Mitch Apley joins Abelson-Taylor after 6 years as RDS EP

RESOLUTION DIGITAL STUDIOS’ executive producer Mitch Apley joined agency Abelson-Taylor, a longtime client of his, in a new position as Manager of Interactive Production A/V. Apley had been one of Resolution Digital Studio’s first hires when the Show Department opened its production division in 2005.  He had supervised a staff of 15.

RDS is in the process of finding Apley’s successor and has narrowed the search down to two candidates, says Show Department EP Fred Booras. 

“Since Mitch started with us, the company has grown and we’re looking at the EP position in a new light,” says Booras.  “Mitch also served as a creative director and we want to add other characteristics to the special traits he added that will help us get to where we want to grow in the future.

Prior to RDS, Apley had been a producer/director for 8 years  at now-defunct Post Effects, which he joined right out of Northwestern.

Abelson-Taylor has the distinction of being the largest independent medical advertising agency in the world, with a staff of more than 400.  And this year marks its 30th anniversary. 

AFTER THREE YEARS with One at Optimus, EP/managing director John Noble and the post house production division have “decided to amicably go our different ways,” Noble said in an Email last week to clients and colleagues. “I leave knowing that I was a vital part of building a great team and creating a diverse and talented eight man directorial roster.”

Noble had been a producer with Element 79 prior to joining Optimus. 

Recently One at Optimus hired Kipp Christiansen, a 20-year production veteran, as production manager.  The addition was a result of growth and he would continue to manage directors, client connections and marketing, Noble said at the time.

A NEW OPTIMUS ADDITION is animation director Morgan James, who also serves as a technical and creative leader, particularly in the area of CG animation.  Morgan spent several years freelancing in Los Angeles, New York and Chicago, working for such notable design companies as such as Buck, B-lind, Digital Kitchen and Hornet on campaigns for Microsoft, McDonald’s, Mountain Dew, Nike and more as an animation and design leader.

EIGHT “SONS OF ADVERTISING” motorcyclists joined Sonixphere’s Greg Allan last Sunday on the first Wounded Warrior Project bike ride, benefiting the military injured in recent warfare.  They biked from Chicago to New Lenox, where they met up with a massive 3,000 bikers from throughout the Midwest. 

After a stop in New Lenox for the meet-up and breakfast, the easy riders headed to Elwood for ceremonies at the Abraham Lincoln Cemetery.  Encouraged by the response to their first effort, Allan says he’ll organize the “Sons” run again next summer.

VAGABOND AUDIO engineer Drew Weir has developed mixing techniques to help TV advertisers comply with the FCC CALM (Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation) Act.  CALM requires broadcast and cable stations to adopt industry technology that precludes commercials from being broadcast at a louder volume than the programs.  CALM goes into effect later this year.

Weir developed tools for proper CALM Act metering through mixes for PBS, History and other networks that have set their own standards over the past five years.  He recently used his CALM techniques for AirTran and McDonald’s campaigns. 

THE WACHOWSKIS, Andy and Lana, are embarking on a big historic/sci fi epic that starts shooting in Germany in mid-September — which means a ton of work will befall the effects staff at their beautiful North Side Ravenswood Kinowerks studio early next year.

The siblings are co-writing and co-directing Cloud Atlas, based on David Mitchell’s epic novel, which follows six storylines, each set in a different place and era.  The timeline and geography stretches from 19th century Australia to post-apocalyptic Hawaii. 

It stars Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Susan Sarandon and Jim Broadbent.  The German director is Tom Tykwer (The International).

MEDIA ORGANIZATION ILLUMEDIA hosts its first Annual Pixel & Paper Show Thursday, Sept. 29 at Hotel 71, inviting professionals to learn about current trends and view exhibits from some of the finest paper mills and interactive/digital media producers in the country.

 Illumedia, the updated successor organization to the Chicago Print Production, launched last May.  Leo Burnett’s Colleen Capola, EVP/associate director/product quality is president of the executive board. 

The Reel Thing is taking a break and will return Sept. 6.  Start the fall season off with a bang by sending us news of your activities for the column.  Email Ruth@ReelChicago.com