy’s Big Feather Films of Nashville and directed by multi-award-winning Fanjoy, who’s considered a “rocket launcher” of the careers of some of C&W’s biggest stars.
The two teen Cubs fan / sweethearts in the video are actors Joshua Bender and Tiffany Fernandez, placed via O’Connor Casting.
IT’S A NEW HOME for the Chicago International Film Festival. After a dozen years working out of 30 E. Adams, the 53 year old institution has just moved its permanent staff of seven to new quarters at 212 W. Van Buren. Phone remains the same: 312/683-0121.
CREATIVES ALERT! A June 28 special panel on “Marketing Strategies for Artists & Creatives” shares the experience and knowledge of Patrick Welbe from Project; Benjamin Miles, Uprising Creative; Nick Keenan, Leo Burnett and Khaleed Juma, Mosaic. At the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel, 12 S. Michigan, 7-9 p.m.
NETWORK TV SHOWS are gearing up for fall season production. The two Fox TV pilots, “A.P.B.” and “The Exorcist,” are ensconced in their Cinespace offices and “Empire” starts shooting July 7 on stages we hear have new sets that were a month in construction. NBC’s “Chicago Justice” will open its office after the Fourth.
THE SPOT BUSINESS has been verrry quiet, we’ve been told; not an unusual situation in a presidential election year. The only commercial action we could scope out were State Farm insurance / BBD, shooting in Wrigley Field and Allstate / Leo Burnett on location in Lakeview.
THE REEL TAKES A HIATUS until July 5. Wednesday afternoon, however, you’re invited to the Newberry Library for my presentation-with-music about Mahalia Jackson, the world’s greatest gospel singer who is the subject of my feature music biopic. In the Ruggles Room, 4-5 p.m., free and open to all.
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