David Wild’s unique comedic direction shines like conditioned hair in this new campaign for Pert Plus via the Sigma Group. The spots, cautionary tales about men behaving like animals, show that little things, like attention to hair care, add up to a successful outcome.

The spots feature situations where men interact with their less evolved brethren who, with neglectful actions, end up in unbearable situations such as the proverbial doghouse. Meanwhile, the everyman turned hero comes out ahead by paying attention to “the little things” like keeping hair clean. 

Wild’s pitch-perfect casting and nuanced moments of ironic comedy come together seamlessly in the commercials. In each, the director collaborated with the agency, building on concepts with performance and delivery. Taking cues from the actors’ performances, the effects team from Technicolor Montreal, who were on set during the live action shoot, then built the computer-animated animals infused with the very human emotions and expressions based on the scenes shot by Wild. 

Itching to get into summer fun? Jeff Bednarz' new spot for OFF® Deep Woods® Dry via DraftFBC is a reminder that the wilderness experience can come with some unwanted pests. The spot was shot in a 200-year-old managed sequoia plantation in Chile and was a departure from Bednarz’ real people work and a leap into the realm of shooting with effects (by Technicolor Montreal) as a central character. 

Network Solutions® has launched a raucous mockumentary video featuring the antics of "Go Granny" played by Academy Award-winning actor, Cloris Leachman. The video, directed by David Wild of Directorz for agency CRT/Tanaka, launched online during Super Bowl weekend and is being aired across key social channels including: YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, BlogHer and a dedicated video page at www.networksolutions.com/video. 

The Go Granny video features Cloris Leachman, as "Go Granny," a strong-willed and saucy woman who proudly recounts her adventures as the first "Big Game Girl." Go Granny is joined by Lisa Stone, an entrepreneur who takes a much different approach to helping people reach their business goals. She means serious business when it comes to growing the largest community of women bloggers online, BlogHer. 

Sporting apparel innovator Russell Athletic® debuted a new creative campaign by agency The Richards Group that kicks off with a TV commercial directed by Jeff Bednarz.  The spot, "Style Points," features real athletes and supports the launch of Russell Athletic's moisture-wicking Dri-Power® line.  The spot broke during the Little League World Series on ESPN and will air nationally throughout 2011.

"Style Points," begins with the phrase, "Style points don't show up in the box score," and highlights the work, pride, blood and tears that shape an athlete. The imagery unfolds in lush detail with high-speed motion photography interwoven with 16 mm footage for a rich, organic quality and a nod to sporting provenance.

"We tapped athletes who truly push themselves to the extreme and then filmed them at intense levels of physical performance," said Director Jeff Bednarz. "The combination of the Phantom and 16mm film made for a beautiful visual study of motion. We had a creative blueprint and then just waited for the magic moments to unfold."

"The spot features serious athletes in the height of their training," said Clint Carter, brand creative writer at The Richards Group. "Their training is hardcore and all business, just like Russell Athletic. The focus on athletes working their hardest and pushing themselves has a traditional feel that parallels the Russell Athletic brand."

The Salvation Army has released its 2010 digital annual report (http://annualreport.salvationarmyusa.org), expanding the pioneering format and features of the first digital version, which was released in 2009. Created and produced by Dallas-based independent agency The Richards Group, the 2010 annual report showcases The Salvation Army's work and impact in an innovative platform, including filmed documentary portraits of the people it serves directed by Jeff Bednarz.

The collection of compelling Salvation Army triumphs includes Dallas Cowboys running back Felix Jones's participation with the North Mabee Boys & Girls Club in Tulsa, Okla. The report serves as an instrument to underscore how The Salvation Army is "Doing the Most Good."

"The 2010 report vividly illustrates the breadth and depth of what The Salvation Army is doing to make the world a better place," said Danny Bryan, copywriter at The Richards Group. "The engaging format enables current and potential donors to experience the life-changing transformation of The Salvation Army and hear directly from those it serves."

"Many of the stories in this year's report spotlight our work with youth across the country - the next generation of Americans," said Major George Hood, national community relations secretary for The Salvation Army. "We wanted to share the heartfelt accounts of those who benefit from The Salvation Army."

Video content filmed for the annual report was also used to develop six new television spots for The Salvation Army that will begin airing in November 2010.

"The Salvation Army is an amazing organization because they identify the specific needs in each community and respond with related, relevant programs," said video director Jeff Bednarz. "Our goal was to shine a light on the diversity of their programs through the people they help."

Jeff Bednarz of Directorz directed all video content and still photography. Danny Bryan and Todd McArtor, both of The Richards Group, were co-creative directors for the report; Bryan also served as the writer. Michael Harman was the art director, and Bridget Fontenot was the broadcast producer. The project manager was Jim Elmer, with Diane Fannon serving as principal on the project and Jon Lee as brand management. The project was edited by N2O Editorial.

The Richards Group has partnered with The Salvation Army since 2005.

For Taco Bell’s national spot promotion for the Cantina Taco, which comes with a slice of lime, the zesty personality of the citrus plays a starring role. With delicious food at the heart of the narrative, Draftfcb tapped Director Tom Ryan who is known for his organic sensibility that finds glamour and beauty in detail.

With this directorial approach, Ryan has produced work that stands out from the norm and reads as tangible deliciousness.  In “Calling Card of Greatness,” this deliciousness comes with a little flirtation as the lime, the self-proclaimed Culinary Casanova, adds a bright citrus note with a playful twist.

Director/Photographer Stewart Cohen's new monograph "Identity: A Photographic Meditation from the Inside Out" is comprised of 50 portraits of compelling people ranging from the famous Prince Albert of Monaco to the fascinating Lucky Larry Bailey. Accompanying each photograph in the subject's own hand is their response to Stewart Cohen's question, "What makes you unique?" "Identity," just honored with a Gold and Silver at Dallas Society of Visual Communications, is now available online at Amazon.com and at select retail outlets around the country. For a complete list of retailers, visit http://www.dreameditionspress.com

"Stewart Cohen and his camera work magic...he does more than capture people and their personalities. He explores their identity. Each page will delight you, and also make you think. It's a treasure," comments accomplished author and former Time magazine editor Walter Isaacson.

"Curiosity and wonder are the creative engines that drive me," says Cohen, who apprenticed under Helmut Newton. "As a director I get to explore places and meet people I wouldn't normally encounter. I'm always watching for moments, stories worth telling, and with Identity, I wanted to ask the big question and let the subjects' own words enhance their portraits."

In the advertising realm, Cohen's curiosity and passion can be seen in spots for Time Warner, Shutterfly, McDonald's and American Airlines. In both integrated and commercial campaigns, he presents all facets of the human experience, real and imagined, that fall under the banner of visual storytelling.

Conveying deliciousness and authenticity is at the heart of the new Taco Cabana branding spot, fittingly directed by Directorz Tom Ryan for ad agency Calise and Sedei. The spot highlights many of the elements that make Taco Cabana stand out as a unique dining choice with a passion for quality that spans three decades.

Tom Ryan is known for finding beauty in the details and making audiences hungry with his gorgeous food imagery. This spot offers a full helping of visual appeal that is the perfect match to Taco Cabana's tagline "Making great tasting Mexican food is our obsession." The commercial stars real Taco Cabana employee Lenore Segora lovingly cooking a meal, complete with fresh tortillas, slow cooked beans and fresh salsas.

"Tom is one of the best food directors in the business and we knew that he was the perfect guy for this project," says agency Creative Director Don Sedei. "He truly understood the campaign and how the iconic elements needed to be presented with an approach that reinforces the inherent qualities of the brand."

Ryan started his collaboration with the agency a month before the production, working closely with Sedei and his agency team to develop the color palette and overall look for the spot, which opens with an iconic but unvarnished shot of a Taco Cabana exterior. For the kitchen and food experience, rich umbers and glowing siennas infuse each frame with a sense of warmth and a sense of calm care. Deliberately lingering on each moment, the edit offers time to visually savor each element while the music track provides energy and a contemporary note to the piece.