Acclaimed feature documentary “Sloane: A Jazz Singer” set for October 1 release on Kinema

As announced by Director Michael Lippert, Executive Producers Stephen Barefoot and L. Taylor Arnold, and Producers Donna Campbell and Georgann Eubanks, “Sloane: A Jazz Singer” will debut on https://kinema.com on October 1st, where it will be available worldwide for video-on-demand, live, and virtual screenings. The film is also available for independent bookings.

Read moreAcclaimed feature documentary “Sloane: A Jazz Singer” set for October 1 release on Kinema

The biggest night in sports: The ESPYS

On 11 July on ABC, The ESPYS Presented by Capital One once again featured the world’s premier athletes, the sports world’s biggest stars, and the very best sports stories of the past year. Hosted by Serena Williams, this 32nd annual celebration supporting ESPN’s ongoing commitment to The V Foundation for Cancer Research was televised live from LA’s Dolby Theatre.

Abbreviated for the Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly, the ESPYS honor the outstanding achievements of athletes and teams from various sports disciplines during the past year, as chosen by fans. Much more than a prestigious sports awards ceremony, the event brings together top athletes, coaches, celebrities, and sports enthusiasts to honor excellence in sports – including some of the many major initiatives aimed at improving our world.

Read moreThe biggest night in sports: The ESPYS

Design Competitions from Fast Company, Core77, Creativepool, and Communication Arts

Several very prestigious design awards programs are currently open for entries – I thought you would appreciate the heads-up and some brief details, which I am presenting in order of the currently published submission deadlines. Best of luck, friends!

Read moreDesign Competitions from Fast Company, Core77, Creativepool, and Communication Arts

MODE Studios Visual Timeline and PR Case Study


In-depth PR case study materials follow. Last Updated 16 May 2022

Read moreMODE Studios Visual Timeline and PR Case Study

Brilliant directors: Ben Strang

Filmmaker and photographer Ben Strang joined the directorial roster of one-stop cross-media production company Sarofsky in 2019. As a director of both scripted and documentary works, Ben’s stories are born from the unique locations and individuals he has encountered as an independent photojournalist for over a decade. His scripted pilot “Beast” won the SXSW Grand Jury Award for Best Independent Episodic, and his latest documentary series “A Mystery To Me” won a 2021 Cannes Lion, and was selected as a Vimeo Staff Pick, as you can see here.

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Visual Timeline and PR Case Study: Scholar


In-depth PR case study materials follow. Last Updated 7 December 2020

Read moreVisual Timeline and PR Case Study: Scholar

Nonfiction Unlimited Interviews: Director Bing Liu

LOS ANGELES – In January, documentary director Bing Liu won the Sundance Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Filmmaking on the strength of his feature documentary, “Minding the Gap.” Very soon thereafter, Nonfiction Unlimited signed Bing to its directorial roster for commercials and branded content. Since then, Bing and his film have continued racking up awards at major film festivals; notably, Bing was also selected for SHOOT Magazine’s prestigious New Directors Showcase for 2018.

With “Minding the Gap” set to premiere in select theaters across America and on Hulu on August 17, Nonfiction Unlimited partner/executive producer Loretta “LJ” Jeneski quizzed the rising director on some questions of special interest to the world of branded storytelling.

Read moreNonfiction Unlimited Interviews: Director Bing Liu

Contribute Now to the Biggest Night in Sports: The ESPYS

This Wednesday, July 18, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, The 2018 ESPYS Presented by Capital One is once again set to feature the world’s premier athletes, the sports’ world’s biggest stars, and the very best sports stories of the year. Hosted by Danica Patrick, this 26th annual celebration supporting ESPN’s ongoing commitment to The V Foundation for Cancer Research will be televised live from LA’s Microsoft Theater.

In the meantime, ESPN’s Annual ESPY Day Auction to benefit The V Foundation for Cancer Research is officially underway on eBay, where it will run through July 18. This year’s auction of more than 80 items includes tickets to prime sporting events, autographed memorabilia, unique experiences with athletes, celebrities and hall of fame coaches, sports-related experiences with ESPN personalities, and much more.

Another way for fans across America to participate in The ESPYS is to help determine exactly who will be selected for these and other ESPYS Awards:

Read moreContribute Now to the Biggest Night in Sports: The ESPYS

Best-case scenario: Kathryn Hempel, Cutters Studios

Generally speaking, on the best days, my job breaks down to a careful balance of art and craft. I’m hoping that this art/craft angle will be an interesting way to talk about some others I admire, and what we’re achieving together. Due to the uncommon success of our joint efforts, I’m choosing Kathryn Hempel and all her colleagues at Cutters Studios as the perfect subjects to explore a new variation on the classic case study, which I’m calling a “Best-Case Scenario.”

With love to director Brad Tucker for putting us all in contact, a lot went into making Cutters Studios a solid fit for me when we joined forces last year. The very first “Cutters” commercial editorial facility had opened in Chicago 34 years earlier, but by January 2014, the parent Cutters Studios group was also operating studios in Detroit, Los Angeles, New York City and Tokyo… spanning all aspects of commercial production, post-production and creative development. Relatively soon after partnering up, I learned about the Always #likeagirl campaign that Kathryn was editing for Leo Burnett and Chelsea Pictures director Lauren Greenfield, and I had a chance to counsel everyone on all the ways we might use PR to promote the work and everyone behind it.

By then, I already had a very good sense of what sets Cutters apart:

Read moreBest-case scenario: Kathryn Hempel, Cutters Studios