EDITORIAL STAR DEB SCHIMMEL is making a major change in her career. After 21 years as a top tier, award-winning editor at Optimus, she is moving to The Whitehouse as of May 1. Her recent work includes the current Marshall’s campaign, Jell-O, Famous Footage, BMO Harris, Coca-Cola and many more national advertisers.
Schimmel was one of 11 Optimus and One at Optimus managers who were named partners in June, 2015. Another partner, Knox McCormac, engineer and director of operations, left the company a few weeks ago.
NEW AT THE DAILY PLANET is Sara Wolfson, who brings her 15 years of big agency experience to her new position as producer/production manager, moving over from Cramer-Kramer. Wolfson also held business manager positions with DDB and Leo Burnett.
“Getting Sara here is a big win for us,” says Daily Planet president Scott Marvel. “As we continue to shoot more content and commercials, Sara’s knowledge, enthusiasm and creative chops bring a new dimension to what we do here.”
Wolfson, who has improv acting experience, was the voiceover for two Daily Planet live action spots for upcoming release.
THE CHICAGO CUBS and Olivet Nazarene University, a client of Loop-based Michael Walters Advertising, formed a four year exclusive partnership whereby Olivet is the Cubs’ official education partner. Cubs ‘second baseman Ben Zobrist, who attended Olivet for three years, serves as Olivet’s partnership ambassador.
A current campaign showcasing the partnership encompasses Wrigley Field signage, TV, radio, out-of-home and online.
ACTION STAR JASON STATHAM stars in Energy BBDO’s new 60-second spot, “World of Play” for LG Electronics that will air around the world. The spot introduces LG’s new G5 smartphone, which Stratham demonstrates is capable of delivering a playful mobile experience.
Credits include the agency’s ECD Sam Bergen, CD/art Aaron Pendleton, CD/copy, Miller Jones. MJZ was the production company, filming in LA, and award-winning Fredrik Bond directed.
INDIE FILMMAKERS! The Dept. of Cultural Affairs & Special Affairs, aka DCASE, is including “ChicagoMade Shorts” as part of its free 2016 Millennium Park Summer Film Series, viewed on a massive 40-ft. LED screen in front of an audience of up to 10,000.
The Series runs Tuesday nights, June 21-Aug. 30 at the Park’s Pritzer Pavilion. Those selected up-to-5-minutes shorts will play prior to each of the 11 classic features. John Hughes’ Chicago-made “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” starts the series June 21, followed June 28 by “Soul Food,” the film that took George Tillman, Jr. and Bob Teitel to Hollywood.
May 1 is the entry deadline and submission requirements can be found online. Selected submissions will be notified before June 15.
AND IRISH-AMERICAN FILMMAKERS, the 2nd Annual Irish American Movie Hooley is for you! Run by non-profit Hibernian Transmedia of River Forest, Movie Hooley seeks features and docs, 65-150 minutes in length. Three films will be chosen to premiere Sept. 30, Oct. 1-2 at the Gene Siskel Film Center. Submission deadline is May 31 and the application is here.
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