Headed by executive producer Kim Daniels, Kilowatt Films, Boston, has opened, representing director Maria LoConte for spots. LoConte is the owner/creative director of Boston-based LoConte.2, the design firm through which she will continue to helm promos and broadcast design projects. She was formerly the VP/senior creative director of the now defunct LoConte Goldman Design (SHOOT, 1/14/00, p. 8).
Kilowatt Films is partially owned by National Boston Film & Video, the Boston-based company that started out as a post house and has grown to include the National Ministry of Design division. National Boston is also part owner of audio company Rumblestrip. Kilowatt, National Ministry of Design, Rumblestrip and LoConte.2 are on the premises of National Boston. The companies and division operate independently, but collaborate on various projects.
As a freelancer, LoConte directed industrial manufacturing and servicing company Tyco International’s "Doctor," "Water Fountain," "House" and "Traffic," via Bozell Kamstra, Danvers, Mass., through Big Brother Productions, Boston, in early 2000. She has also helmed numerous show opens and promos for clients including The History Channel, ESPN, ABC’s Nightline and the now defunct The Monitor Channel. Recently she directed a six-minute film for the Smithsonian National Museum of American History: What Does It Mean To Be an American?
The idea for Kilowatt Films came about when LoConte opened LoConte.2 in the National Boston building in January 2000. Jim Ball, National Boston’s executive VP, explained, "I’ve known Maria for years, and I knew she had been getting involved in spots. Maria expressed an interest in having us rep her as a commercial director." At the time, National Boston didn’t have a production company, but Ball was interested in adding that component to the firm. The opportunity came some months later, he said, "when September Productions decided to close its Boston office [SHOOT, 9/15/00, p. 7]. We saw an opportunity with Kim Daniels—we had also known her for years. She’d been doing some executive producer work at September, so it was a natural thing to ask her if she wanted to form a company and represent Maria."
Until the shop moved its operations to New York last fall, Daniels had been head of production at September Productions. Having already chosen to stay in Boston, she was intrigued by Ball’s offer. "The work I’d been doing at September was primarily comedy and tabletop," commented Daniels, noting that she liked LoConte’s different style. "I was familiar with Maria’s work; it has a real emotional appeal to it. Her eye for art direction and composition is amazing." Daniels pointed out that "Maria’s never been promoted to agencies before," which is what Kilowatt intends to do.
Daniels graduated from St. Anselm’s College, Manchester, N.H., in ’93, with a degree in finance, and promptly joined the now defunct ad agency Houston Effler & Partners as an associate producer. She went to September in ’95 as a producer, and was named head of production within about a year.
Boston native LoConte graduated from Boston University in ’76 with a degree in design. After several years as a broadcast designer for area television stations, she went freelance in ’86, operating Maria LoConte Design until ’92, when she and former partner Patrice Goldman launched LoConte Goldman Design. LoConte observed, "I’ve been doing broadcast design for the last twenty-five years, and over the years I’ve become more involved in incorporating live action into the [graphics-based] work I do. I’ve been able to weave both disciplines together, and that’s what I like to do."
Daniels hopes to add more directors to the roster: "We’re having conversations with two or three other directors. Maria directs lifestyle/storytelling work, so we’re looking for a comedy and probably a dialogue person to round it out."
The company is currently seeking representation.
