It was back in the 80’s again as The Music Factory created the backing tracks for “MusicStar” Switzerland’s answer to “American Idol.” Also airing on Swiss television are tracks for “Traumjob”, the European version of “The Apprentice.”
Long format projects have also been keeping TMF bumping with Integer Midwest’s Iowa Tourism video, Screenscape’s Eli Lilly “Reconcile” DVD, and in-house pieces for Home Depot’s “Homer Fund” produced by Joan Karpeles.

Finding its inner youth, TMF wrote and produced 93 tracks for Kindermusik International and their subsidiary record label “Do Re Me & You.” Various regional talents were called on to provide the character voices for these fun tracks with themes ranging from pirates to cars. Several of the albums went on to win major industry accolades including recognition from the National Parenting Publication Awards and Creative Child Magazine.

TMF also welcomes its newest team member, “Hoover,” a Standard Schnauzer.

In-n-Out at Doppler
Menudo has completed auditions for the new group, and Oak of the ‘Knightwritahz’ was at Doppler Studios with engineer Aaron Holton laying down tracks for the debut album on Epic Records with the new lineup. While they were in the studio, Oak and Holton also worked on some music for actress/singer Jennifer Lopez’s next project, also on Epic. Atlanta’s own Usher returned to Doppler, recording tracks and vocals with songwriter/producer Eric Hudson and engineer Mac Attkisson. Legendary R&B singer Peabo Bryson spent several weeks in Doppler’s Studios A, E and G; recording and mixing for an upcoming release on Peak Records/Concord. Holton and Rick de Varona handled the engineering duties, while Blake Eiseman did the mixing. Producer Polow Da Don was in working on some tracks for the upcoming release “Incredible” by Motown superstar Ashanti, with Steve Fisher engineering the sessions. The pair also came in to work on some vocals with multi-platinum artist Chris Brown for his sophomore release “Exclusive”, due out this summer on Jive Records. Marsha “the Songstress” Ambrosius of the grammy-nominated British R&B duo Floetry has been recording vocals for her debut solo effort on Aftermath with producer Oak and engineer Ralph Cacciurri. Actress/singer Raven-Symone returned to Doppler to record vocals with producers Oak and Sterling for her upcoming 4th CD on Hollywood Records. Ralph Cacciurri engineered. Sony Japan flugelhorn player and vocalist TOKU brought his band to Studio E to take advantage of the acoustics and the Yamaha grand piano. Alex Lowe was behind the board for the session. R&B vocal quartet One Chance continued work on their upcoming debut album “Private”, which will be the first release on Usher’s Ush Records with producer Oak and engineer Ralph Cacciurri.

Old Souls at Freshco
Freshco Media, Inc., is a new company with experienced artists working on post production of songs, albums and music videos for Hip Hop and R & B artists. One of Freshco’s new offerings is the ability to remove explicit lyrics from songs and replace them with cutting edge sound effects and sound design that enhances the song. Together with the audio and visual post production work, music for the Hip Hop and R&B industry will soon be offered by this one-stop shop company. Being able to put together radio commercials and promos for the music industry’s most prestigious projects is one of the things owner, Shawn Conrad, has years of experience doing. Conrad has worked on assembling albums such as the “RUSH HOUR” movie sound track and editing the radio versions “Hard Knock Life” by JAY-Z, and “Judgement Day” by METHOD MAN. Conrad was the go-to-guy for Kevin Lyles at Def Jam Records.

Career How To Workshops and Motivational Presentations also available from Freshco. Life, Money, Music and Hip Hop are some of the topics covered in the classes aimed at young adults trying to break into and survive the music industry. As part of the old school, classic Hip Hop group, FRESHCO & MIZ, Conrad brings many years of hands-on experience into play.

Smart People at Orphan Studio
Busy times at Orphan Studio. Columbia Recording artist Brandi Carlile recently came to Orphan to record a song with Emily Saliers (Indigo Girls) for the movie “Smart People.” The movie stars Dennis Quaid and Sarah Jessica Parker and is due out in the winter. Amy Ray (Indigo Girls) and Saliers also came in together to record vocals on Carlile’s latest release, “The Story.”

Legendary crooner Peabo Bryson was also at Orphan recording a song for his new release coming out on Peak records. This will be Bryson’s first album in 10 years.

Finally, Atlanta singer/songwriter Evan McHugh’s CD, “From The Second Chair,” was just released. Glenn Matullo produced and engineered the CD at Orphan.

A Golden Event for CPP
Creative Presence Partners (CPP) took home the Gold Award at the Event Marketer Magazine’s 2007 EX Awards in the category of Best Production of an Event (Consumer).

CPP was selected for its work on the 2006 My Coke Fest produced in conjunction with the NCAA© Men’s Final Four© in Indianapolis. My Coke Fest attracted more than 80,000 fans, setting an Indiana record for an outdoor music event, and was featured on CMT, ESPN, CBS, E!, MTV and Entertainment Tonight. The day’s entertainment covered a wide range of musical tastes from R&B performer Chris Brown, The Wreckers featuring Michelle Branch, and American Idol and Country Music Association-award winner Carrie Underwood, with a special appearance by musical artist Nick Lachey. The evening was capped by a rousing performance by the Hoosier state’s own John Mellencamp.

Ancillary activities during the weekend included live broadcasts on College Sports Television (CSTV), Westwood One Radio and local radio and television stations. CPP also produced vignettes for airing during the NCAA© Final Four© broadcasts, launched a new advertising campaign for The Coca-Cola company, engaged street entertainers and provided Coke Floats sampling stations, rounding out the branded experience.

Fletcher Martin Has Growth Spurt
Fletcher Martin recently bolstered its roster with the addition of nine new employees, including additions to the public relations, interactive, account service, creative and traffic departments. The employee additions are expected to enhance the agency’s consumer products, entertainment, retail and restaurant hospitality services. Recent hires include:

Nicole Hunnicutt, account supervisor – public relations. Bringing more than 10 years of public relations experience, Hunnicutt joined Fletcher Martin from The Home Depot. Hunnicutt’s previous client work includes Blockbuster, Krispy Kreme, Popeye’s, Chipotle and Paramount Pictures.

Gerald Christian, Flash designer/developer – interactive. Christian brings more than nine years of interactive multimedia design and development, having most recently worked at Autovin, Inc. as a graphic artist for web design and development. Christian’s client work includes HBO, FOX and BellSouth.

Joy Streeter, account supervisor – advertising. Streeter’s main role at Fletcher Martin is to collaborate with several Arby’s co-op clients to generate and execute local media strategy, local store marketing and initiatives. Joining the agency from Fitzgerald + Co, Streeter served as media planning supervisor overseeing the day-to-day planning for clients such as The St. Joe Company, Piedmont Hospital, and the Currahee Club.

Taryn Dominie, account supervisor – advertising. Working on the Arby’s account, Dominie manages the local marketing and advertising efforts for several Arby’s co-ops across the U.S. Her previous client work includes Church’s Chicken, CIBA Vision, U.S. Virgin Islands and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

Andrea Parsons, account coordinator – advertising. Joining the agency’s Traffic Generators™ team, Parsons works on the Arby’s FSI’s for numerous franchisees around the country. Parsons most recently worked as an intern for the World Financial Group.

Kristin Bourne, account supervisor – advertising. Joining the agency from St. John & Partners Advertising and Public Relations, Bourne’s main role with Fletcher Martin includes managing the local marketing and advertising efforts for numerous Arby’s co-ops across the U.S. Her previous clients include Zaxby’s and McDonald’s.

Chuck Carrier, project manager – traffic. Bringing over 10 years as a professional songwriter and musician, having written songs for such bands as Sister Hazel, Carrier adds creativity and new perspective to the agency.

Thom Volarath, art director – creative. Bringing over five years of experience, Volarath joins Fletcher Martin from WestWayne where he worked on SunTrust Banks, BellSouth, Yellow Pages, Buffalo Wild Wings and Russell Athletic. Other client work includes State of Georgia Tourism and Nature’s Own Bread.

Kristina Buller, designer – creative. Graduating summa cum laude from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), Buller brings a young and fresh perspective to Fletcher Martin. Her student award-winning work garnered her both Gold and Silver SCADDY awards. Buller’s previous work includes the 2006 Taste of Atlanta food festival.

Waveguide Lenses Cartoon Network Promos
“Re-Animated,” Cartoon Network’s first ever live-action movie, is being released to DVD this summer, and WaveGuide Studios was called upon to create three promotional TV spots and a documentary featurette demonstrating the effects and animation used in the film’s production.

The spots and featurette star actor Matt Knudsen, who plays Sonny Appleday, Re-Animated’s bumbling villain. Knudsen’s segments were shot in HD at the WaveGuide Studios insert stage against an ultimatte cyc wall. Interviews and segments showing the film’s creative process were shot on location at Turner Studios.

WaveGuide Studios provided all postproduction, including HD post, graphics, compositing, audio and colorist services. The featurette also includes a custom score by producer/composer Todd Watson, who also supervised the
sound design and mix.

Shearer Snags Silver
Chad David Shearer, creative director for Caren West PR, won a 2007 Silver Horizon Interactive Award for his work on the flash branding website campaign for independent apparel company, Designateria. Shearer’s work with Designateria began in early 2006 with a strong focus on the reconstruction of the bi-coastal company’s corporate branding.

The re-branding campaign for Designateria kicked off during the 2006 South by Southwest music festival in Austin, TX. with the launch of the newly designed website and image. A celebratory party introducing the re-branded website and image to opinion leaders, music lovers and media showcased bands that embodied Designateria’s independent creative spirit such as Shy Child, Diamond Nights, and We Are Scientists.

Teaching the Art of Adventure
Photographer Kirk Kingsbury will be teaching a course on independent adventure travel in developing countries through Evenings at Emory.

Kingsbury, who speaks two languages and has shot in over 25 countries, conducted interviews with a large number of people to try to find out why more Americans were not traveling abroad on their own, instead opting for organized tours and cruises. He discovered that would-be adventurers share three basic concerns: fear for safety and health, worry over language problems, and simple intimidation. With that information, Kirk found he had his course outline. His class is designed to inspire travelers to get out on their own, and challenge themselves.

Along the same lines, Push Here Advertising in Orlando worked with Kirk to shoot an advertising campaign based on the theme “The Art of Travel” for the Kessler Hotel Group. The shoot took place in Savannah and was art directed by Push Advertising’s Elizabeth Montgomery.

Crawford Authors Blu-Ray
Crawford Post Production is among the first Atlanta companies to offer Blu-ray DVD authoring capability. Currently, Crawford can provide its clients auto play or continuous looping, as well as simple DVD menus for Blu-ray discs.

Blu-ray is the next generation optical disc format that enables recording and playback of high definition (HD) video. While using a blue-violet laser to read and write, the disc can hold five times the capacity of a standard DVD on a single layer Blu-ray disc.

Recently, Crawford completed a Blu-ray authoring project for The Weather Channel (TWC) handling five 22-minute and three 60-minute programs along with one 10-minute program. The programs were completed in less than two weeks and showcased at The Cable Show 2007, which allowed viewers to experience TWC’s HD capabilities.

Crawford has also finished several 2007 marketing campaign spots for some of America’s favorite brands. Latest work includes:

A & W Restaurants: Agency - Creative Alliance; Brian Mac, motion graphics; Greg Crawford, sound design and mix; and Jeff Bauman, color correction.

BellSouth Dozens: Agency - Matlock Advertising & PR; Mark Davis, offline; Jeff Bauman, color correction; DK Ryan & Ron Heidt, conform and compositing; and Troy Bieser, audio mix.

Nationwide: Agency - Matlock Advertising & PR; Jeff Bauman, HD color correction; Curtis Elder, HD finishing, compositing & conform; Sheri Kennedy, offline; and Greg Crawford, sound design.

O’Charley’s Restaurants: Agency - The Buntin Group; Jeff Bauman, color correction; and Ron Heidt, editing and effects.

Southeast Toyota: Agency - WestWayne; Jeff Bauman, color correction; and Curtis Elder, editing and Effects.

Tribe Expanding Footprint
Tribe Inc., recently made four new hires to accommodate growth at the Atlanta ad agency.

Lindsay Podrid joined Tribe as art director. She will be working with UPS internal communications projects as well as Porsche Cars North America, InterContinental Hotels Group, Mannigton Floors and OVE.com. Podrid was most recently at InovaOne Studios as the Design Director.

Amanda Casciaro has joined Tribe as copywriter and is assigned to UPS, Porsche and several other Tribe accounts. Casciaro was most recently at the Marietta Daily Journal covering Cobb County news.

Lauren King has joined Tribe as a new accountant. King will be working with billing, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll and creating job-costing reports.

Megan Tackett has joined Tribe as the Public Relations Coordinator and will handle agency public relations as well as some PR work on client business.

Tribe also promoted Sarah Riordan from account coordinator to account manager. Riordan works on Northside Hospital, UPS and Porsche.

In other news, Tribe CEO and creative director Elizabeth Cogswell Baskin was interviewed by nearly 30 television and radio stations across the country to promote the Mirassou Winery® “Make Your Dreams Come True” contest.

KENNESAW GOT BY GOTCHA
The City of Kennesaw has chosen a new logo for its marketing/advertising purposes. Created by GOTCHA DESIGN, the new logo tells Kennesaw’s story – that of a community drenched in history and dedicated to a high quality of life for today’s residents and visitors. The CityScape logo, chosen by focus groups and the Mayor and City Council – consists of a series of stylized graphics/icons that, when presented together, tell the story of Kennesaw - its Past, Present and Future.

Energy Needs MediaSolutions
Progress Energy recently announced a new affiliation with Atlanta-based MediaSolutions. MediaSolutions will plan and carry out new media and marketing strategies for the energy company, including print, radio, online and television advertising.

MediaSolutions’ past energy experience includes work with Georgia Power, Gulf Oil and Oglethorpe Power. Progress Energy, headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., is a Fortune 250 diversified energy company with more than 23,000 megawatts of generation capacity and $10 billion in annual revenues.

Lorna Wilson Joins Rainforest
Rainforest Productions, Inc. has welcomed a new member to its team. Lorna Wilson, formerly of IMAGE Film & Video Center, has been named as the company’s new director of operations. In this position, Wilson will oversee the administration and coordination of all aspects of the Rainforest Films Atlanta office.

Wilson has been involved in Atlanta’s independent film community for over a decade. At IMAGE she was responsible for membership, youth education, and venue management/operations for the annual Atlanta Film Festival, and Out on Film. Prior to working as IMAGE’s programming associate, she spent six years as a freelance production coordinator for corporate videos, commercials and special events. In addition to serving three terms on the Board of Directors for Women in Film Atlanta, Wilson has consulted with several festivals in metropolitan Atlanta, and continues to promote independent work by African American filmmakers through her screening program, “Reflecting Black”.

A Michigan native, Wilson received her Bachelors of Business Administration Degree from Howard University and went on to get her Master of Arts Degree in Film/Video Production from the University of Michigan.

Correction
In the May/June issue in our story titled Procrastination is a Dirty Word, we mis-identified Leah Henderson’s company name. The name of her company is Leah Henderson & Associates. You can visit her at www.leahhenderson.com.

SPIN Makes art that speaks
Scenes from SPIN Productions’ work for Luckie & Company and Alabama Tourism and Travel.
Singing quilts, wisecracking folk art and talking pigs are just some of the effects that SPIN Productions has whipped out recently.

First, the company created effects for a series of spots, titled “Art that Speaks” for Alabama agency Luckie & Company and their client Alabama Tourism and Travel. SPIN worked to create living breathing works of art to showcase the talents of Alabama artists.

The Quilters of Gee’s Bend, for instance, are first heard through the singing of perfect four part harmony gospel…coming from random geometric shapes of quilts, shaped to look like human mouths. The spot later reveals the celebrated Quilters of Gee’s Bend to actually be singing the hymn. SPIN used live action footage of the ladies singing to manipulate the mouths, eyes and noses of the quilts.

Another spot in the campaign involved the “Ugly Jugs” of folk artist Jerry Brown. “The idea was to create a sort of “mini-me” of Jerry and capture the motions and expressions of his face in the movements of the jug,” said director Keith Adams. The jug speaks to the camera in Jerry’s voice and ends on a graphic saying, “come see what Jerry has to say.” Adams used High Dynamic Range Image ( HDRI) to capture environmental maps. The jug was modeled and animated by SPIN using Maya software.

SPIN also worked with Julie Burmeister of The Burmeister Group to make pigs talk. In a series of commercials called “The Piggy Banks,” done for The Burmeister Group’s client, the

Associated Credit Union, SPIN took the spots from pre to post production. The agency wanted to capture a discussion that goes on between bankers.

The shoot took place at PC & E with Adams directing the live action. Credits for all the spots include: Art That Speaks: Luckie & Company – Agency; Chad Crowley, director; and Michael LaGattuta, Producer. The Piggy Banks: The Burmeister Group - Agency; Keith Adams, director; Julie Burmeister, producer; and Tony Messano, Art Director. SPIN Crew: Keith Adams, technical director/Inferno artist; Lisa Ferrell, producer; and Tyler Hittle, After Effects / 3D artist.

Primal Spike
Animation and broadcast design company Primal Screen recently created several promos for Spike TV’s first ever “Guys Choice Awards”. The event was a slugfest of mano-a-mano bouts in such categories as Best Ass-Kicker, Ballsiest Band and Funniest M.F., determined by viewer voting. Primal Screen brought the event’s spirit of bare-knuckled competition to life graphically in an homage to mid-century boxing posters. In addition to the graphics, Primal Screen created the rowdy sound design and deployed some of the angry men on staff as models.

Credits were: art director Rick Newcomb; director/designer Rob Shepps; audio, Steve Mank; models, Rick Newcomb, Rob Shepps, Steve Mank, Joe Kubesheski, and Hunter Matheson; photography, Chuck Carlton; producer Hunter Matheson; executive producer Susan Shipsky; and creative director Doug Grimmett.

Agency Vets Join MATCH
MATCH, Inc. recently expanded the roster with the hiring of Paige Price as director of account management and John Spear as senior copywriter.

In her role, Price will manage the agency’s account service department and lead strategic communications efforts for all clients including Shoney’s, Ted’s Montana Grill and others. Prior to joining the agency, Price played an integral role in BellSouth’s transition to AT&T as vice president, management supervisor on the BellSouth account at Grey Worldwide in Atlanta. She also gained a significant amount of technology experience working on UUNET/WorldCom, Interland, and Kodak Digital and Applied Imaging accounts as a senior account manager for DWP//Bates Technology, now JWT Communications, Entertainment & Technology Practice in Atlanta. She has also led several retail accounts including Longhorn Steakhouse and Pike Family Nurseries while at Scharbo & Company from 1994 to 1999.

As senior copywriter, John Spear will work on several key accounts including Ted’s Montana Grill and Flowers Bakery and assist in new business development. Prior to joining MATCH, Inc., Spear was an associate creative director at JWT Communications, Entertainment & Technology Practice in Atlanta. In this role, he helped develop several technology brands including CDW, Texas Instruments (DLP and Analog divisions), Simdesk and BMC Software. Spear began his career as an account executive at JWT Atlanta working on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Georgia Department of Industry Tourism and Trade in 1992. He also worked in account management at Merkley Newman Harty before it merged with BaylessCronin in the late 1990s. There, he transitioned to the creative side writing for several blue-chip accounts including ESPN, Sports Illustrated, and the Discover Channel while attending the Portfolio Center in Atlanta. He has also worked on the client side as the director of marketing and event management for the Atlanta Silverbacks professional soccer team.

Talent Agency Talent Changes
Oz would like to welcome Atlanta’s newest talent agency, J Pervis Talent Agency. Jayme Osburne and Jack Pervis have officially opened the J Pervis Talent Agency. Osburne spent the last 3 years at Hot Shots Kids. Ever dedicated to her new company name, Osburne is soon to join Jack as an official J Pervis. Osburne will marry Adam Pervis next May. J Pervis will work with talent of all ages.

Joy Pervis, founder of Hot Shots Kids, has left Hot Shots to pursue a new opportunity with Osbrink Talent Agency, based in Los Angeles. Pervis will be based out of Atlanta, and will travel the country scouting talent.

People Store and Hot Shot Kids and Teens officially combined locations and will now be operating from 645 Lambert Drive. As of August 1st 2007 the daily operations of Hot Shot Kids and Teens will be handled by co-owners Brenda Pauley and Rebecca Shrager and the staff of People Store. With this new management in place People Store and Hot Shot Kids and Teens will be representing an elite group of child actors that will enjoy the same success as People Store’s current roster of adult talent has enjoyed. People Store is a part of ATA – Association of Talent Agents, as well as AFTRA, GPP, MCIA and WIFTA.

The Rise of Raise
Veteran Atlanta graphic designer Kevin Rej recently launched his new design studio venture, Raise Studio. Raise Studio is a continuation of Rej’s design firm Brand Bird, which he sold in 2006. Rej’s new studio will shift its focus from product licensing to comprehensive brand development, providing brand-focused marketing materials for both trade and consumer audiences. In addition to brand development, Raise Studio will offer design, advertising and interactive marketing services to clients in a variety of industries, including consumer, hospitality and technology.

Bull’s-Eye Hits TecnoTile
Busy times at Bull’s-Eye with the addition of new clients and numerous projects. The design firm launched the new TecnoTile website. TecnoTile, a division of Roland Plastics, Ltd. of the United Kingdom, is a flexible, high-performance sports surface solution made of perforated, interlocking tiles. The TecnoTile website integrates extensive video testimonials from actual customers to expound upon the many advantages and benefits of the product.

Wegener, a world leader in digital video equipment, commissioned Bull’s-Eye to produce its new line of product sale sheets. The product data sheets provide potential customers with in-depth information on the many features and benefits of Wegener’s software and hardware lines.

Los Ninos Del Inka based in Iquitos, Peru, is an educational non-profit that builds K-12 schools for under-privileged local children. Bull’s-Eye was brought on board to design a business identity system that would serve as a catalyst to garner corporate sponsorships. Construction is now in progress on the first school in a remote region of the country.
Financial Management Solutions, Inc. (FMSI) develops forecasting and scheduling systems for financial institutions. Bull’s-Eye is creating FMSI’s new website.

CLM Sanitation is the largest sanitation service provider in the state of Georgia. Bull’s-Eye has just launched the company’s new website.

Absolute Haitian Corp., headquartered in Worcester, Massachusetts, is working with Bull’s-Eye to develop a direct mail campaign for its sales reps. Absolute Haitian manufactures plastic molding machines.

Long-term Bull’s-Eye client, Building Systems Design (BSD), attends numerous trade shows to advertise its line of architectural specifications software. BSD turned to Bull’s-Eye to develop several marketing support pieces for its giveaway promotion of a Segway transportation vehicle.

MineLab, headquartered in Las Vegas Nevada, is the world leader in metal sensing technology. Bull’s-Eye is developing product packaging for the company’s consumer line.

In other news, Bull’s-Eye principal partner, Patrick Carlson, will be joining the board of directors of the American Marketing Associations (AMA) Atlanta chapter as co-chair of the membership committee.

Hayslett Hires Hilyer
Hayslett Group LLC, expanded its staff with the recent addition new account executive Kari Hilyer. Hilyer previously served as strategic account manager for Blackbaud, Inc. in Charleston, S.C., and is currently pursuing a master’s in Communication at Georgia State University.

In other news, Hayslett received an award from the American Institute of Graphic Artists’ (AIGA) Southeastern Excellence in Design (SEED) competition. Hayslett Group’s director of creative services, Michelle Clark, received a SEED Award in the Public Service/Nonprofit Sector, for her design of a t-shirt for pro-bono client Cochran Mill Nature Center. Her submission was one chosen from over 500 entries from across the Southeast.

Kilgannon Prepares for Consumer Launch
Kilgannon recently created the first U.S. advertising campaign for Old Mutual (LSE: OML), a Fortune Global 500 company that specializes in asset management, insurance and annuities. The multi-million dollar campaign, directed to investment and insurance professionals, began appearing in trade publications and related online sites in July. Kilgannon currently is developing an integrated campaign for the company’s national consumer launch, scheduled for later this year.
“In recent months, our job has been to develop a unifying strategy for Old Mutual’s U.S. businesses – one that speaks to two traditionally distinct audiences – financial advisors and insurance agents,” said Rena Kilgannon, president of Kilgannon. The resulting campaign consists of a comprehensive print effort and substantial online presence, augmented by numerous events and trade shows that will drive home the importance of innovation. The print ads are scheduled to run in 17 trade publications geared to financial advisors and insurance agents.

Shira Miller Spanx Award
Atlanta-based Shira Miller Communications (SMC) was the recipient of a 2007 Bronze Anvil Award, sponsored by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). SMC received the Bronze Anvil Award in the Media Relations- Consumer Products – Non-Packaged Goods category for its “ASSETS in America” campaign for Spanx Inc., the footless body-shaping pantyhose company. SMC collaborated with Spanx’ internal PR team, lead by Misty Elliott, to help launch the new ASSETS by Sara Blakely product in Target stores. Together, the team used PR to secure 75 radio segments nationwide, with nearly 20% of these hitting the top 30 markets nationwide.

Four New for c21
communications 21® got the summer started right with the addition of four new clients. The agency’s mix of accounts now includes the Women’s Institute for Health (WIFH), a local medical and esthetics practice; Le Jardin, an exclusive South Fulton residential real estate community; Development Advisory Group, a real estate consulting firm; and Land Capital Group, a Utah-based real estate developer. c21 is providing media relations and special event services for these clients.

The Foundry Eats More Chicken
Brand design firm The Foundry Agency was selected by Chick-fil-A, Inc., the nation’s second-largest quick-service chicken restaurant chain (based on sales), to design and build the new Chick-fil-A.com, the company’s corporate Web site. This high-profile project is scheduled to be completed and unveiled to the public in fall 2007.

Thomas Goes from Turner to Magick
Award-winning editor Kevin Thomas recently joined Magick Lantern’s creative team. Thomas has extensive experience in creating high-end broadcast graphics and elaborate composites using Photoshop, Final Cut Pro and After Effects. His unique blend of experience and creativity will be complimented in Magick’s newly-upgraded Final Cut Studio 2 and After Effects Suite.

Thomas was the top Avid DS/Nitris editor at Turner Studios, a division of Time-Warner, and then worked as a graphics/composite guru at a number of independent shops, before coming to Magick Lantern. Since joining Magick, Thomas has created projects with clients such as CNN On-Air, Cartoon Network Latin America, TNT Latin America and Boomerang. He recently finished a major project on the “The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy” Season 1 DVD for Cartoon Network Trade Creative and promos for Memorial Day and Heroes for CNN.
In other news, Magick Lantern and its clients won three prestigious Promax North America awards at the Promax/BDA conference held recently in New York City.

Senior DS Editor/Compositor James Powell won the Bronze Award for his promotional entry for [Adult Swim], a division of Cartoon Network, in the Cable Channels and Networks-Adult Programming category. James worked with producer Carlo Olivares on the [Adult Swim] Micro-Series, “Quads.”

Magick’s work for Gospel Music Channel won a Bronze Award in on-air sales promotions for work by After Effects/Adrenaline artist, Nancy Rosette, for her design creation on the network interstitial, “Words of Faith,” with GMC Producer Terese Rabbitt.

TNT Latin America producer Patrick Harrington and Magick Lantern editor Jesenko Fazlagic took home the Gold Award for a Network Marketing Presentation Reel. Jesenko’s compositing skills in Magick’s DS/Nitris Suite created a winning presentation.

Long Form at the Lab
2007 has already been a busy year for LAB 601 Digital Post, with a bevy of producers using the Midtown facility as a feature film post-production hub.

Terry Collis, a producer and production manager with credits including “Total Recall,” “Tombstone” and “What Dreams May Come” came to LAB 601 with his latest project, “Mrs. Hobbes’ House.”

Rainforest Films/Sony Pictures’ “Three Can Play That Game” is currently in post-production and Mandalay Alliance Entertainment has announced that it will be bringing two features to LAB 601: “Sundays in Fort Greene,” written by and starring Tamara Bass, and “Love Can’t Hide,” written and produced by Omar Epps.

After posting the 2007 Sundance Film Festival hit “The Signal,” their second co-production with LAB 601, POPfilms set up offices in LAB 601’s facility to develop their new projects. LAB 601 will also soon begin post-production on Gregg Bishop’s locally produced “Dance of the Dead” and on Jokara Productions’ upcoming “Forgiving Injustice: The Lena Baker Story.”

New Communications for GDEcD
The Georgia Department of Economic Development has added a new communications specialist to assist with day-to-day media needs.

Maggie Large comes to GDEcD from the Macon Telegraph, where she covered beats in business, entertainment, higher education and diversity. Before joining the Telegraph in 2002 she was a business reporter for the Fort Pierce Tribune in Florida. She was also managing editor of Georgia Music Magazine, a quarterly magazine focused on Georgia’s past and present music scene. Large will work primarily

with senior communications specialist Alison Tyrer to communicate GDEcD’s work in global commerce

PRSA Chooses Champion
The Public Relations Society of America has a champion. Michael McCullough, an account supervisor with Edelman in Atlanta, has been awarded the Georgia Chapter’s Chapter Champion award. He was presented with his certificate and an inscribed pen at the Chapter’s monthly meeting on July 12. The Chapter Champion award was created to recognize a member who has significantly contributed to the Chapter’s success. It will be given monthly or when appropriate.
McCullough is being recognized for his volunteer leadership as coordinator of the Chapter’s Special Interest Groups (SIG) since 2005. He has also served as co-chair of the Young Professional’s SIG and was instrumental in the institution of the PRSA|GA weekly member e-mail newsletter.

ACD’s for ASO
Ames Scullin O’Haire Advertising recently promoted Aaron Hartman and Ben Whan Lee to the position of associate creative directors. Previously, Hartman was a senior art director while Lee was a senior writer.

Tractors in Denmark
DENMARK {the agency} recently launched a new branding and advertising campaign for Komatsu Forklift U.S.A. Inc., and a new advertising campaign for Tusk Lift Trucks, a new forklift made specifically for the American market.

The Komatsu campaign uses humorous headlines to highlight Komatsu’s passion and experience in engineering, playing upon its 80 years in the industry. Ads emphasize the equipment’s sturdy construction, superior performance and durability, and will be featured in national trade publications such as Material Handling Management and Modern Materials Handling.

The Tusk ads are designed to highlight the strength and durability of the lift trucks, which come in a variety of electric and internal combustion engine models, with capacities ranging from 2,000 pounds to 35,000 pounds.

In other news, DENMARK was selected advertising agency of record by Amtico North America, an award-winning manufacturer of high-end resilient flooring for commercial and residential use. DENMARK is creating an advertising and branding campaign for Amtico to generate awareness and reinforce the company’s position as a market leader in luxury resilient flooring.

Two Account Execs Join McRae
Stephanie Milo and Kelly Wall have joined McRae as account executives in public relations and advertising, respectively. Both will focus on the firm’s ever-expanding real estate and development client portfolio.

Milo will be responsible for public relations for clients that include Pulte Homes/Del Webb Communities, Pathway Communities, and Crescent Communities. A native of Charlotte, NC, Milo previously worked for the NASCAR Foundation, CT Communications, and Mullen Advertising. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Wall will work with McRae advertising clients that include Callaway Gardens, Sun City Peachtree, and Watermark. She formerly worked with JWT Communications and graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Georgia. Wall also volunteers as a head coach and trainer for the Girls on the Run non-profit organization.

In other news, McRae and Gwinnett Medical Center received a Bronze Aster Award for the invitation to the Grand Opening Celebration of Gwinnett Medical Center – Duluth. The invitation was designed by McRae to reflect the elegance of the event. Key leaders of the Duluth community and Gwinnett County, donors and Gwinnett Medical Center physicians attended the celebration. The Aster Awards are an international competition for healthcare marketing excellence for healthcare organizations and advertising agencies.

Wheeler nabs fourth emmy
VTA is proud to announce an Emmy win for one of it’s own, audio guru, Dave Wheeler. Dave, along with executive producer Tommy Kane from FSN South/Sport South, won the Television Crafts Achievement Excellence Emmy in Audio for the FSN South show open “Around the South”. This is Wheeler’s 4th Emmy win with FSN South/Sport South.

White Tangerine Launched
White Tangerine has launched its new website showcasing the two-year old company’s concept and services. The company seeks to help local businesses in the service, retail, fashion, and hospitality industries to holistically align their brands, thus capturing a larger slice of Atlanta’s growing affluence.