Energy BBDO adds top European SVP/creative directors

AN INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR is spicing up our ad scene with Energy BBDO’s addition of SVP/creative directors Giovanni Settesoldi and Luissandro Del Gobbo, art director and copywriter, respectively, who landed here after four years at Grey Paris as CDs, following stints at JWT Paris and BBDO Milan.  Their work has garnered an awe-inspiring 60-plus national and international awards.

DESIGN FOCUSED LEVIATHAN has expanded its VFX department with the promotion of design studio director Tim Sepulveda to VFX director and the addition of award-winning freelance designer/animator/compositor Nathan Davies.

Davies spent nearly two years as a 2D/3D designer with bicoastal and London Shilo in La Jolla, Cal. Returning to Chicago in 2009, he continued to freelance for Shilo, and local houses Leviathan, Radar, Sol and Digital Kitchen.

Prior to Shilo, Davies had stints at Outsider, was lead animator at Sock Puppet Studios and at Flux Group was a junior designer and animator.

Davies’s work has won a CIA Best Portfolio Award, two PromaxBDA Gold Awards and seven San Diego Creative Show Addy Awards, including five Gold Awards and one Best of Show.

WOMEN IN FILM AND CHICAGO SCREENWRITERS NETGROUP members will mingle for an Oscar Night Party this Sunday at Porkchop in the West Loop, the monthly hangout for the Screenwriters.

Arrive between 5 and 6 p.m. and receive a free Sausage Lollipop with Creole remoulade sauce or a Pork Belly Slider with Froelich’s Chipotle BBQ and Onions.  Discounted ticket price of $20 includes a free drink. Space is limited and tickets are available online

THE MOVIE “COURAGEOUS,” the low-budget surprise B.O. hit about four police officers struggling with their faith and their roles as husbands and fathers, was edited by Chicago editors Bill Ebel and Steven Hullfish for award-winning writer/director Alec Kendrick (Facing the Giants,” “Fireproof”). 

The much heralded movie can now be seen on Video on Demand and DVD. It was made for $2 million by Tri Star Pictures and scored a smashing $35 million U.S. sales.

VIDEO GAME MAKER JELLYVISION LAB named as CEO Amanda Lannert, who’s been company since its 2001 spinoff from the original Jellyvision, best known for its online interface games “You Don’t Know Jack” and “Who Wants to be a Millionaire.”  Lannert has been president of the 60 employee company founded by CEO Harry Gottlieb. 

ENERGY BBDO’S NEXT CREATIVE SALON March 4 has as its guest wildly creative and prolific Jon Langford, the Welsh-born musician/artist.  He’s one of the leaders in incorporating folk and country music into punk rock and has played with known bands on scores of recordings.  His best known art is portraits of famous and forgotten figures from the dawn of country music. He also hosts WXRT’s weekly show The Eclectic Company. 

THE TV ACADEMY holds its annual Membership Party Tuesday, Feb. 28 at the Greek Island Restaurant from 5:30-7:30 p.m. and is getting ready for Career Day 2012 Saturday, March 10 at the Ferguson Auditorium at Columbia College.

YOU CAN HAVE A VOICE in how the arts are represented in your neighborhood. The City of Chicago’s newly-merged Dept. of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) hosts a series of community forums seeking input into the 2012 Chicago Cultural Plan.

Haven’t heard from you lately.  Send news of your activities to Ruth@reelchicago.com.  Do it today!