Davis & Grimaldi, SCM+A combine ad capabilities

By VARIETY STAFF

In a move that better positions it for the 21st century, veteran specialized-markets advertising firm Davis & Grimaldi is joining forces with SCM+A, a high-technology ad agency, to create a broader-ranged ad shop that can bring showbiz values to non-entertainment industry properties.

"With our technological capabilities and (Davis & Grimaldi's) entertainment backgrounds, we are capable of developing unique selling strategies to build the success of any product that has entertainment appeal and then (by) following through by servicing clients with the latest technology," remarked former SCM+A principal (and new D&G principal) Neal Kanoff.

Agency principals Charles Davis and John Grimaldi created their outfit to serve the needs of the "specialized" or "event" film, which has meant anything from "Amadeus" to "The Lawnmower Man." During their 15-year partnership the principals have worked with every studio's marketing department at one time or another in creating more than 100 ad campaigns.

SCM+A was founded five years ago by Kanoff and Gene Casstevens after working separately for several other ad agencies. Among their clients are Citizen and Hamilton/Hallmark.