Author Archive

Life in Color Event

Monday, February 28th, 2011

Jen Randolph is SVP Director, Organizational Development – Director of Diversity at SaatchiNY. In the past, she’s written for H/H on our involvement in the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival, as well as The Color of Conversation Panel we took part in last month.

As we come to the end of Black History Month, Life in Color is pleased to present a very special event in partnership with Digitas! At 6PM tonight, we welcome a handful of special guests for an exclusive screening of the multiple-award winning documentary Waiting for Superman (see the trailer above).

THE FILM
Directed by Davis Guggenheim, This ground breaking feature film provides an engaging and inspiring look at public education in the United States and has helped launch a movement to achieve a real and lasting change through the compelling stories of five unforgettable students. The film was the winner of the 2010 Audience award, U.S. Documentary: Sundance Film Festival and voted Best Documentary by the National Board of Review. If you didn’t see it in the theater, don’t miss this opportunity. It’s a film that will make you think, it will open your heart and we hope it will inspire you to take action.

THE GUESTS
To introduce the film, as well as to discuss its relevance to the future of the advertising industry, we’ve invited two special guests to the event.

  • Dr. Adelaide Sanford is a Legendary Educator in New York. She’s had a massive impact on the lives of students at every level of New York City’s school system through her work in shaping educational policy.
  • Michele Ebanks is the President Essence Communications. She leads the number one media and communications company dedicated to African-American women. The organization is comprised of diverse media and entertainment properties including ESSENCE magazine, and the internationally renowned Essence Music Festival, one of the largest entertainment events in the world.

THE DETAILS
Date: Today! Monday, February 28th
Location: Saatchi & Saatchi 16th floor Atrium and Boardroom
Reception begins at 6PM
Screening/Discussion begins 6:45 PM

To RSVP or ask questions please reach out via email.

The front page image is a still from one of the many classroom scenes in ‘Waiting for Superman”

Category: Events, Film & Television, Our People

King St. Q&A w/ Jen Randolph

Friday, February 18th, 2011

Jen soaking up the sun

Jen Randolph is SVP Director, Organizational Development – Director of Diversity at SaatchiNY. In the past, she’s written for H/H on our involvement in the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival, as well as The Color of Conversation Panel we took part in last month. If you’re interested in more information on Jen, please check out her LinkedIn Page.

WHAT DO YOU DO AT SAATCHI & SAATCHI?
I work on the Human Interest Team and primarily oversee diversity and inclusion for the agency.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB?
My senior year in high school I was an intern in the special events department at Neiman Marcus in Washington DC…Met some amazing people, worked like crazy and had a blast!

WHAT LED YOU ON THE PATH YOU’RE ON TODAY?
Legacy—my great grandfather, Herman Dreer was the second Black Man to graduate from Bowdoin College in Maine and wrote the history of one of the oldest black fraternities, Omega Psi Phi . . . he’s also credited with initiating Black History Month. His daughter & my grandmother, Clarice Davis, was the first black woman to graduate with a degree in Fine Arts from the University of Pennsylvania — practicing diversity & breaking down barriers is in the DNA. I just hope I can live up to the legacy!

IF YOU WEREN’T IN ADVERTISING, WHAT CAREER WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO TRY?
TV Producer. I grew up around television. My mom, Carol Randolph had her own talk show in Washington DC for a number of years and served as an anchor for Court TV.  Always loved the behind the scenes stuff and making things happen…I LOVE TV… Not many people can say that!

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE YOUTUBE VIDEO?
I still love the Saatchi London T-Mobile moment at Liverpool Station. Would love to see someone try that at Grand Central!

TELL US SOMETHING SURPRISING ABOUT YOURSELF:
I love deep sea fishing…now that’s a workout!

WHAT ARE YOUR LOVEMARKS?
Haagen Dazs Coffee Ice Cream, Nike, Starbucks … just inject the coffee straight into the vein!

FAVORITE CHILDHOOD TELEVISION PROGRAM?
So many- Family Affair, loved Mr. French, Nanny and the Professor, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir and my all time favorite… Love American Style (came on Friday nights…had to go to bed right after it was over!)

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE CREATIVE PURSUIT?
Writing.

WHAT DO YOU DO FOR FUN?
Hang out with Cosmo . . .

Cosmo disguised as an elf

WHAT BLOGS/MAGAZINES/BOOKS/PAPERS/WEBSITES CAN YOU NOT LIVE WITHOUT?
What did anyone do before Gwyneth Paltrow started GOOP? Now I know all the best places to stay and eat in China. Vanity Fair, Bazaar, Marie Claire, More Magazine, Daily News, People and In Touch so I can stay well informed!

BOOK THAT YOU’RE CURRENTLY READING?
“Little Bee” by Chris Cleave, thanks Susan great book so far!

A GUILTY PLEASURE FOR ME IS?
Food. I AM A TRUE “FOODIE!” I can help you find a great meal in any country where I’ve traveled!

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE GREATEST INVENTION IS IN YOUR LIFETIME AND WHY?
DVR—I can watch what I want, when I want!

WHAT’S THE LAST GREAT TRIP YOU WENT ON?
Bali – conquered a lot of “nevers” there – never traveled to that part of the world; never met people so content in their lives; never rode an elephant before!

WHEN’S THE LAST TIME YOU GAVE A STANDING OVATION
…and meant it? Sting performing with the Royal Philharmonic at the Met— (4) encores 2 hours 15 minutes of just him—Awesome!

Category: King St. Q&A, New York, Our People

The Color of Conversation

Tuesday, February 1st, 2011

Sheldon Levy w/ the finalists of the Nothing is Impossible Producers Award

Jennifer Randolph is SVP of Organizational Development – Director of Diversity at SaatchiNY. Since today marks the start of Black History Month, she’s offered to share some information on one of our Life in Color group’s initiatives taking place this month – a panel discussion on the portrayal of African Americans in the media.

LIFE IN COLOR
Life in Color, Saatchi & Saatchi’s multicultural resource group is happy to announce our first cultural event of the year! In honor of Black History Month, we’re helping to organize a panel discussion that is being presented by Run & Shoot Filmworks. Run & Shoot is an organization that’s behind our partnership with the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival, which you may remember from the Nothing Is Impossible Producers’ Award Screening Series we held at SaatchiNY last year.

For the past two years, Saatchi & Saatchi have sponsored the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival, where we annually present the Nothing is Impossible Producer’s Award.  Our partnership has honored the work of several incredible young film makers, and we’re looking forward to honoring even more in 2011.

THE COLOR OF CONVERSATION
The Color of Conversation is a panel discussion looking at “Cultural Portrayals in Media- Typecasting of the African American Actor: The Good, The Bad and The Ridiculous.”  The panel will feature our very own Sheldon Levy, as well as a number of other prolific authorities on the subjects of race and media.

The full panel includes:

  • Sheldon Levy, EVP Associate Director Broadcast Production, Saatchi & Saatchi
  • Jeff Burns Jr., Former Associate Publisher, Ebony Magazine
  • Egypt Sarrod, Radio Commentator, WBLS
  • Dana Roc, Publisher of Danaroc.com
  • Floyd and Stephanie Rance co-founders of Run & Shoot Filmworks
  • Ken Rance, Screenwriter of “New in Town,” panel moderator

It’s been a provocative year for images of African American Actors in film and this panel should present an exciting and invigorating conversation.

If you love film, please join Life in Color this Thursday, February 3rd, 5:30-8:00p at Macy’s NYC – 8th floor. Reception to follow the discussion.

Front Page image of Floyd & Stephanie Rance, co-founders of Run & Shoot from Uptown Magazine

Category: Events, New York, Our People

SaatchiNY Presents Producer’s Award

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

Left tor Right: Harry Davis (Joy Road), Katherine Cecil (Race), Roy Clovis (The Cycle), Sheldon Levy, Bree Newsom (Wake) & Kiel Adrian Scott (The Roe Effect)

For the second year in a row, SaatchiNY joined an illustrious array of sponsors (including HBO and Macy’s) in presenting the Nothing is Impossible Producer’s Award at the 7th Annual Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival. As always, the event was an amazing showcase of talent. Our judging panel got the opportunity to see a lot of great films, and in addition to being a wonderful event, it also provides SaatchiNY with a pipeline into some exciting new talent.

The Saatchi & Saatchi Nothing is Impossible Producer’s Award was created to recognize an independent film producer who was able to create a remarkable, high quality film with a limited budget and resources.  We felt that the exceptional story telling in the film we selected this year truly captured the Saatchi & Saatchi spirit of “Nothing is Impossible.”

The award is given to only one person, but all of the participants should be considered winners. All of them have beaten incredible odds to finance their films and shown great savvy to get their films produced. All of their “making of” stories are 100% inspiring, and we’re thankful to build a pipeline of such talented producers and directors that we can partner with on client projects and on special events in the future.

This year’s award winner, The Roe Effect was directed and produced by Kiel Adrian Scott. Sheldon Levy (EVP, Associate Director Broadcast Production @ Saatchi & Saatchi) had the honor of presenting the award at the Director’s Brunch, where he was also the guest speaker.

The Roe Effect is a tragic love story about a girl named Dawn who is thrust into an adult situation by her father and must choose between exposing him and losing the girl that she loves. Towards the end of September, SaatchiNY will kick-off a film series screening the winning film, as well as the rest of the finalists for the award.

Special thanks to our Saatchi & Saatchi judging panel:

Sheldon Levy
Pat Giles
Steve Mitsch
Lisa Clunie
Brad Rodriguez
Kwame Taylor-Hayford
Danica Rosen
Jen Randolph

Category: Awards, Creative, Film & Television, Our People

Welcome, Interns

Friday, June 18th, 2010

Last week marked the beginning of the Summer Intern season, which means you have seen at least 21 new faces around Hudson/Houston.

You may not appreciate about how difficult it is for these students and graduates to earn a desk at Saatchi & Saatchi for the summer. Follow this. We start posting internship information in January. 500 applications came in and a rolling set-up of interviews ran from the end of January through to the end of March. The final selection process was made in the second week in April.

To be eligible, students have to be a rising or graduating senior with a 3.0 GPA or better to be considered for an interview. Out of the 500 applications received this year, one in five students made the interview cut. Of these 100, the 21 we’re introducing here made the final grade.

Saatchi & Saatchi New York also works with organizations within the advertising industry to create opportunities for students. These include the 4As’ Multicultural Advertising Internship Program (MAIP), the AAF’s Most Promising Student Program, the AAF Stickell Program, and the Ad Club Summer Internship Program.

Congratulations to everyone on achieving your internship. And from all of us at Hudson & Houston, welcome!

Broadcast Production
Danica Rosen / Brown University, Providence RI – ’10 Graduate
Michael Dew / John Jay, NY, NY – ’10 Sophomore

Creative
Brandon Hallowell / Penn State, University Park, PA – ’10 Senior
Nicholas Foster / University of Missouri, St. Louis, MO – ’10 Graduate

Account Management
Anais Eslami / Towson University, Towson, MD – ’10 Graduate
Ashley Tyson / University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA – ’10 Graduate
Jamie Daigle / University of Florida, Gainesville, FL – ’10 Senior
Kaylin Politzer / University of Richmond, Richmond, VA – ’10 Graduate
Kirsten McRae / Howard University, Washington, DC – ’10 Senior
Laura Massie / University of Colorado, Boulder, CO – ’10 Graduate
Lauren Kashuk / University of Colorado, Boulder, CO – ’10 Graduate
Neil Basu / Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH – ’10 Senior
Nicole Landesman / Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY – ’10 Senior
Roseann Pilot / Towson University, Towson, MD – ’10 Senior
Ruchi Behl / Northwestern, Evanston, IL – ’10 Senior
Samantha Kimmel / Boston University, Boston, MA – ’10 Dec. Graduate

Strategic Planning
Angelo Wiltshire / FIT, NY, NY – ’10 Grad Student
Nicole Brooker / Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL – ’10 Graduate
Rebecca Ostrowsky / Trinity College, Hartford, CT – ’10 Senior
Vanessa Bidetti / FIT, NY, NY – ’10 Graduate
Yang Yang / Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY – ’10 Senior

…and for something completely different, the White House intern crew…do they have “Nothing Is Impossible” etched into their hearts?

Front page Hello graphic: http://chuvachienes.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/hello.jpg

Category: Our People