Award-winning actor/director John Turturro has signed on to direct spots via bicoastal Coppos Films. The deal marks Turturro’s first representation as a spot director.
Turturro has directed two feature films, 1992’s Mac and ’97’s Illuminata, both co-written with Brandon Cole. In Mac, Turturro stars as the son of an Italian immigrant, who enlists his two brothers to open a construction business following their father’s death. Through Mac’s obsession with the business and quality craftsmanship—which negatively impacts his familial relationships—the film explores the deteriorating professional integrity of 1950s America. The movie co-stars Michael Badalucco and Carl Capotorto, and won the Camera d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
Similarly, Illuminata surveys man’s work, but this time the central craft is theater at the turn of the 20th century. Turturro stars as a struggling playwright on a quest to bring his masterpiece to the stage. Through many farcical events that take place behind the scenes, the film also explores the lengths to which people will go to get what they want. As well, it demonstrates how translucent the curtain is that separates real life from the stage. The cast includes Katherine Borowitz as the playwright’s lover and the stage troupe’s leading lady; gay theater critic Christopher Wal-ken; and Susan Sarandon as a vain and aging star.
Turturro also recently directed a five-minute film for Change for Children, a non-profit organization that raises money and awareness for public schools. The film, Brownsville Boys, centers on a teacher and his young charges at a recreation center.
Turturro first met Coppos Films’ East Coast managing director Joanne Ferraro when they were college students at the State University of New York, New Paltz. Since that time, Ferraro said, she’s followed Turturro’s career, and after seeing Illuminata it occurred to her that the budding director might do well in commercialmaking. In fact, around that time Turturro was approached by other spot industry executives, but nothing concrete materialized. Now, Ferraro told SHOOT, "We’re both at the right place [in our careers] to pursue this."
Similarly, Turturro noted, "I thought it might be interesting to go into directing more. It’s an extension of what I do, and [commercials are] a good way to increase your vocabulary. My priority is [acting], but if I directed two or three ads a year, that would be great.
"I’ve worked with a lot of great directors," he continued. "And in terms of the films I directed, especially visually, people were very complimentary." Turturro and production designer Robin Standefer spent more than two years designing the luminous set of Illuminata. Meanwhile, the semi-autobiographical story of Mac appealed to Turturro in part because of its basis in the building trade—a world rarely explored on film, but one offering a rich visual backdrop due to its architectural components, varied textures and raw materials.
Turturro has dabbled in commercials as a voiceover actor, and appeared in a PSA promoting independent cinema. More recently, however, he was encouraged to explore spot directing by friends who have successfully crossed over from features, including cinematographer Harris Savides, who shot Illuminata and is repped for commercials and features via The Skouras Agency, Santa Monica. Turturro has also appeared in several films by director Spike Lee, including Do the Right Thing, Mo’ Better Blues, Jungle Fever, He Got Game and Summer of Sam. Lee helms spots via his Forty Acres and a Mule Filmworks, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Coppos Films VP/executive producer Michael Appel believes that Turturro’s directorial talents are diverse, and alluded to being in talks with an undisclosed agency about a dramatic campaign that Turturro could possibly direct. "We think he could really do anything—comedy, drama, storytelling, dialogue," stated Appel. "If a client wants a look and a fresh eye, they could turn to John."
Turturro’s current acting projects include the soon-to-be-released The Man Who Cried, as well as Deeds, 13 Conversations About One Thing and the telefilm Monday Night Mayhem, in which he plays Howard Cosell. He’s also developing a couple of projects as possible directing vehicles, which he hopes to focus on at the end of the year.
In his 20-year career, Turturro has appeared in more than 45 films, including such highly regarded fare as O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Raging Bull, Hannah and Her Sisters and Miller’s Crossing. He was nominated for a Golden Globe for his role as contestant Herbie Stemple in Quiz Show, and was named best actor at the Cannes Film Festival for his performance in the title role of Barton Fink. In 1992, Turturro was awarded the Piper Heidseick Award—which recognized excellence in his collective body of work—at the Sundance Film Festival. In recent years, he has appeared in Rounders, Cradle Will Rock and The Big Lebowski.
Coppos Films recently formalized a reciprocal partnership with European production house Errecerre, Barcelona and Madrid, which gives Coppos directors representation in Spain (SHOOT, 4/13, p. 1). The company’s domestic sales force comprises East Coast rep Victoria Venantini, reps Jill Reehl and Noelle Whitfield in the Midwest—except for Detroit, which is handled by Ron Hoffman—and Vicky Miller, who covers the West Coast and Texas. The sales team reports directly to Ferraro.
