ArtClass Taps Logan Gilmore and Brian Keegan as Executive Producers
Next-gen production and post studio ArtClass Content has tapped Logan Gilmore and Brian Keegan as its newest executive producers. Brian, previously head of post at ArtClass for two years, has stepped up to helm the department as an EP. Logan has been formally established as an EP at ArtClass after working with the studio as a freelance bidding producer.
Brian Keegan is set to build and expand the post-production department at ArtClass. In his previous roles at the studio, Brian has brought many projects to life for high-profile brands like ESPN, GoFundMe, Broadway’s “The Lion King,” Playstation, Carvana, Anheuser Busch, General Mills, and the SoundCloud-branded narrative film “The Day Ones,” to name a few. Brian also produced the film “Life’s Good” for LG Electronics, which won Best Short Documentary at the Indie Short Fest and screened at multiple international film festivals. His previous experience in post-production saw him working with companies like Psyop, Los York, Roger, and the VFX department of Timber. As a leader, he brings a sense of approachability, calm, and control to the often chaotic production environment.”
“I was impressed by ArtClass’s ambition as a company, and I’m excited to contribute to their impact in the post-production industry,” said Brian of his new position at the studio. “My main goal is to collaborate with like-minded creatives, produce high-quality work, and stand out in a competitive landscape—and hopefully have some fun along the way!”
Hailing from Arkansas, Logan Gilmore first got his start in local markets after graduating with a degree in advertising from the University of Arkansas. He would later pivot to production, working in various roles in Austin, TX, including interning under director David Gordon Green for his film Joe, starring Nicolas Cage. Logan later found himself producing internal videos for Apple, which inspired a deeper dive into production. From there, he spent years working freelance in production before finding himself at ArtClass. As a bidding producer, he worked on winning jobs for brands like ESPN, Morgan & Morgan, Smirnoff, and Blue Shield. As an executive producer, Logan is communicative and collaborative, aiming to build relationships and bring artistic visions to life within budget.
Logan said of his new role at ArtClass, “I’ve enjoyed working with all the directors on the roster. Everyone has a unique perspective, and I immediately knew I wanted to be a part of their growth. Working for a commercial production house is exciting, and I’m so grateful to be working full-time in this wild industry. I want to continue the great work that has been started here, help build the careers of our directors, collaborate with clients and agencies, explore new technologies, find new efficiencies in production, and continue to seek out fresh talent.”
ArtClass managing partner Geno Imbriale remarks on the studio’s newest EPs, saying, “We’re thrilled to be able to promote from within at ArtClass. Our goal has always been to grow careers and nurture talent, and we’re honoured any time someone chooses to continue their evolution with us. Brian and Logan are incredible talents and are absolute joys to work with. Everyone from directors to agencies who’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with them is made better for it. I’m very proud of these promotions and can’t wait to see how their efforts shape ArtClass’s future.”
Kirsten Arongino Joins ArtClass | Managing Director
Kirsten Arongino joins adaptive production & post studio ArtClass as the next-gen company’s new managing director. As an agency producer for over twenty-five years, she scaled revenue and built brands at revered companies like Deutsch and Ogilvy & Mather and later served as VP and executive producer at Publicis.
A strategic thinker and creative visionary with extensive cross-channel experience, Kirsten thrives on building partnerships with brands and agencies and managing multidisciplinary teams. Her prowess as a producer is reflected in digital and traditional media campaigns for some of the world’s largest brands like Honda, Gap, Campari, Walmart, Tiffany & Co., and several culture-forward work music-driven campaigns for The Gap and McDonald’s. Kirsten was also formerly the director of production at Yard NYC and managing director at Ammolite Inc.
Since its founding six years ago, ArtClass has built a reputation for its commitment to craft and experimentation, pushing boundaries and embracing new technologies as tools for creative possibility. Recent notable projects include the first ever brand campaign for Lilly Pulitzer, directed by Matvey Fiks and made in partnership with Yard NYC, using AI to marry the brand’s rich heritage with the industry’s newest technology; the new original show Bedtime Stories with Ryan, directed by Vincent Peone and starring Ryan Reynolds for streamer Fubo; and Charlie Kaufman’s dreamy short film “Jackals & Fireflies, produced in partnership with Likely Story and shot by the visionary Chayse Irvin.
Kirsten said of joining ArtClass, “I was fortunate enough to walk into so many great projects within my first month at ArtClass. Every director on their roster is wildly inventive and inspiring to work with. I think it’s a testament to ArtClass taking risks on new talent and supporting them as they grow as commercial filmmakers and its inclination to tackle projects with a diverse range of budgets. I look forward to adding my leadership skills and creative guidance into the mix as ArtClass continues to produce amazing work.”
Geno Imbriale, managing partner of ArtClass, added, “You can’t teach what experience gives you, and Kirsten has that in spades. She’s worked on every side of branded filmmaking and created every iteration of content you can imagine. She’s a joy to work with and the missing ingredient we needed as a company. Everyone at ArtClass and I are excited to have her on board.”
ArtClass partner/director Vincent Peone added, “We brought Kirsten on under the pretext of Executive Producer, but quickly realised that her skills were completely off the charts, not to mention a perfect fit for our shared vision of future growth. I still regret waiting ten full days to promote her to managing director.”
Bedtime Stories with Ryan | Vincent Peone
Vincent Peone directs the new original show Bedtime Stories with Ryan starring Ryan Reynolds on the Maximum Effort Channel streaming on Fubo. ArtClass produced the 15 episode series in partnership with Maximum Effort, Fubo and Loon Productions.
“I was immediately drawn to Bedtime Stories as the only show you’d have to set an alarm clock to binge watch,” notes Director Vincent Peone. “Collaborating with Ryan and Maximum Effort is a filmmaker’s actual dream because there is always some fun to be had with format, not to mention so much trust. This is the exact way I envisioned ArtClass entering into long form, and we couldn’t have done it with better partners.”
“We’re so happy to create a program with the express goal of putting people to sleep. This show has actually been a dream of mine for a while,” said Maximum Effort co-founder Ryan Reynolds. “Story time is a nighttime staple in our home and is a daily reminder of the power of storytelling. We’re extremely grateful to our always amazing partners at Autodesk for helping bring this show to life with their design and make platform.”
Little Black Book | Jams x Bash
To celebrate the quarter-century milestone of the Broadway musical production of ‘The Lion King’, ArtClass’ Brooklynite directors Jamaal Parham and Bashan Aquart, known as ‘Jams x Bash’, filmed a branded short film, titled ‘Generations’, which weaves two stories from 1997 and 2022 to showcase the long-lasting legacy of the show.
The emotional spot commemorates the production’s power to connect generations, bringing them together over a common love and appreciation of the visuals, music, and the story told in ‘The Lion King’. Intercutting from 1997 to the present day through some inventive filmmaking and editing (also done in-house at ArtClass), the film explores the bonds it has forged with millions of families globally and utilises the vibrant colours, characters and sounds of the production to embody the excitement of the show itself. Shot entirely on location in New York, the film also highlights the place that ‘The Lion King’ on Broadway holds in the hearts of New Yorkers.
To discuss how they built a detailed world for the film’s characters, time travelling through intricate camera work between two time periods and the challenge of communicating the in-the-moment energy and grandeur of theatre, Jams x Bash spoke with LBB’s Ben Conway.
Jackals & Fireflies | Charlie Kaufman
Watch the hypnotizing new short film produced by ArtClass in partnership with Likely Story, shot by the visionary Chayse Irvin.
A woman wanders the streets of New York City, takes buses and trains, sits in bars and coffee shops, experiencing the city’s diverse neighborhoods, while thinking about her life, her loneliness, unrequited love. She finds moments of communion with various people she meets along the way and with the city itself.
Chili’s | Vincent Peone
“What better way to learn about a brand’s offerings than through seductive 90’s R&B?”
Vincent Peone directs R&B star Brian McKnight in a new spot for Chili’s, The Coca-Cola Company & Mischief @ No Fixed Address. The acclaimed singer waits tables and breaks into song remixing his 1999 hit “Back at One.”
The spot was featured as an Editor’s Pick in AdAge and The Drum named it the US Ad of Day.
Morgan & Morgan | Paul Trillo
Director Paul Trillo joined forces with America’s largest injury law firm Morgan & Morgan. The two powerhouses have teamed up in order to launch a brand new ad campaign that introduces the world to Miss More, a dynamic new face to be featured in the Morgan & Morgan advertising universe.
Trillo brought to life the character of Miss More, with the thought that she expects more from life: more sprinkles, more wine, more cheese and even more from her personal injury law firm. In this latest campaign, Trillo puts forth a bold new creative direction for the brand, showcasing the high level of standardized service and expertise the firm delivers to its clients, while rewriting the typical advertising script that surrounds the personal accident injury world.
Manscaped | Ryan Ebner
Watch Santa pull a fast one on Pete Davidson in Manscaped’s holiday campaign, “Season’s Groomings”, directed by Ryan Ebner, edited by James Lee.
The award-winning writer & director who is well-known for his pinpointed casting as well as his dry comedy chops made the ideal choice for this tongue-in-cheek spot. Bolstered by Ryan’s directorial expertise and vision, Pete Davidson brought his unique comedic flavour to the MANSCAPED spot. Melding the comedic timing of Ryan’s work with Pete’s natural charisma that connects with all audiences, the collaboration yielded a perfect piece.
New Director | Louise Palmberg
ArtClass welcomes Louise Palmberg as the latest addition to their roster of talented creatives. Hailing originally from Sweden and currently residing in New York, Palmberg is known for showcasing her love of food in each of her unique works. Constantly showing that her passion for food, cooking, and community transcend just personal hobbies, and flow into her professional career, Palmberg has worked with a range of clients from one-of-a-kind family-owned restaurants, to widely popular global chains.
Other successful campaigns that Palmberg has worked on include Chipotle’s introduction of their iconic cauliflower rice, as well as a Vanity Fair collaboration with Grey Goose for their Essences collection. Palmberg’s work has also been featured in The Wall Street Journal, and Eater New York.
ArtClass Makes Inc. Mag’s List of Fastest Growing Companies
“ArtClass runs a multi-disciplinary model that meets the needs of each job fairly and consistently. By sticking to this strategy, we have experienced a two-year revenue growth of over 150% and continue to build our dynamic roster of talent and staff” adds ArtClass founders Vincent Peone, Geno Imbriale & Vinnie Imbriale.
Inc. Magazine revealed that next-gen live action & post production studio ArtClass is included on its third annual Inc. 5000 Regionals: Pacific list, the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing Pacific private companies, based in Alaska, Hawaii, California, Oregon, and Washington. Born of the annual Inc. 5000 franchise, this regional list represents a unique look at the most successful private companies within the Pacific economy generating sustainable growth and jobs.
Complete results of the Inc. 5000 Regionals: Pacific, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, metro area, and other criteria, can be found at inc.com/pacific
“This year’s Inc. 5000 Regional winners represent one of the most exceptional and exciting lists of America’s off-the-charts growth companies. They’re disruptors and job creators, and all delivered an outsize impact on the economy. Remember their names and follow their lead. These are the companies you’ll be hearing about for years to come,” said Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. magazine.
GoFundMe | Paul Trillo
Paul Trillo directs groundbreaking new campaign “Help Changes Everything” for GoFundMe x AKQA presenting an impressive step forward in AI-based animation. The street-mural-inspired film, illustrates the positive impact that GoFundMe donors have had on the world around them.
The innovative film production used a combination of DALL-E and Stable Diffusion for composite layers of visual assets with a hand-painted aesthetic. It is a bold first from a major brand to take a leap of faith and base their large-scale campaign on AI-generative art.
This emerging technology was combined with a live action shoot on a soundstage, where Trillo used a bespoke A.I. rotoscoping method for characters enhancing motion-based scenes to clearly shift from a negative to positive light, in order to represent the impact of donations and communities being transformed.
“When AKQA and GoFundMe first approached me, I was immediately excited by the opportunity to use cutting-edge technology in a storytelling setting. There have been a lot of independent experiments but nothing yet has used AI animation in the service of telling real-life human stories, let alone for a major brand like GoFundMe.“
New Director | Matvey Fiks
On the heels of directing American Apparel’s relaunch campaign and wrapping his upcoming documentary feature film, What A Strong Wind, following a Hasidic musician’s journey across America, Matvey Fiks consistently pushes the limits of narrative creativity. Previous directing credits include Sky Breaking Clouds Falling, a film-essay directed by to the music of folk guitarist Mason Lindah, which earned Silver at the Young Director Award; multi-festival award-winning short film Douggy; and Odds and Ends, a short film on street photographer Daniel Arnold for Vogue which earned him The Webby People’s Voice Award.
His work is known across music video and commercial worlds, including directing memorable campaigns for brands such as Gucci, Versace, Genesis, Zara, Under Armour, and Instagram. His short film Douggy received 3 nominations at 3 different film festivals including the Golden Pardino – Leopards of Tomorrow at the Locarno International Film Festival, the Audience Award at the Moscow International Film Festival, and the Shorts Program at the New York Film Festival.
The Lion King Generations | Jams x Bash
“Over the 25 years it’s been on Broadway and in the world, it’s consistently been an experience of something really beautiful. The feelings we have towards The Lion King as a whole made its way into our project. This piece is probably the most genuine and heartfelt thing we’ve ever crafted and there’s so much about how we feel about shared experiences embedded into the short film.” Directors Jams x Bash
Disney Theatrical Productions has partnered with ArtClass’ Jamaal Parham and Bashan Aquart, also known as the Brooklyn-based directing duo, ‘Jams x Bash,’ to collaborate on a branded short film, Generations, the first of its kind for a Broadway production in celebration of The Lion King’s historic 25th Anniversary on Broadway.
The emotional spot commemorates the production’s legacy, forged over a quarter-century: connecting generations, bringing them together over a common love and enchantment of the visuals, the music, and the story of The Lion King. The commercial celebrates the spell cast by the show as it takes us on a time jump, intercutting from 1997 to present day, showcasing the longevity of the production and the bonds it has forged within untold millions of families. At the same time, the film celebrates Broadway and the impact of live performance on audiences, particularly New Yorkers. Shot entirely on location in NYC and featuring the current cast of the show, the film acts as a celebration of the triumphant return of visual storytelling and the arts as a whole.
New Director | Kristyna Archer
ArtClass welcomes director Kristyna Archer to the roster. The acclaimed director has led many illustrious projects including work with UberEats, Google Play, Capital One, and Pantene.
Archer is an interdisciplinary artist who works across film, photography, and design with a passion for creating thought-provoking, visually compelling, work through a lens of hyperrealism. Her recent accolades include Best Fashion Film by the London Fashion Film Festival and Best Concept Film by the Canadian International Fashion Film Festival for her fashion short “Musical Chairs: A Battle Royale.” She received nominations for the Next Generation Award by the Berlin Commercial Awards; her quarantine film “A Beginner’s Guide to Quarantine from a Born-Again Optimist” was featured as a part of Shiny Picks and various film festivals internationally. She has won 5 Telly awards for her Pantene Pro-V “Ban the Bun” #Buntervention spot and her MommyBahama.com project brought home a Webby, an ADC award, and was featured in Adweek.