(l-r) Albert Kodagolian, Ian Kammer

“I was immediately intrigued by Ian, because he sent his reel in the most unconventional way,” said Albert Kodagolian, Director/DP and partner in Bueno Films. “It was packaged like a cherished, aged book. The real sell, of course, was the fact that his reel is far above average for a recent graduate.” Kodagolian added that Kammer already has established a unique style and sensibility. “He is able to integrate a product into a commercial with sensitivity and intelligence,” he said, “and his work distinguishes itself among that of other directors, which in this marketplace is an indispensable quality.”

A 2010 graduate of the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Kammer took every opportunity during school to intern at production houses to gain hands-on industry experience. These internships expanded both his technical knowledge and familiarity with the on-set etiquette demanded of a commercial director.

“The opportunity to work with a director of Albert’s stature is wonderful in and of itself,” said Kammer. “To have him as a champion of my filmmaking is fantastic.” Himself a winner of D&AD, CLIO, Telly, and AICP Awards for his work with Levi’s, Sci-Fi Channel, and other brands, Kodagolian explained that hands-on support and guidance is increasingly rare in the industry.  “We have to get back to the practice of sharing the lessons we’ve learned, and nurturing talent to find their own path,” said Kodagolian, “so taking Ian under my wing is a real privilege.”

Kammer’s additional directing credits include the short film “Subconscious Disconnect” and a docu-short titled “Motion Blindness.”

Ian Kammer rounds out a Bueno Films roster comprised of directors John Hardwick, Nicholas Reynolds and Albert Kodagolian, who presides over the company with Executive Producers Chris Crawford and Annie Hanlon.

Known for marketing broadcast and Web content from a wide range of companies in commercial production, post, and fashion, Raging Artists has an unusual perspective on the relationship between brands and artists.

“We’re starting with a few properties that are fully produced but can benefit from bold, strategic promotion,” said Partner/CEO Juicy Diaz. “Whether it’s a documentary dealing with special needs like GORK! – which had no brand involvement – or a couple of films sponsored by brands but which retain an independent spirit, we can help them reach their audiences.” Diaz noted that courage and freedom are two traits that hit home for Raging Artists. “The unifying element is fearlessness,” he said. “We aren’t traditional, not in our culture, not in our content. So we’re seeking out people who mirror that dynamic in the work they do.”

Produced by Bottoms Up Productions and directed by Devon Terrill, “GORK!” won the Audience Choice award and Interrobang Film Festival and screened at the Landlocked Film Festival, both in the summer of 2011 (due to overflow crowds, the fest held an encore screening of the film last September). The documentary turns a spotlight on Terrill’s outrageous, charismatic, and perplexing younger brother Adam, his challenges and disabilities, and his impact on the dynamic of his 7-member family. It is a film that has garnered accolades from critics and audiences alike for its frankness and its willingness to challenge the status quo. “GORK!” and Raging Artists are gearing up for a May 2012 DVD release and accompanying campaign.

“There is a sense of urgency at our company and I think that’s worked to our advantage, with PR, marketing, even standup comedy,” said Partner/CFO Ernie Noh. “We like to do, not talk. This quote is already too long.”

Cee Lo Green

What makes someone a Raging Artist? Recently, we honored sculptor Gunner Johnson for his socially conscious avant garde work, a marriage of playfulness, passion, and honesty. This is because a Raging Artist is true to himself, charging forward to make his mark on the world. This month, we pay tribute to a Los Angeles institution that has – for more than a quarter-century – been synonymous with fashion and cool: Sportie LA.

Isack Fadlon

Founded in 1985, with its flagship store on world-famous Melrose Avenue, Sportie LA is more than a place to find the coolest kicks imaginable. It’s a bellwether for LA culture. If you’re a hip hop legend, a movie star, a fine artist, or a high school kid (or all of the above), you KNOW Sportie LA. And part of getting your shoes and sneakers at Sportie LA is shopping there in person (they have 6 locations in LA and San Diego, plus their thriving online store). Jay-Z doesn’t send someone to Sportie to pick up his order; he comes in. When co-owner Isack Fadlon hit Park City last week for the Sundance Film Festival, stars stopped HIM on the street.

Sure, Sportie LA  has been covered in sneaker and fashion magazines the world over, consistently making Top 10 and Power lists of most influential indie retailers. But the company has never lost its connection to community. Sportie has partnered again and again with charitable organizations such as Los Angeles Food Bank, Soles 4 Souls, Boys and Girls Club of Hollywood and others to give back.

And let’s not forget the parties: for as long as anyone can remember, Sportie LA has been an event machine, turning a sneaker or brand launch into a REAL party, a place to be in a city where the title “place to be” on a given night is more coveted than a knighthood in the UK. Further, these events live on the Web, reigning supreme for years after the cleaning crews have done their thing (just Google “Sneaker Videos”).

Sitting on its laurels, though, is not Sportie LA’s style. So just after celebrating its 25th year in business, the company has plans to open a TasteMaker Lounge. This makes perfect sense; Sportie LA has been a style influencer for years, and now the time has come to open a room dedicated to the art of style. This year, the Sportie LA Tastemaker Lounge will become home to VIPs from the worlds of sports, business, fashion, movies and music, offering brands an opportunity to preview new styles for celebs.  TasteMaker offers a new take on the traditional gifting suite – it’s an exclusive celebrity lounge replete with a full bar, live DJ, high-tech video suite, and more. We can only imagine what the launch party for THIS will be like (we need about 5 tickets, that’s not too much right?).

Here’s to you, Sportie LA – to your raging artistry, to your soul and passion, and to your insatiable commitment to progress!

Be loved. Be feared. Be known!

“We immersed ourselves in standup as a writing exercise, and fell in love with the medium,” said Juicy, who has poured audiences a “hot cup of truth” about race, religion, and family in multiple shows at The Ice House, Flappers, and HaHa Cafe, among other venues.  “We also realized that as we have a unique perspective on standup, the creative process, and the comedy business. We wanted to share that via a Web series.” “A rebellious Web series,” added Ernie, who’s appeared in West Coast comedy spots from LA to San Diego and Oakland; he shares anecdotes and insights as a member of the Korean community — and is candid about his Asian member.

(Hursh appears 1st, Press 4 for Ernie, 7 for Juicy)

The February 7 show marks the 6-month anniversary of the Raging Artists standup journey. “Part of this experience has been meeting young comics with unique voices,” said Hursh, who has brought his own way with voices and characters to shows on both coasts, at The Comedy Store, Stand-Up NY, Comedy Cellar, and more. “We’ve known these people for many months now and watched them grow. At this point, all are taller than I am.”

In the case of Praveen Angyan – known as “Genie” (genius) – who is also doing standup, the RA team has done more than watch and support: “Genie was not a comic two weeks ago, he was an Internet guru,” Juicy explained. “As Phase 2 of our writing adventure, we took someone who would never otherwise talk to people, let alone be on stage, and collectively crafted and work-shopped his set – as we do all of our own.” Genie killed in an audition at Flappers Comedy Club Burbank and has made the first round of the Uncle Clyde’s Comedy Contest. “Superhuman Courage + Flawless Material = Hit Comedy. Easy peezy, right?” Genie will make a guest appearance at the Saba Sushi show.

As a series, “Beyond the Brick Wall” will feature shows produced in venues outside the comedy club circuit. Last week, the team attended the Sundance Film Festival, where Hursh performed before a crowd on Park City’s Main Street. “Somehow, I felt there was more at stake in front of those 35 people than onstage,” he said. “We were giving comedy to those people, and they didn’t even have it coming.”

Featured recently in ComedyBeat, Raging Artists is holding true to its mantra, “Courage. Commitment. Comedy.” The firm’s objective when they initiated the standup project was twofold: to challenge themselves as writers and to bridge the gap between advertising and comedy. “Products for men are something we can market that we couldn’t market before, because we didn’t have the reputation for tapping into the male psyche as we now have with standup,” Juicy stated in the article. “We also talk about our wives and women in general, and we’ve been able to incorporate that with some of our clients like one that sells women’s shoes.” “We’ve been bold just by engaging in comedy,” concluded Ernie, “and it’s our hope that brands will be inspired to match – and top – that bravery in the content they ask us to create.”

About Saba Sushi
Whoever came up with the phrase “bursting with fruit flavor” never tasted kosher sushi.  That’s right, kosher sushi.  As in yummy, seaweed wrapped fish, rice and vegetables, now approved by the Almighty.  It’s sushi with a higher calling.  Luckily for foodies everywhere, the higher calling doesn’t translate into higher cost. The brainchild of Carmela and Asher Fadlon, the retail giants behind top indie sneaker boutique Sportie LA, Saba Sushi was borne out of Carmela’s love of family and cooking.  “I love to cook, and I wanted to create something for my children.  It’s an extension of my passion,” says Carmela.  And anyone who has tasted her exquisite Israeli cuisine can attest to the passion behind the talent.

Saba Sushi is located at 7160 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90046. The Raging Artists “Beyond the Brick Wall” show takes place Tuesday, February 7, 2012, at 9pm.

Contact info@RagingArtists.com for more info.

There’s nothing more riddled with failure than stand-up. We leaped into bombing right away at open mics (and singles bars) across LA. There was one instance when our CEO Juicy Diaz alienated everyone in the room with some ugly truths about racism and was literally threatened with bodily harm by an audience member. We got better though, religiously studying the best comics in the business, faithfully returning to the stage to face potential failure with risky material, drinking no less than necessary and eating club food more than we should’ve for men our age. Let’s put it this way, sweet potato fries were the only vegetables in our diet. Chicken wings were our only source of protein and all our vitamins came from Red Bulls and vodka. We committed the way we always do, head first, eyes closed, hopes high and together as a team.

During this phase, we fared well in contests, and met many up-and-coming comics we admired. The video you see here is the first contest we were lucky enough to win.  It was at that moment that we realized our true advantage in the world of stand up – collaboration.  Our sets cater to  our individual personalities and strengths, but we always write as a team. We workshop all of our sets in writing sessions until our jokes meet the one heuristic that counts – truth. What’s funnier than the truth? Exactly.

This video is one of our favorites because it captures our innocence, our willingness to fail and our brand of humor. We were so green when we wrote this for Hursh Rephun (founder of RA).  We’ve all gotten better, as have our material and mechanics, but the nakedness of the set opened our eyes to what we were about to embark on. We love this video because you can see it on Hursh’s face, hear it in his voice and sense it in the audience’s reactions: we had no idea what would happen, but as you can see, we were brave enough to force an audience to react at every turn. Every joke is written with the potential to be disastrous. We’ve learned a lot since then of course, but the visceral fear is palpable both in the audience and in Hursh.  We now have shows all the time and get invited to gigs around town despite starting only 6 months ago, but we still have a long way to go.

Ernie Noh, our CFO, was the first Raging Artist for whom we delivered a hit set; we did this by sticking to the one thing he knows best – being Korean. If you think we were crazy with Hursh’s set, wait til we let you in on Ernie’s “Asian Secrets”.  We’re moving fast though, so please stay tuned for more insanity.

Check out our comedy calendar for dates and show times. Also check out our comedy reel embedded within the calendar section.

"Shadow Dancer"

Marsh is critically acclaimed for his stunning work on documentaries such as “Man on Wire” and “Project Nim”, which premiered at Sundance 2011 in the World Documentary competition and won the directing award. “I’ve been collaborating with James Marsh for 14 years, and I take real joy in the honest dialogue we have because we know each other so well,” said Godfrey, who edited both films. “James is very hands on in the edit and it’s an active, intellectual collaboration as well as a purely filmmaking one.”

Godfrey, who joined Union in 2009, has vast experience editing documentary and narrative features, including Marsh’s highly praised films: “Wisconsin Death Trip” (RTS Award Best Arts Documentary 2000); “The King” (Selection Un Certain Regard Cannes Film Festival 2005); the film adaptation of David Peace’s novel ‘1980’ as “Red Riding 1980”; and “Man on Wire” (winner of 26 awards worldwide, including the Oscar for Best Documentary, a BAFTA for Best British Film, the Independent Spirit Award, and more).

In addition to her work with Marsh, Godfrey has amassed an impressive portfolio filled with collaborations with Spike Lee, Errol Morris, Tony Kaye, and Mike Figgis, as well as high-profile work for a variety of clients such as Nike, Levi’s, Mercedes, and Pillsbury.

Most recently, Godfrey edited the feature-length contemporary thriller “Page Eight” (BBC2/HeyDay Films) for director Sir David Hare, which was released in 2011. She also partnered with Marsh on the critical hit Project Nim, which has been nominated for a Director’s Guild Award as well as shortlisted for the 2012 Academy Award for Feature Documentary.

“Shadow Dancer” was shot by Marsh in Ireland in May 2011 and edited by Godfrey in Copenhagen and London from May to November 2011.

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Hanlon had been a longtime admirer of Kodagolian’s work before he approached her about joining the company. “Albert is building a great company that reflects a collaborative effort among a diverse group of talented people,” Hanlon said. “I am excited to work with him and with Chris to build a brand that looks for talent with a unique sensibility.”

Hanlon began her career working in commercial production in Boston, MA, and went on to travel the world working on feature films with Oscar-winning actor James Caan before opening her own LA-based commercial production company TRIO FILMS in 2002. In 2006, she opened the TV production company Chromatic Films and developed a slew of reality TV projects with her partner James Tooley for networks such as Showtime and Ovation TV. Chromatic client Subaru hand-picked the company to create, produce and direct a 6-episode branded entertainment series, THE SCENIC ROUTE.

A tenure with award-winning production company GARTNER followed, after which Hanlon led the relaunch of production company The Joneses.

As Executive Producer at Bueno Films, Hanlon will be drawing additional directorial talent to the company (in addition to Kodagolian, the current Bueno Films roster is comprised of John Hardwick, Nicholas Reynolds, and Ian Kammer), as well as leading the sales force. “My primary interest is in finding talented people rather than seeking directors based on category or genre,” she explained.

Of the ongoing changes in the advertising industry, Hanlon concluded, “There’s a lot of growth and a brightness to the industry that has been lacking in recent years. Working at a boutique company is beneficial because it makes us more agile and able to adapt to the rapidly changing business models.”