It is a stone to put in your pocket. A pebble with the power you give it. It’s a piece of childhood that inspires us to tell stories, make movies, create pictures, and connect people. It’s as light as a wish, as solid as a rock, as hard as work, as fun as play. It’s us.
BOB GIRALDI - Director, Force of Nature
Award-winning film and television director Bob Giraldi brings an independent hand to everything he touches. From Michael Jackson’s music video for Beat It to the latest campaign for Fisher-Price, Giraldi has produced and directed over 4,000 unique visual masterpieces.
He was a creative director at Y&R in the middle of the creative revolution of the 70s, and his music videos have been included in Rolling Stone’s top ten examples of video art at The Museum of Modern Art. His feature film, “Dinner Rush” with Danny Aiello, was selected for the prestigious New Directors/New Films Series at MoMa. Giraldi has also been inducted into the NY Art Director’s Hall of Fame, one of the few film directors to be honored. In 2011, he was honored with the New York International Film Festival’s first ever “Living Legend Award,” which recognized him as a prominent industry luminary whose contributions have advanced the advertising industry and made a lasting impact on the overall creative community. In 2013, he was awarded the great honor of becoming the first director ever to be inducted into the Advertising Hall of Fame.
Giraldi is also Chair of the School of Visual Art’s MPS Live Action Short Film program, and the owner of four popular NY restaurants, as well as partner in four others. From advertsing to feature films to guiding young talent to creating great food, Bob Giraldi always keeps it fresh.
KAREN ABADA - Creative Director, collector of stones
As a leader in the world of children, families, and toys, Karen has created memorable campaigns and worldwide identities for brands like Fisher–Price, American Girl, Tonka, Playskool, Hasbro Games, and Campbell’s. From brand strategy and product benefits through creative concepts and finished production, she brings a love of kids, an understanding of moms, and a passion for storytelling to every project. Plus, she has an awesome collection of wishing rocks, and she doesn’t need a lot of sleep.
DENNIS LOONAN - Global Account Manager, emotional rock
From pre- to post- to everything in-between, there is very little that Dennis Loonan has not worked on in advertising and film. Dennis was a founding partner in Prime Cut Editorial, and president/owner of Shooting Stars Productions for over 20 years. He has hired award-winning feature film directors such as Oliver Stone, Barry Sonnenfeld, Dean Cundey, Peter Horton, and John Avildsen for tv spots, and formed a production company with award-winning cinematographers Haskell Wexler and Conrad Hall. Dennis has represented and produced over 1000 spots for major advertising clients around the world, and is presently head of global sales for GiraldiMedia.
JAKE LOONAN - Business Development, rolling stone
As the U.S. sales rep for GiraldiMedia, Jake Loonan has helped expand their roster from 3 to 15 directors. Now Jake will also bring his considerable energy and experience to WishingRock. Jake has a strong background in marketing, and an amazing capacity for bringing talent and projects together. Plus, he once did a short stint as a mechanical engineer, so we know he’ll always keep things running smoothly.