Beast Moves Fashion Forward With Oxfam America

Editorial facility provides post production services for Oxfam’s gift-giving campaign

Chicago, IL – December 16, 2010 – Beast, one of the country’s top editorial facilities, recently completed work on a holiday gift-giving campaign from Oxfam America via agency Proximity Chicago. A satirical look at fashion, the campaign features a fictitious designer called “the Hidalgo,” played by comedian Chris Wylde, who introduces gift-givers to the Oxfam Collection, a special set of gifts offered on OxfamGifts.com.”

“This is a light-hearted take on gifts that make a difference that will actually turn heads and get people laughing,” said Stephanie Kurzina, Vice President for Development and Communications at Oxfam America.

Oxfam and Proximity Chicago worked with Beast Chicago to produce a series of videos for an integrated marketing campaign that also includes online and TV ads as well as a presence on Facebook and Twitter. “It was truly a collaborative effort,” said Beast editor, John Dingfield. ”We were given a ton of footage and our editors worked closely with Oxfam and Proximity to create the Hidalgo’s story.” In addition to Dingfield, editors Matt Glover, Sean Berringer, Angelo Valencia and Mark Sheridan all lended their talents to the project.


Oxfam ambassadors Scarlett Johansson and Minnie Driver played the part of gushing Hidalgo fans for the campaign videos. “Scarlett and Minnie added the perfect amount of celebrity and comedy to the videos,” commented Glover. “The tongue-in-cheek nature of their performances and their interaction with the Hidalgo were hilarious. It was a fun project to work on that’s for a great cause.” One of the videos was recently featured on the Huffington Post.

Beast Austin Hires Executive Producer Mary Ellen Farrar

Former agency producer brings 20+ years experience to editorial boutique

Austin, TX – November 15, 2010 – Beast, one of the country’s top editorial facilities, has hired former advertising agency producer Mary Ellen Farrar to oversee commercial editing and post work at its vibrant, busy Austin, TX location. Farrar has spent the past two decades as a producer. Most recently she was on staff at the Seattle offices of Publicis, where she worked on spots for Washington’s Lottery, Dish Network, Citi and the popular T-Mobile "myFaves" and "myTouch" campaigns.
“We are delighted to have Mary Ellen on our team,” says Beast's COO and managing director Valerie Petrusson. “Her understanding of production, the industry at large and her years of experience on the agency side make her a wonderful asset to our Austin operation.”

Though Farrar has been involved in many facets of production and a wide variety of formats, it is the editing phase, she notes, that has always most fascinated her. “It’s really the part of the process where a job comes to life,” she says. "During the shooting, it's more like a play. It doesn't become something the whole world can enjoy until it goes through post.”

A long-time Austin resident, Farrar is excited about returning to the state and to be working in the advertising world in this rapidly growing market. “The industry is constantly evolving these days,” Farrar notes, ‘and we're in a perfect place to evolve and grow with it. Austin is a hotbed of high-tech industries and it's a great time to be able to offer editing services on par with the best there is anywhere in the country.”