TBS to Showcase Nelson Cabrera’s Cyloop “Pool” Among Funniest Commercials of the Year
BEVERLY HILLS, CA, December 19, 2007 – Director Nelson Cabrera of Savant Film has made a name for himself as a director equally adept at light comedy and more weighty fare. With “Pool”, which he helmed for online music channel Cyloop via agency La Comunidad, Miami, Cabrera accomplishes both: the darkly comic spot features a recording artist so weighted down with bling that he sinks to the bottom of his pool. As his minions go about their partying – oblivious to their host’s demise – the tagline says it all: “Musicians don’t live long – enjoy them while you can.”
View the spot on our YouTube channel here.
Cyloop “Pool” has so resonated with audiences that TBS will air the spot on its year-end special, “Funniest Commercials of the Year”.
The network’s 1-hour special counts down to the #1 spot of the year as voted on by the public and is shot in Times Square NYC with host Kevin Nealon. It airs just days before the New Years celebration from the same location.
The special has become a must-watch for ad bizzers and fans alike, reaching millions of viewers. It feature the work of agencies big and small and pieces from all over the world, and prides itself on including “only the most clever, witty and hilarious ads.”
Credits:
Product: Cyloop
Agency: La Comunidad, Miami
Creatives: Jose Molla (Executive Creative Director)
Joaquin Molla (Executive Creative Director)
Leo Prat (Creative Director)
Ricky Vior (Creative Director)
Gustavo Lauria (Copywriter)
Alvaro Ramos (Art Director)
Patricio Alvarez Casado (Executive Producer)
Laurie Malaga (Agency Producer)
Director: Nelson Cabrera
Country: United States of America
Producer: Jennifer Friedman
Signing the Hennegan Brothers, VILLAINS Hits the Daily Double…
Hennegans are Passionate Filmmakers with a Distinctive Pedigree
BEVERLY HILLS, CA, December 14, 2007 - VILLAINS has signed The Hennegan Brothers for exclusive US spot representation.
While this is the duo’s first spotmaking roost, brothers John and Brad Hennegan have more than made their bones in production and promotion.
At the Washington DC bureau of CNN, during the O.J. Simpson trial, John (pictured left) helped launch Burden of Proof featuring legal analyst Greta Van Susteren. Relocating to Los Angeles, he worked with directors Betty Thomas and Mark Pellington, and for Ted Field’s Radar Pictures (formerly Interscope Films). Now based in New York, this writer/producer/director counts CSTV, ESPN, ABC, the NBA, 20th Century Fox and TBWA/Chiat/Day among his clients.
Brad (pictured right) has worked consistently in television for the last decade holding positions such as the Director of On-Air Promotions at CSTV (College Sports Television), the Director of On-Air Promotions and Branding at the Independent Film Channel and the Director of Special Projects at USA Broadcasting in Miami. Prior to working at IFC, Brad worked as a writer, producer and director for several brands including HBO, ESPN, Showtime and Bravo. He began television career as a production assistant on feature films and commercials before landing a job at Martha Stewart Living as the Assistant Director of her syndicated television show on CBS.
How the Hennegan Brothers came to meet VILLAINS Executive Producer Nancy Osborne and sign with her company, however, has more to do with horse racing than resumes.
Growing up on Long Island, the Hennegan Brothers developed a passion for horse racing at an early age. As the sons of a New York Racing Association placing judge, John and Brad spent much of their youth at the racetrack. Their first jobs at the track included everything from ice cream vendors, ushers and security guards to horse handlers on the backstretch.
This history is the genesis of "The First Saturday in May", an affecting and accomplished feature documentary that aims to make horse racing cool again by telling the stories of the hard-working, dedicated and resilient individuals who dedicate their lives to the horses they love. The film had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival, and when reccommended to Osborne by a mutual friend, the doc moved her to reach out to the Hennegans.
"I find the Hennegans to be extraordinary filmmakers," Osborne says. "This is an extremely impressive feature debut. Watching the film it was clear to me – they get it." Osborne adds that she views The Hennegan Brothers as more than directors. "The industry is seeking creative solutions, and that’s what John and Brad are bringing to the table."
The Brothers say they were ecstatic to receive Osborne’s call. "VILLAINS has a great reputation,and we have always heard great things about them," says Brad. "They have always been known to build talent and they are carrying on that tradition with the current roster."
Of their pedigree and multi-hyphenates, says John, "People are not just looking for directors, they are now looking for people that wear many hats as we do. We feel we are both very well-rounded."
Particularly impressive for a first feature, "The First Saturday in May" was shot over the course of two years, with the Hennegans wearing whatever hats were necessary. Top of mind was the goal of sharing their intimate knowledge of the close-knit racing community, which includes many colorful characters.
"The race track has always been filled with a great mix of people, real people," recalls John. "It was a rare mix of personalities and classes, from the ultra-wealthy to the bottom of the socio-economic ladder, all working together."
The Hennegan Brothers hope to bring their experiences to the spot casting process. "We sense a shift in the industry and an increasing appetite to see real people," notes Brad. Adding that the pair reject stereotypical notions of ‘real people’ casting or ‘humor directors’, John points out that "regardless of whether or not we use union talent, we bring a sensibility that is grounded in reality. The same applies to comedy; you may think that your Cousin Irv is only funny to you…but in reality, everyone has a Cousin Irv."
Read More »Universal Images Motors Through Detroit for Inaugural “D Show”
Detroit, MI, December 13, 2007 – Detroit’s a town that is equal parts art and attitude. So it is only fitting that in creating the opening for the inaugural ‘D Show’ - celebrating the best in local art and advertising – Universal Images cut right to the chase. Figuratively, and in some cases literally, the sequence rolls like a locomotive, highlighting the sights, sounds, energy, and inspiration that make the Motor City a one-of-a-kind American institution.
The D Show debuted this year, formed by a coalition of creative, media and production professionals seeking to promote the creative spirit that has shaped Detroit. The event took place on November 28th, at the Max M. Fisher Music Center, with work from Universal Images garnering several awards (list appears below).
View the work on the Raging Artists YouTube Channel by clicking here.
Award
30/25 – Single
Title: Gas Pumps, Hate Us, Lockout
Client: Campbell Ewald
Artist: Animator – Chris Wirth
Award
30/25 – Single
Title: Gas Pumps Hate Us: Trash
Client: Campbell Ewald
Artist: Animator – Chris Wirth
Award
30/25 – Campaign
Title: Gas Pumps/Hate Us/Flat/Trash/Lockout
Client: Campbell Ewald
Artist: Animator – Chris Wirth
Award
The Craft – Video/Film/Animation
Special Effects – Non Commercial
Title: Enimation
Client: In House
Artists: ECD – Lori Woods/ Chris Wirth
Animator – Paul Frieling
Award
The Craft – Video/Film/Animation
Special Effects – Commercial
Title: Chevrolet VMA Event
Flat/Trash/Lockout
Client: Campbell Ewald
Artists: ECD – Lori Woods/Chris Wirth
Animators – Chris Wirth/Jon Jovich
Director Dave Laden On Board at Uber Content
HOLLYWOOD, CA, December 7, 2007 – Director Dave Laden has signed with Über Content for exclusive US spot representation. Laden was previously an Associate Creative Director at Goodby Silverstein & Partners/SF, and for the past year and a half had been directing spots.
"After seeing Dave’s work I knew right away that he was going to have a strong career as a director," said Partner/Executive Producer Preston Lee. "His pedigree as a creative gives him a valuable perspective on the business and his strength in art direction is obvious in all of his spotwork. Beyond the that, Dave is one of the nicest and most sincere guys you’ll ever meet. A complete win for Über."
In the course of his career as an agency creative, Laden garnered Gold Lions at Cannes, Gold Clios, Gold One Show and multiple AICP honors, and an EMMY nomination, among other accolades. In 2006, he joined Teak Motion Visuals, founded by Goodby colleague Greg Martinez, and said the transition to representation at Über Content was extremely smooth. "There is a powerful energy at Über; it’s a young hungry company," stated Laden adding that when he sat down with Lee and Partner/Executive Producer Phyllis Koenig, the three shared the same ideas about style, performance, and spotmaking. "This kind of symbiosis is hard to find," he said.
After graduating from the University of Delaware with a Bachelor of Science in Visual Communication, Laden joined Ogilvy & Mather as an Art Director. His five-year tenure at O&M spanned projects for Amex, IBM, and Hershey’s, among others. Having caught the attention of Rich Silverstein and Jeff Goodby, Laden joined GS&P in 2000. It was there that he had the opportunity to direct spots for clients such as Saturn, the X-Games, and a non-profit organization called Youth Speaks. "We shot about 10 spots in a day," Laden mused about his experience on the PSA shoot. "The agency consisted of a freelance creative director and a producer." Despite the budget constraints of those early projects, Laden greatly appreciated the support of his bosses and took his time transitioning into directing full-time.
Laden was in no hurry to seek more traditional production company representation when the he met Über’s Lee through a mutual friend, DP Doug Chamberlain. This year, however, after winning Best Short Film at the San Francisco Independent Film Festival and appearing on ‘boards‘ list of the "Top 10 Creative People in San Francisco", Laden entertained a flurry of calls from production companies. "I did a lot of research and met a lot of people, but I kept coming back to Preston and Über Content," Laden said.
"When Preston first showed me Dave’s reel, I was completely taken by what a fully realized body of work he had amassed in such a small amount of time," said Koenig. "Each spot made me laugh out loud, and at the same time I was immediately struck by the lightning bolt of his relevancy in the marketplace right now. Dave is bound for real success because of his passion, drive, and true talent."
In addition to his spot work, Laden recently completed a documentary short and is working on a half-animated/half-live action short.
Based in Hollywood, Über is a multi-content production company established in January of 2006. Now representing numeorus directors with diverse talents, Über Content has quickly become the new company to watch. Laden rounds out a company roster comprised of Jordan Brady, Todd Field, Jeffrey Fleisig, Gentlemen, Stewart Hendler, Jason Kohn, Sean Mullens, and Marc Schölermann.
Read More »SOLdesignfx and Cutters Make Sears Wishbook Come True
CHICAGO, IL, December 5, 2007 – "It’s the most frequently asked question, heard all around the world: ‘What are you wishing for this holiday season?’" muses Chris Markos, Creative Director at SOLdesignfx. "So it’s only natural for Sears to respond with a Wishbook presenting featured products and messages this holiday season."
The resulting series of spots, created via Y&R, open on a wide shot of the Sears Wishbook placed in a variety of exterior settings – a park, an urban plaza, a suburban street, etc. As the spots unfold, the book opens up into a live action scene – a person excitedly opening a gift – and their wish is granted.
From this celebration shot, the pages of the Wishbook flip along to a page with typography; the pages flip again taking us to product imagery. A series of products pop off the page with a multi-dimensional feel, before the book closes, revealing the end logo.
"This has been a totally cool project," says Markos of the twenty-five spot campaign. "We have worked closely with Y&R and the creative team has allowed us to develop the look and movement over the series of spots," says Markos.
SOLdesignfx created not only a CG Wishbook, but the environments as well. The exterior shots are actually virtual scenes crafted by SOL. This allowed for the the continued development of the art direction and flexibility in camera movement. "We were able to change camera moves in post because it was all a virtual world," adds Markos, "and we were able to have more freedom editorially because we weren’t tied to in camera moves."
"Creating a virtual Wishbook world in which products pop out of the page and rotate in between page flips and marrying it with real-life reaction footage can be a real editorial challenge," says Cutters‘ Editor Jessica Simmon. "Cutters and Sol have collaborated brilliantly on this job…we have some fresh faces at SOL, comprising a very creative team that makes good decisions up front on design. Also, our workflow and the way we’ve constructed these spots has made it a cinch to back up and take a different creative route when needed."
Client: Sears Holding Corporation
Spot Titles: Sears Holiday Promo Campaign "Thanksgiving Saturday Sale" and "Tiered Event 11/8"
Agency: Y&R Chicago
SVP, Executive Creative Director: Ken Erke
Creative Director: Chris Hunter
Art Director: James Edin
Copywriter: Evan Thompson
SVP, Director of Production: Brian Smego
Producer: Addie Pampalone
Production Company: Believe Media/Hollywood
Director: Tryan George
Executive Producer: Liz Silver
Executive Producer(s): Luke Thornton, Mike Brady
Producer: Kendall Henry
Editorial: Cutters
Editor: Jessica Simmon
Assistant Editor: Charles Moore
Producer: Karen Vargas
Post/VFX: SOLdesignfx/Chicago
Creative Director: Chris Markos
3D Animation Director: Brian Bullock
Motion Graphics Designers: Chris Anderson, Sarah Cortese
Executive Producer: Neal Cohen
Music, Sound Design and Mix: Another Country/Chicago
Engineer: Ben Keller
Producer: Tim Kohn
Telecine: Filmworkers/Astro Lab/Chicago
Read More »Cut By Union’s Nick Lofting, ‘Rotten Hell’ Freshens Up with a PLUG 2008 Nod
SANTA MONICA, CA, December 3, 2007 – Nominees have been announced for the PLUG 2008 Independent Music Awards with the music video for Menomena "Rotten Hell" (Barsuk) snagging a nod.
Directed by Warren Julius, and edited by Nick Lofting of Union, the clip offers what is perhaps the most elegant and stylized food fight in the history of cinema. Think Animal House meets Up The Academy meets The Untouchables meets The Mission meets…well you get the idea.
Winners will be announced at the offical awards ceremony, to be held March 6 in NYC.
Lofting’s recent work includes Nike "Big Man" (directed by Vogel.Villar-Rios), EQCA "Garden Wedding" (directed by Happy) and Toyota "Asphalt Birth" (directed by Stylewar).
About PLUG
Each year, PLUG is proud to bring the independent music community together – fans and biz alike – to recognize the best music and media it has to offer. So congratulations to the Nominees! Now it’s time to decide the winners. So cast your votes below!
PLUG is about the independent music community coming together to recognize our own. We’re fans from every walk of the music world who gather each year to recognize the artists who live and flourish in the margins of mainstream culture. While many of the artists on the PLUG ballot are well known to fans steeped in the independent music world, most are nowhere near the household names they deserve to be.
How does it work? Each fall, we gather the PLUG Cartel (advisory board of 250-300 people who select the nominees), and after collecting/tallying the votes, the official nominees are announced in the form of an online ballot. Fans from around the world then logon to vote the winners who are announced at the PLUG Independent Music Awards Ceremony and Concert in March.
Neil Abramson Signs with Savant
BEVERLY HILLS, CA, November 30, 2007 – Savant Film has signed director Neil Abramson for exclusive US commercial representation. He comes over from Park Pictures. An accomplished spot and feature director whose ad industry honors include multiple Cannes Lions, Abramson returns from the recent completion of the film American Son, which will screen in competition at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival.
"When I returned from the movie, I was looking for a company that was progressive and intimate at same time," Abramson recalls. "Savant is those things. It’s hard to find people like (company partners/executive producers) Joby Barnhart and Jamie Miller, people with vision and with whom I share an overall approach to life."
"We jumped at the chance to meet Neil," says Barnhart. "Once we were in the same room, we quickly found common ground. Our production philosophy is very hands-on; we strive to stay fully involved with our directors every step of the way. That’s something which is very important to Neil as well."
Abramson’s prolific commercials career (directing high-profile campaigns for clients such as Cadillac, Saturn, Coke, American Express, and Nike) has afforded him the opportunity to give voice to a passion for films that explore the human condition and psyche. Abramson’s features, which include: Without Air, Defining Maggie, Soldier Child, and Bob Smith U.S.A., further showcase an unflinching eye and a constant pursuit of truth distinguishes Abramson’s work from the pack.
"It’s wonderful to be appreciated for creating pretty pictures, as a director and dp," notes Abramson of his ever-expanding body of work, "but at the same time I strive to embrace a lot of life and emotion in my work, to give substance in that way and bring a vulnerability to the films and commercials."
Read More »
tight’s The Brothers Strause Invade the Web with Alien vs. Predator 2
SANTA MONICA, CA, November 27, 2007 – ALIEN VS. PREDATOR 2 – the feature film debut of Greg Strause (pictured l.) and Colin Strause (pictured r.), who comprise the tight directing team The Brothers Strause – may not be slated for theatres until Christmas, but it is already engaged in an assault on the Web.
With red-band and green-band versions of the trailer currently running on numerous sites, the 20th Century Fox release and Davis Entertainment production may have its biggest impact with the international trailer: Establishing life in an idyllic Colorado town, this clip depicts the city’s harrowing transformation into a makeshift battlefield as the Aliens square off against the Predator in an epic fight to the finish.
Recent spot projects helmed by The Brothers Strause include Mercury "Synapse", a Coca-Cola campaign via McCann Erickson/Shanghai, Gatorade "Winning Formula" via Element 79 Partners/ Chicago, Fresca "Dance" via Campbell Mithun/MN, and the music video for Flyleaf’s "I’m So Sick."
Jonathan Ker is the executive producer at tight. Rich Carter and Don Block are his partners in the company. In addition to The Brothers Strause, the company roster is comprised of directors Iain Mackenzie, Josh & Xander, and Bruce Dowad.
Read More »Music Forever Sounds Off in Support of Striking Writers, with Star-Studded ‘Speechless’ Campaign
ENCINO, CA, November 21, 2007 – Even the finest actors are vulnerable when working without a script – but on Thanksgiving Day (November 22), a staggering array of A-list Screen Actors Guild talent will do just that as part of a "Speechless" campaign conceived by director/writer George Hickenlooper and writer Alan Sereboff. Driving home the importance of writers, the spots use various means to convey the actors’ frustration in attempting to do their job without the proper tools. The ads will appear exclusively on the Internet, the medium at the heart of the current WGA labor strike against the Alliance Of Motion Picture & Television Producers.
Music Forever Owner/Composer Anthony Marinelli is providing original music, sound design, dialogue editing, and the final mix on the 20-plus spots. Given the absence of scripts or storyboards, these elements play a more critical role than usual.
"These are raw, mini-films with a screen-test-like quality, 
we’re all shooting from the hip," says Marinelli, who has scored two feature films for Hickenlooper, The Man From Elysian Fields, and Mayor of The Sunset Strip. "The very nature of this campaign is that there is no script, so the music has to support the stories and pull them together without completely smoothing the rough edges."
With a long career in the film and ad music industry, Marinelli has participated in many commercial campaigns meant to inform and inspire the public into action and change. He created music for the original iconic "This is Your Brain On Drugs" 
campaign, California Department of Health’s ground-breaking anti-smoking campaign, Earth Communications Office’s "Connections" spot, and the current "Voice for the Uninsured" campaign.
"There is a new economic structure developing for all creative artists," Marinelli says of his decision to lend his talents and resources to this cause. "It’s nothing we could have planned for but it’s something we all have to reconcile in order to survive."
The Public Service Announcements will begin rolling out Thursday morning on DeadlineHollywoodDaily.com, where they will run through Sunday night. Beginning Monday, they can be found on SpeechlessWithoutWriters.com with links on UnitedHollywood.com and every day thereafter for the duration of the strike.
"Obviously, we are looking forward to a resolution and at that time the campaign will be complete," Marinelli says. "In a way, though, the spots are a documentation of this moment in time, something we’ll look back on for years to come."
Appearing in the spots are: Sean Penn, Holly Hunter, Laura Linney, Alan Cumming, Jay Leno, Harvey Keitel, Kate Beckinsale, Tina Fey, Tim Robbins, Gary Marshall, David Schwimmer, Patricia Clarkson, James Franco, Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, Martin Sheen, Josh Brolin, Susan Sarandon, Andre 3000, Chazz Palminteri, Jason Bateman, Christine Lahti, Patricia Arquette, Jenna Elfman, Olivia Wilde, Richard Benjamin, Paula Prentiss, Eva Longoria, Justine Bateman, Joshua Jackson, Rosanna Arquette, Diane Ladd, Rebecca Romjin, Minnie Driver, Nicollette Sheridan, Robert Patrick, Matthew Perry, Ed Asner, and America Ferrera and the cast of Ugly Betty.
Woody Allen, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jane Fonda, Marisa Tomei, Ethan Hawke, Jason Alexander, Charlize Therone, and Philip Seymour Hoffman are slated to go before the cameras as well. Additional SAG talent is lining up to participate in future spots.
For more information regarding the "Speechless" campaign contact SpeechlessWithoutWriters@gmail.com.
Music Forever is a boutique music production company committed to personal attention. Formed in 1993 by composer Anthony Marinelli, Music Forever has a long history of ongoing creative relationships with some of the most influential minds in the advertising, film, television, and record industries. The company has provided original music for NIKE, APPLE COMPUTER, AMERICAN EXPRESS, MICROSOFT, DISCOVER CARD, MERCEDES BENZ and California’s Anti-Smoking campaign, among others.
Project Credits:
Conceived by Director/Writer George Hickenlooper and Writer Alan Sereboff
Directed & Produced by George Hickenlooper
Produced by Alan Sereboff
Edited & Produced by Kamala Lopez
Music by Anthony Marinelli
Recorded & Mixed by Clint Bennett
Assistant Engineer: Beau Bonetti
Sound Design & Audio Post: Music Forever
Technical Advisor – Joel Marshall
Read More »
Director Raymond Bark of GARTNER Sees Silver at LIA
SANTA MONICA, CA, November 16, 2007 – "Traditions," a JC Penney spot directed by GARTNER‘s Raymond Bark, was a Silver Winner for Special Adaptation of Popular Music at the 2007 London International Awards.
The spot was part of a seasonal campaign leading us on a freewheeling journey through holidays past.
Bark’s recent work includes spots for American Chemistry Council, The California Endowment for Health Care Reform, and an on-going campaign for Cargill.
For 22 years, the London International Awards has honored preeminent work in Advertising, Design, and Digital Media. The highly coveted and difficult to attain statue has become an international icon of creative excellence. In an industry inundated with Awards, the LIA has gained such respect because of its renowned jury panels and judging process.
Entrant: DDB Chicago
Spot Title: JC Penney "Traditions"
Credits:
Corporate Name of Client: JC Penney
Advertising Agency: DDB Chicago, Chicago
Chief Creative Officer: Paul Tilley
Creative Director: Becky Kozlen
Associate Creative Directors: Kathy Petrauskas/Matt Ben-Zeev
Copywriter: Matt Ben-Zeev
Art Director: Kathy Petraukas
Agency Producer: Hank Sabian
Production Company: GARTNER, Santa Monica
Director: Raymond Bark
Editing Facility: Avenue Edit, Chicago
Editor: Liz Tate
Music Production Company: i dig music
Music Composer: Ron Steele
