The team behind Exceptional ALIEN have launched Exceptional ALIEN Studio. It’s a creative studio with an international network of producers, editors, designers and storytellers drawn from Exceptional Alien’s exceptionally talented storytellers. Its stories, platforms and campaigns are created by bringing together diverse talent, perspectives and skills from wide ranging disciplines.
It is also led by co-founders, Drape and Canning, whose advertising clout is second to none. Drape is co-founder of The Monkeys and former group co-chief creative officer of Accenture Interactive ANZ with experience in advertising, entertainment, design and publishing. Canning is one of the world’s most highly recognised creative directors with a career that spans Australia, the UK and USA.
Exceptional ALIEN Studio has been founded with the belief that different voices and perspectives inspire unique creativity and modern problem solving. The studio is based in Sydney and LA and accesses strategic, creative and production experts and thought leaders to collaborate on projects with the Exceptional ALIEN Studio team in a way that is tailored specifically for businesses and brands. This gives clients the solutions they need for outcomes they want.
The Studio has already worked with Tourism New Zealand, Atout France, South African Tourism, Art Gallery of NSW, Visit Victoria, Warner Music, Sony, Mushroom Music, Freeride World Tour and DC Shoes, and is collaborating with prominent advertising and media agencies – with more work to be released soon.
One of the Studio’s foundation clients, Mosilo Sofonia, hub-head for South African Tourism Australasia, stated, “It has been a privilege to collaborate with a truly innovative disruptor such as Exceptional ALIEN, to tell our stories, and feature as its first long-haul destination campaign.”
The team includes John Fundingsland, who recently joined Exceptional ALIEN as chief business officer after 12 years at Google, where he served in various business development, partnership, and product marketing roles. Together the team has won every major award in creative communications including multiple Cannes Lions Grand Prix, Best of Show at One Show Entertainment, Clio Awards Hall of Fame, Webby Awards for Best Writing & Social Media, D&AD yellow pencils and the MTV Awards.
Drape commented, “As Exceptional ALIEN has grown, the interest for brand collaborations has increased because we can help brands create stories that connect them to audiences in a more meaningful way. Smart marketers know that it’s more powerful and effective for their brands to connect with audiences through engaged communities rather than speaking to a disinterested audience with one-way communication. Our studio has been collaborating with a number of global brands and businesses to date, and we’re excited to share our unique offering to others”.
Canning added, “The Exceptional ALIEN network has been growing globally with people whose stories we are honoured to share and, in a number of cases, collaborate with on strategic and creative projects. Most of our projects to date have been travel oriented because it’s a natural place for us to start, and we’re now also working with brands that want to focus on creativity and culture. This is a model for collaboration we have always wanted to exist, because it brings together smart people and smart brands for every project.”
