Looking Glass Films is Home to Director Suzuya Bobo

LOS ANGELES, CA September 26, 2008 – Looking Glass Films has signed director Suzuya Bobo for exclusive US spot representation. This is her first commercial production affiliation. Most recently, Suzuya helmed a spec spot marking the onscreen debut of supermodel Cole Mohr (the face of Marc Jacobs’ new campaign for men and women). The spot was co-produced by artist Natalie Rodgers, and shot in New York city’s Lower East Side. A CalArts Accelerated Grad Alumni from Plano, TX, Suzuya has already made a name for herself with a series of short and long form film and Web projects she has written, directed and produced.

"Suzuya is a visual communicator, totally comfortable creating material much in the same way others engage in conversation," said Looking Glass Films Executive Producer June Guterman.

"People absolutely fascinate me," shared the director (pict., r.). "The fact that I’m able to capture the moments in ordinary situations that can provide a window into each different individuals existence really excites me."

Never a big fan of television – she hasn’t owned one in years – Suzuya has focused on the Web. "My laptop became the new screen for me," she explains. "I see the huge possibilities the Internet presents. The Web signals the triumph of the underdog, it’s a new kind of accessibility for the unique stories I’m interested in."

Among the director’s current work on the Web is The Rory Story, a hyper-reality Internet series chronicling the adventures of recording artist Rory, as she records and tours to promote her EP entitled "Catch me if you can". The series can be found on rorymusic.com.

Guterman believes the time is right for Suzuya’s fresh take on advertising. "There’s no need for Suzuya to unlearn or relearn the rules. The lines separating advertising, marketing, and branding have been erased and now well conceived content can serve all three."

Suzuya’s diverse background led her to the creative industry; an early interest in acting evolved into filmmaking. While writing, producing, and directing numerous projects, she made a point of visiting film festivals around the world; the Cannes film festival, Vienna film festival, South by Southwest, and Sundance all augmented Suzuya’s experiences and provided her with a deeper understanding of the business of filmmaking. Suzuya also found time to intern at Vitagraph films, and starred in an independent feature shot on location in Beirut, Lebanon; the finished film – min zamen/houdoud al-zaman – premiered in Los Angeles at the Redcat in Disney Hall.

She got her podcasting start while working with Tikibartv.com and subsequently was profiled in a four-page Vanity Fair center foldout article entitled "Who Needs a Network?" Suzuya’s drive to direct took her to Zambia with Anna Ouroumian (CEO of the Academy of Business Leadership). It was on a return flight from Zambia that she met Guterman. "Meeting June was an amazing breath of fresh air," the director recalls. "I was embarking on my first feature and she gave me some great advice, I knew then and there that I wanted an opportunity to work with such a strong, smart, experienced producer."

"I was fascinated by this young woman who not only had such varied interests and experience, but had the maturity and energy to follow through on her ideas," Guterman remembers. "Even on the plane, she was taking notes on the pages of a fashion magazine about lighting and angles. Her wanderlust is driven by a great creative curiosity."

A regular attendee of the Global Milken conference, Suzuya also attends the Forbes Meet conference, and serves on the board of endoil.org. She is co-producer of One Brick Film’s first feature entitled "A Woman Called Job", for which she raised over half of the film’s financing and directed the 2nd unit while on location in Cape Cod. The film is currently in post-production.

Suzuya Bobo joins a diverse and distinguished Looking Glass Films roster comprised of David Mamet, David Nutter, Alek Keshishian, Alfonso Arau, Jean-Jacques Annaud, Steven Antin, Danny Boyle, Kerry Conran, Chad Einbinder, Renny Harlin, Anjelica Huston, Marc/Andy, Francine Mcdougall, Marine Panossian, Roman Polanski, Chris Rock, Mark Simmons, and Cliff Watts.