Press Release

On the heels of its impressive first two and a half years in business, which included the multi-award winning, Discovery Channel “The World Is Just Awesome” talent ID’s, the creative agency/production studio BIGSMACKtv (http://www.bigsmack.tv) has added directors Manuel Miranda, Jeff Phillips and Scott Whitham to its roster. Additionally, the company has promoted long-time producers Heidi Frederick Erney and Kelly Dials to Executive Producers.

For Andy Hann, BIGSMACK’s Creative Director/Director this was an ideal time to look ‘big picture’ at changes within the broadcast promotion/branding industry and creatively reboot the company with the addition of several top tier directors, and also solidify its management structure with the promotion Erney and Dials.

”At our core, we are a concept driven creative company that specializes in network promotion/branding,” Hann says. ”Our clients don’t come to us just to execute a visual effects sequence, even though we have brilliant animators and editors on staff. They come to us for creative ideas and strategy first and foremost. It helps that we also have the talent and resources to produce and post those ideas. Now having Jeff, Scott and Manny as part of our creative team says to our clients that no matter what you need we have the talent to get it done.”

New Directors
New York-based director/DP Manuel Miranda is known for his stunning fashion/beauty work that at times can seem classically inspired – such as his ad for Macy’s, which recalls the look of photographers like Richard Avedon — to more contemporary approaches such as his racy ad for Victoria Secret. Other standout work includes ads for American Vogue, Barneys, Keds, Kenneth Cole, Oil of Olay, Procter and Gamble and Shiseido.

After having worked for years as a cinematographer, Jeffrey Phillips first gained notice as a director of music videos for some of Nashville’s biggest stars, such as Deana Carter, Bryan White and Paul Brandt. From there he took his style, which emphasizes a unique sense of lighting and striking visual imagery to directing spots for State Farm Insurance, Alamo, NCAA among others.

Specializing in dialogue, comedy and effects/post heavy spots, Scott Whitham’s current show reel features an extraordinarily dramatic spot for Helping Animals.com and a clever comedy spot for Comcast cable. However many in the Philadelphia creative community perhaps know him best for directing Rejected, a hilarious short film shown during the Philadelphia Addy Awards in 2001 that hilariously details the destruction of a client’s car by a jilted creative team.

Rounding out the BIGSMACKtv directing roster is Andy Hann, who in addition to serving as the company’s Creative Director, is also a leading Director whose work displays his innate knack for quirky comedy and documentary/mockumentary spots. His most recent work is the new BIO channel image campaign.

Meet The New Bosses
In addition to the new creative talent, BIGSMACKtv has also promoted long-time producers Heidi Frederick Erney and Kelly Dials to Executive Producer. Together they serve as key contacts for BIGSMACK’s clients.  They also manage the entire BIGSMACK studio, which includes writers, editors, designers and production staff and are leading the current expansion of the company’s design department.

Erney helped launch BIGSMACKtv in 2007.  Prior to that she worked with Hann from 2002 to 2007 at the Philadelphia-based creative boutique Concrete Pictures.

Dials began her production career in 2000 at the Chicago-based Digital Kitchen. In 2005 she helped launch Digital Kitchen’s New York office. She left there in 2006 to pursue a freelance career, joining BIGSMACKtv in 2008.

”The broadcast industry had changed dramatically in the last two years, and by all accounts it will change even more in the next two,” Hann says. ”With the additions to our creative roster, and the stability and leadership Kelly and Heidi bring, I’m confident BIGSMACKtv is well-positioned for what will no-doubt be a challenging and exciting future.”

About BIGSMACKtv:
Lead by Creative Director Andy Hann, BIGSMACKtv is a full service creative agency specializing in the broadcast industry. From their offices in downtown Philadelphia, BIGSMACKtv creates, produces, designs and posts image and promotional campaigns for the world’s leading entertainment providers. Recent clients include Discovery Channel, Nat Geo, HBO, Comedy Central, Sundance and A&E, among others. For more information contact: Brett Ashy at The Ashy Agency (brett@ashyagency.com, 323-464-2749) or go to http://www.bigsmack.tv