MullenLowe L.A. wins Whole Foods
According to Ad Age, Amazon finally finished shopping for a new creative agency for its newly acquired Whole Foods Market. The report says, the Austin, Texas-based grocery chain has chosen MullenLowe L.A., as its CAOR after a review.
The review, which was run by SRI, began in late June. After narrowing it down like a NCAA March Madness grid, the food chain finally determined that the El Segundo-based agency was the way to go.
MullenLowe will handle brand strategy and creative development, while MullenLowe/Mediahub focuses on media planning and buying. The article was not sure when consumers may see MullenLowe’s new work.
Source: Ad Age
Take that knee NFL players. For now.
Amid growing pressure on various NFL parties to kneel, stand, or make players stand during the national anthem before NFL games, the NFL met with players today according to Ad Age.
It took place a week after NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell, issued a memo stating “everyone should stand during the anthem,” echoing the earlier announcement by Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones that he would bench players who disrespect the flag.
NFL owners, executives and members of the league’s players’ union NFLPA) on reportedly met for nearly four hours to discuss the issues underlying the ongoing anthem protests, but made no move to alter the equation.
“Today, owners and players had a productive meeting focused on how we can work together to promote positive social change and address inequality in our communities,” the league and the NFLPA union said in a joint statement afterward.
After noting that the goal is to “utilize our platform to promote equality and effectuate positive change,” the owners and players “pledged to meet again to continue this work together.”
At the heart of the issue is a refusal to understand or sympathize with why the players are actually kneeling. Many armchair quarterbacks, thanks to the orange one in charge, didn’t see the movement in the same light, believing instead that Kaepernick and other players who began adopting his kneel-down stance were showing disrespect for the flag and all it represents. protest effort, and that Sunday saw nearly 200 players taking a knee as the anthem played.
Source: Bleacher Report
Dwayne Johnson to “rock” Stan Lee’s Con
Stan Lee’s Los Angeles Comic Con and “Entertainment Weekly” announced that Dwayne Johnson will make a special appearance at the convention. The 3-day pop culture extravaganza runs from October 27-29 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
On Saturday, October 28, Johnson will appear on behalf of his upcoming film “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” which hits theatres December 20. Johnson is doing his imitation of Sam Jackson by seemingly to appear in a new film every other week (looking at you “Fate of the Furious” and “Baywatch”) in addition to his producing and acting on his hit HBO series “Ballers. He is also planning on opening an ad agency.
2017 marks the 7th year for Stan Lee’s L.A. Comic Con, which has grown into one of the largest gatherings of stars and creative talent in comic book, publishing, gaming, film, broadcast, cable and streaming entertainment. This year, over 100,000 attendees are expected. Stay tuned to Reel Chicago for more updates and coverage.
Shannon Elizabeth leads heartwarming new golf film
Whatever happened to Shannon Elizabeth? I sure as heck loved her in all the American Pie and Scary Movie movies.
Well, if you happen to be near the Barrington, IL area, you can now see her swinging a golf club in a really charming film that is now in limited release called Swing Away.
Elizabeth plays Zoe Papadopoulos, a pro golfer who rediscovers her Greek heritage while in Greece, her true love of the sport, and the hidden strength within herself.
Elizabeth, who now resides in South Africa and is heading up the international division of Animal Avengers, had this to say about the film: “Swing Away was one of the most fulfilling projects for me that I’ve ever worked on. From an unbelievably talented cast and crew, to getting work on learning some golf and Greek, to working in a stunningly gorgeous location… everything was perfect. I hope to do it all again very soon.”
The film also features award-winning actor John O’Hurley, best known for playing J. Peterman on Seinfeld.
Swing Away opened last Friday in a dozen theatrical markets including The AMC South Barrington 30 (used to go there all the time) in the Chicago area. It can also be seen on various VOD platforms.
Contact Colin Costello at colin@reelchicago.com or follow him on Twitter @colincostello.com.
