DDA Talent and WPA Rebrand Together as Ascent Creatives International

Three months after their merger, DDA Talent and WPA have adopted a new name for their combined business: Ascent Creatives International. The change originated from Dattner Dispoto and Associates and Worldwide Production Agency deciding to merge their talent and production agencies into one entity for below-the-line creatives. According to a press release, Ascent is committed to an artist-centric approach, offering collaborative representation for a wide range of professionals including cinematographers, production and costume designers, editors, visual effects artists, directors, and producers. The agency aims to ensure that its clients' work continues to evolve and ascend.

The leadership team for Ascent Creatives International includes members from both West Coast and East Coast regions, as well as the U.K. Frank Balkin, Molly Bruns, Bill Dispoto, Brian Goldberg, Steve Jacob, Trevor Kossack, Miranda Roseman, Erin Searcy, Juanita Tiangco, Barnaby Laws, Estere Sulca, and Amber Thompson are all part of this diverse team.

Dispoto emphasized that the name "Ascent" reflects the company's belief that there is no end to a creative career. He stated that a body of work should not be managed towards a single peak but should continuously be challenged, expanded, and pushed forward. The statement was made in a Tuesday press release. This merger brings together two companies founded by industry veterans, with Dispoto having served as president of DDA since 2001 and Tiangco joining as president of WPA in 2016.

WPA was co-founded by Brian Goldberg in 2010, while Balkin became co-CEO in 2021 after joining the company in 2014.