New York, NY September 25, 2009 – Commercial director Lara Shapiro has joined No Smoke for exclusive US spot representation. Known in 
the Industry for memorable projects such as her Independent Film Channel, NFL, and I Love NY campaigns, Shapiro’s recent credits include commercial projects for Time Warner and LG phones. She recently finished the film LABOR PAINS, starring Lindsay Lohan, Cheryl Hines (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Chris Parnell (30 Rock), and Janeane Garofalo. Shapiro directed and co-wrote the romantic comedy, about a woman who lies about being pregnant to avoid getting fired from her job; it debuted on ABC Family in July. Prior to joining No Smoke, Shapiro was represented for spots by The Joneses.
No Smoke partner Andrew Swee explained, "The spot world is being driven and defined by new media and cross-platform content. No Smoke is at the forefront of this evolution. Our directors not only understand how to tell great stories under a variety of ‘traditional’ circumstances, but also embrace emerging formats that the web film genre is spawning. Lara fits this dynamic perfectly.” “No Smoke is a truly creative company with a pulse on the current market and a keen eye toward the future,” added partner Lou Addesso, Sr. “Lara brings a playful humor and a contagious passion to her work that’s delightful to be around."
Shapiro was introduced to No Smoke by fellow director Adam Jones. "I’d met Andrew a few years ago and wanted to work with him; to find that he was the EP Adam had been raving about was wonderful," she said. "Commercials have always been a part of my professional life, and I had been looking forward to returning to the medium," Shapiro noted of her brief break helming a feature. "Certainly, from a marketing point of view, there’s a lot to consider and many more platforms to explore in spotmaking. And No Smoke is attuned to all of that, from smaller digital pieces to bigger, more traditional projects."
Shapiro received her BA in English Literature from Cornell University and her MFA in Filmmaking from the Film Division at Columbia University. She has directed numerous national television commercial campaigns for Prudential, Bank One, Baskin Robbins, Kellogg’s, McDonalds, the NFL (starring Don Cheadle), I Love NY (starring Marc Anthony), LG Phones, Disney (starring James Earl Jones), and the Independent Film Channel (which she also co-wrote, starring Matt Damon, Liev Schreiber, and Edward Norton).
As a woman, and a mother of two daughters, Shapiro is often asked if there’s a quintessential “female” director. “While I don’t consciously think of myself as a ‘female director,’ I break with the pack in some sense when it comes to my taste,” she said. “Where many women are drawn to lifestyle and visual projects, comedy has such appeal for me. I’ve worked with a long list of great female comedians – Janeane Garofalo, Cheryl Hines, Lindsay Lohan, Tracee Ellis Ross, and so on – I’m bidding on such a job now. And it does feel like something of a niche, relating to and understanding the female comedic mind.”
Shapiro said that her approach to comedy often involves “bringing out the humor in seemingly ordinary situations.” She also has a unique ability to connect with her subjects. From spokesperson and testimonial spots, to dialogue-driven humor, celebrities, real people, and anything in between, Shapiro’s work is marked by her ability to elicit strong performances.
On a technical note, Shapiro said that a familiarity with new technologies is more critical than ever to the filmmaking process. Of LABOR PAINS, she said, “We were one of the first features shot on the RED, which is still evolving and coming into its own, and we really put it through its paces. In spots as well, we have so many options available. I’m always excited to bring whatever I can to the process, technically and creatively.”
In addition to her commercial and feature work, the New York-based Shapiro has made several short narrative films and documentaries as a writer/director (CRAWL, TIPPED, and FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT), which were shown at the Sundance and New York Film Festivals, among others. As a screenwriter, she has written feature screenplays for studios and independent production companies and was a screenwriting fellow at the Sundance Screenwriter’s Lab.
Shapiro rounds out a No Smoke roster comprised of Adam Jones, Kenan Moran, Jean Marc Piché, Harvey Wang, and Jeth Weinrich.
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LOL, lindsay is such a disaster. It is so sad. I can’t decide if I should feel sorry for her or pray for an intervention for her. Another case of a hollywood star that was ruined by fame. I do hope eventually someone comes to her rescue and she can find the support she needs to turn her life around.