AICP Announces Commercial Directors Diversity Program Judging Panel

Matt Miller, President and CEO of the Association of Independent Commercial Producers (AICP) today announced the blue-ribbon panel of judges who will select the directors featured in the Commercial Directors Diversity Program (CDDP) Showcase, premiering January 11, 2017.

The CDDP is a joint effort between AICP and the Directors Guild of American (DGA) to increase the number of minority and women directors in the commercial directing ranks, as well as the DGA membership. CDDP achieves this by presenting showcases of unsigned directors to the AICP membership with the goal of creating relationships which will lead to participants signing with a production company for representation. Individuals looking for their work to be considered for the showcase have until November 28th to submit their projects, and can do so here.

The judges who will select the directors for Showcase #1 represent a cross-section of the production and advertising industries and include: Sally Antonacchio, Owner/Executive Producer, The Artists Company; Roxanne Artesona, Owner, Roxanne & Co.; Brian Carmody, Co-Founder/Managing Partner, Smuggler; Keith Cartwright, Executive Creative Director, Butler, Shine, Stern & Partners; Lisa Clunie, CEO, Joan; Susan Credle, Global Chief Creative Officer, FCB Global; Jules Daly, President, RSA Films; Michael DiGirolamo, Founder/Managing Director, Hey Wonderful; Candice Dragonas, Executive Producer, PRETTYBIRD; Robert  Fernandez, CEO, Moxie Pictures; Oliver Fuselier, Managing Partner, Tool; Yirayah Garcia, Creative Director, UWG; Mindy Goldberg, Chief Creative Officer & Co-founder, Epoch Films; Laura Gregory, CEO/ Founder, Great Guns; Alma H'arel, Director, Epoch Films; Shawn Lacy, Managing Director, Biscuit Filmworks; Brian Latt, Partner/Executive Producer, m ss ng p eces; Ralph Laucella, Founding Partner/Executive Producer, O Positive; Sasha Markova, Creative Director, Mother; Margo Mars, Managing Director, B-Reel Films; Charlie McBrearty, Owner, Shortlist Management; Mary Nittolo, President, The STUDIO;  Kate Oppenheim, Partner/Executive, m ss ng p eces; Jaime Robinson, Chief Creative Officer, Joan; Jimmy Smith, Chairman/CEO/CCO, Amusement Park; Shelly Townsend, Executive Producer, Skunk;  Mark Waites; Founder & Creative Partner, Mother; Natasha Wellesley, Head of Integrated Production, 180LA; Peyton Wilson, Director, Chelsea.    

“We are delighted that the CDDP Showcase will have such an experienced and noteworthy group of judges giving their time to help this initiative,” noted Miller. “Not only do the professionals in this group possess long track records of supporting diversity in advertising, they also have a unique set of insights, having worked with, developed and discovered some of the best directorial talent in the business.”

CDDP Showcase #1 takes place on January 11, 2017 in Los Angeles at the DGA Theater.