Rapid Films and Rapid VR are now simply Rapid.

The full-service production company and 360* VR studio has redefined who it is, putting its innovative storytelling at the forefront.

As part of its repositioning, Rapid has taken on several new people. Joining the family are directors, Gregor Jordan and Ben Watts, executive producer, Abby Hunt, and creative partner, Steve Thomson in a new role for the company.

Former Macquarie Bank director, Matt Klaiber, heads up Rapid’s business development and internal partnerships.

Gregor Jordan brings his experience on features, Two Hands – which won the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Direction and Best Screenplay, Ned Kelly and Buffalo Soldiers, as well as a number of award-winning campaigns, including the Cannes Gold Lion winning The Great Crusade for Qantas.

Fashion and lifestyle photographer, Ben Watts, is keen to build on his growing body of motion work, that already includes US campaigns for Nike, Victoria’s Secret, Guess and Ralph Lauren. Watts, who currently lives in the US, also hopes to make many more trips back to Australia, particularly to his hometown, Sydney, where he and his also famous sibling Naomi, were raised.

Abby Hunt joins from working as a freelance senior producer at Sibling Agency and before that, The Monkeys, where she produced the 2017 Ad News Ad of the Year, MLA’s Spring Lamb – You Never Lamb Alone.

Hunt has also freelanced at The Royals, Cummins&Partners and Arcade following a ten year stint as national head of onscreen at BWM. She has worked in London, New York and Singapore at agencies such as BBH, Propaganda/Satellite – working with Michael Bay and Spike Jones, Partizan Pictures with – working with Michael Gondry, @radical.media and Artists Network.

Former TBWA Chiat Day Los Angeles creative, Steve Thomson, returned to Sydney in 2009 and has been working freelance at Ogilvy, J.Walter Thompson, DDB, The Monkeys, Loud and BWM. He is also the founder of Bondi Advertising, where he created one of the world’s first AR exhibits, at Sculpture by The Sea. His role at Rapid will focus on helping clients and agencies to adapt messaging for innovative mediums, while elevating Rapid’s ideation and storytelling capabilities.

Rapid co-founder & executive producer, Susannah Phillips, commented, “We are all really excited about the new direction Rapid is taking. Gregor, Ben, Abby and Steve bring a wealth of knowledge and talent to the team and I’m excited to continue to develop the company in both existing and new areas of the business.”