Damon Live Action Signs Director/Cinematographer Doug Taub for Exclusive US Spot and Print Representation

LONG BEACH, CA, November 7, 2008 – Director/Cinematographer Doug Taub has joined Damon Live Action, Inc. for exclusive US spot and print representation. He comes over from trio films, where he recently completed an international spot project for Hertz (via Beber Silverstein Group/Miami and GoGoGo Films). The move reunites Taub with two longtime colleagues and collaborators, owner/director Tim Damon and Executive Producer Caroline von Weyher.

"I’ve been a huge admirer of Doug’s for a long time," said Damon. "First, when we both worked at Boulevard Photographic, and more recently, when I was transitioning from print to live action, I tried to model myself after Doug Taub, Sean Thonson and Jeff Swartz, all incredible photographers who went on to have really brilliant live action careers."

Taub, whose portfolio of notable ads includes Mitsubishi "Time Bomb" (BBDO/LA), Scion "Urbano Misto" (Attik/SF), and many, many more, reflected on the unique dynamic that exists at Damon Live Action. "This is a powerful team," he said. "We all work so well together that every project is a group effort on some level. Tim has built this amazing studio, and Caroline’s design sense is instrumental in assembling pitch packages, on top of being a hands-on producer who understands what the client wants and knows how to deliver it." Prior to joining trio, Taub shared a roster with Damon at Millennium Pictures, where von Weyher was President and Managing Director. "I’m so happy to be working with these people again," said Taub.   

von Weyher sees the addition of Taub as a perfect next step in the company’s evolution. "With these two guys, there is such an incredible powerhouse of talent and skill," she said. "Doug and Tim have complementary strengths that are united by a keen eye for beauty and framing. They are great visualists and have an amazing body of work to draw on." von Weyher recalled that her first campaign with Taub, for Chevy, set the tone for their collaboration. "When I brought Doug into Millennium Pictures, we immediately formed a creative partnership," she noted. "The establishment of that trust was so important." She added that the time had come to add a second director to the Damon roster. "You can only book one guy on a job at a time, and there have been many, many times that we’ve had to turn things down. There are similarities between Tim and Doug, but their reels are very different and distinct, and, of course, Doug has a huge fan base in the industry."

That fan base has been acquired over a distinguished career rich with projects for high-profile clients such as Ford, Renault, Mercedes, Mazda, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Rolls Royce, VW, Citroen, Chevrolet, Ford, Acura, Honda, Lexus, Infinity, Toyota, Volvo, Saab, Wyoming Tourism, Mattel, GTE, Jeep, Daimler Chrysler, and many more. His filmmaking career was inspired by an interest in photojournalism, which he took up at the age of 14. Taub studied photography, art, advertising and business, before assisting top automotive photographers such as Jimmy Northmore, Dick James, Jack Whitehead, Steve Skritski, Bob Frania, and Ben Young. At the same time, Taub began shooting small print assignments. With a growing demand for his talent, Taub opened Boulevard Photographic Los Angeles, returning from Detroit to his home state of California. At the time, Damon was an assistant and Taub a photographer. "Our friendship began then, 25 years ago, and our paths have always naturally crossed paths since," Taub said. Four years later, Taub opened Doug Taub Photography, seeking to combine print and live action assignments whenever possible. Shot in France, Taub’s first major spot directing assignment, for Mercedes, won international acclaim. The print launch of Lexus and Infinity immediately followed. Taub chose to focus on spot making, directing spots through Millennium Pictures, Green Dot, M-80, Peterman-Moss, Zuma Films, GCS, and HKM. Taub now divides his time between the US and Europe, where he frequently shoots in Italy, France, Spain and Germany.

At Damon Live Action, Taub enjoys more than a reunion with his colleagues; the company has amassed an enviable arsenal of proprietary gear, including three customized camera cars. "When I was doing just stills, I was one of the first guys to come out with a combo grip truck, and Tim is definitely taking it the next level," he said. "I didn’t join Tim and Caroline because of the toys, but it’s very impressive stuff – and let’s face it, as a society the audience is used to seeing amazing in-your-face shots that – for most production companies who have to rent the gear – will cost a fortune. Owning and having these resources at your disposal makes you a much more attractive and powerful filmmaker. It’s like being a chef given all the ingredients you’ll ever need to make an incredible dish, you will use them all as part of your creative and technical arsenal." Taub added that budget usually holds people back, and that Damon Live Action offers the client "as much bang for their buck as possible." 

"We have two stellar operators who are expert in the combination of stills and film, and budgetary constrictions are less of a concern with all the gear we have in-house," von Weyher concluded. "All of this dovetails beautifully with a shared history of talent and skill, and this is an especially exciting leg of the journey."