Ad firms merge to get Creative

Dyer, Michel/Russo, Skyrocket collaborate

By SUSANNE AULT

There's a new kid on the entertainment marketing block -- Dyer Communications, Michel/Russo and Skyrocket Interactive have merged to form Total Creative, an advertising firm for film and television.

Total Creative will pick up extensive design credits from Dyer, including the main title creation for TV's "Entertainment Tonight" and Disney's "Hercules."

The Michel/Russo pair are contributing expertise gained from their recent movie poster campaigns, this year's "Gods and Monsters" and "Affliction."

And Skyrocket Interactive will lend its online know-how to new media ventures.

"Our senior core group of company directors will be involved in every project we take on," Dan Michel, Total Creative chief operating officer, told Daily Variety.

Three film studios have already inked deals with the new firm, including Miramax for developing the main titles of its pic "Diamonds," starring Kirk Douglas and Lauren Bacall.