AMV BBDO launches content division Red Studios

Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO has joined forces with Redwood BBDO to create a content and production arm, called Red Studios.

The production division is officially opening its doors this week with a core team of 20 people and access to all 100 employees at Redwood BBDO.  The leadership team is made up of Ben Padfield, managing director; Mark Graeme, executive producer; Polly Morgan, head of production; Lucy Mills, head of talent; and Stan Stanworth, head of development.

The agencies said Red Studios was formed to deliver the right content for clients “in a world where wasted effort and low accountability are rife”. Red Studios will work with clients to deliver in-house solutions, content strategy, content auditing technologies and “low cost, super-fast” production.

The production arm is currently working with Essity and Guinness.

Redwood BBDO’s current film production capability has overseen 160 shoots in 12 months across 21 international locations. The creative studio has worked on Ferrari, HP, Virgin Media, Barclays and Google, among other brands.

AMV BBDO said it aims to bring its “strategic, creative firepower” to the work it produces with Redwood BBDO through Red Studios. The creative shop has worked across brands such as Bodyform, Guinness and Sheba.

“More and more I have heard clients talking about the need to have more focus and data on what they are making and why,” Sam Hawkey, chief executive of AMV BBDO, said.

“They are rightly worried that effort and resources are being wasted and know that this effort could and should be used to make more potent use of the content that actually does payback.”

 Hawkey said that this was why Red Studios was formed and it will give the shops a chance to “leap forward” when it comes to the work it produces for clients. Colin Kennedy, chief executive of Redwood BBDO, added: “Red Studios makes both the content brains and production muscle of Redwood available to AMV clients.

“It’s this unique combination of creative content strategy and filmmaking expertise that guarantees a more efficient process as well as more effective output.”