SHADOWCORP Steps into the Light

LOS ANGELES, CA, February 26, 2008 – Executive Producers Steven Gould and Dina Mande have announced the formation of SHADOWCORP, a production company specializing in new media entertainment. The company roster is comprised of writer-directors John Chuldenko, Toby Wilkins, Greg Benson, Monsterobot, Lamer Street and Jane Selle Morgan, all of whom are established purveyors of nontraditional content.

"SHADOWCORP is not just about making commercials for new media," Mande explained, "it’s about creative storytelling. Our goal is to deliver content outside the boundaries of the 30-second spot." Gould noted that SHADOWCORP’s helmers are all established writer-directors who "bring a lot to the table creatively and in terms of their individual experience working in new media formats. The possibilities are endless." 

Mande first crossed paths with filmmaker John Chuldenko when the former agency creative director was on a freelance writing assignment at New Wave Entertainment, where she served as Art Director. "John and I were both involved in making our own short films and I think creatively we found a common bond," recalled Mande, who later co-founded Group101Spots with Gould, championing aspiring spotmakers. Chuldenko went on to make several short films, which screened at Sundance, Tribeca and South by Southwest; "Monkey," his latest theatrical comedy spot for Movietickets.com, was just released onto 10,000 screens across the US. Additional new work includes a three-spot Pepsi/Amp Energy Drink campaign (featuring passionate NASCAR fans who must align with a new sponsor to support Dale Earnhardt, Jr.), a GSN promo for The World Poker Tour (featuring Phil Laak and Antonio Esfandiari), and a special on-air project for Lussier/Disney Channel featuring Ashley Tisdale. 

Another New Wave alumnus, Toby Wilkins was in charge of finishing and visual effects on trailers and TV spots. His work has played at Sundance and the AFI, and after being commissioned by Sam Raimi’s Ghost House Pictures to write, produce and direct several shorts, he has been tapped to helm The Grudge 3 this year. Wilkins’ feature debut, Splinter, is slated for a summer 08 release.

You may not know director/writer/actor Greg Benson by name, but that’s likely to change. You have seen his face already, in a series of memorable Kia spots, and his profile behind the camera is skyrocketing. Benson’s brash, irreverent and decidedly un-PC comedy "Retarded Policemen" and "Gorgeous Tiny Chicken Machine Show" (just acquired by SONY and a fave of guest stars such as Michael O’Keefe and Wil Wheaton) webisodics have made him a powerful presence, scoring top hits on YouTube, iTunes, and MySpace. His work has also appeared on ABC and NBC, he just completed a series of three "I’m a Mac" spoofs for Hologic, using the new RED ONE camera, and wrapped an episode of "Gaytown," a new Sony-acquired Web series starring comic Owen Benjamin. "Greg’s work is everywhere," said Mande. "He’s about to blow up huge." 

Monsterobot landed in the shots 2007 new directors showcase with her viral short, "Headvice", part of Scion’s want2bsquare.com campaign via Attik, San Francisco, as well as her live action comedy spot for Smint. With an extensive background in production design, puppeteering and animation, Monsterobot, a.k.a. Melanie Mandl, was part of the costume-clad heavy metal band GWAR and directed many of their music videos along with their feature film, "Skulhedface". Her latest effort is the music video "Run", for the band Air.

Isaac Woodby and Daniel Klug, who direct under the Lamer Street moniker, have recently garnered recognition for the CW network’s "Online Nation", and their Honorable Mention in the "Best Movie Spoof" category at the 2007 MTV movie awards. Also well-known in the LA comedy scene, the pair are live sketch and improv performers, who honed their skills in such groups as School Nite and Thunderjar, with an extensive training background at IO (Improv Olympics) West Theater, as well as Second City. "In every town, city, state, and country there’s a street," begins their bio. "The one where all the lame people you know live with their lame houses, lame families, and lame three legged dogs. Behind that street is Lamer Street…" In truth, the directors are far from lame, and round out their resume as motion graphic animators and designers for the film and television industry, with credits including the rebranding of the Disney Channel, and the creation of Al Gore’s keynote presentation for the Oscar winning An Inconvenient Truth. Lamer Street has just completed a new comedy short, "Bad Apple."

Winner of a student EMMY, among other honors, Jane Selle Morgan has helmed projects for clients such as Microsoft, Amazon.com and Expedia.com. Her short films have run on IFC, AMC, Atomfilms.com, Aquafina.com and at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. Selle Morgan was the pilot director for the Youtube hit "The Guild", which has scored over a million hits on that site, making her one of the top-clicked comedy directors online. 

"We are building this company on the principle of creative collaboration in the most comprehensive sense," Gould concluded. "These are proven talents, with diverse and proactive approaches to filmmaking. SHADOWCORP offers these filmmakers a platform from which to expand their reach and realize their potential."  

SHADOWCORP is repped on the West Coast by Judy Holman, Margaret Dismukes in Texas, and by Stu Sternbach on the East Coast.