Director Marc Chiat has signed with Orbit Productions, Hollywood, for exclusive spot representation. Chiat had been helming commercials via his longstanding Santa Monica-based Red Dog Films, which he will continue to maintain for non-spot projects.
At press time, Chiat was about to embark on his first job under the Orbit banner: a Disney commercial for audiences in Japan. He is also scheduled to direct a PSA promoting the Institute For Families Of Blind Children, as well as a client direct European ad for Triumph motorcycles. The PSA will entail his collaborating with West Hollywood-based effects studio Ring of Fire. Chiat was introduced to the Ring of Fire team by Orbit Productions’ president, Lee Nelson.
Chiat’s credits over the years include commercials for Coca-Cola, General Motors, Kodak, Anheuser-Busch, Mazda and AT&T. He is perhaps best known for his comedy/dialogue work, reflected in the offbeat humor of the live-action Foster Farms campaign featuring two out-of-shape, out-of-work chickens via Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, San Francisco.
While he remains available for spot assignments, Chiat is currently in pre-pro on a feature film, Punch and Judy, a romantic comedy scripted by Tony Spiridakis. The movie is being run through Red Dog for Orbit Pictures, the Hollywood-based sister feature company to Orbit Productions.
Chiat said he was drawn into Orbit by several factors, including the opportunity to have his feature and commercial work under one roof. He also cited Nelson and Orbit Productions executive producer Lynne Pateman as attracting him to his new roost.
"Unlike a lot of commercial companies that talk about features, Orbit is positioned to offer real longform opportunities," related Chiat, who alluded to Orbit Pictures’ separate three-year deal with Culver City, Calif.-based feature studio Phoenix Pictures to produce five theatrical motion pictures over a three-year period (SHOOT, 1/21/00, p. 1). The first movie under that arrangement is Basic, set to be directed by Lee Tamahori.
Phoenix Pictures’ chairman/ CEO Mike Medavoy sees potential in Orbit’s link with Chiat. A released statement from Medavoy read, "To have a working relationship with a director of Marc Chiat’s caliber was exactly what we had in mind when we set the deal [with Orbit] in motion."
Chiat is no stranger to longform. His first film was Every Dog Has Its Day, which debuted at the Slamdance festival in 1998, and later hit the circuit with screenings at Worldfest-Houston and the Orlando Film Festival.
Orbit Productions’ principal/ director Dror Soref said that he and Nelson have kept a watchful eye on Chiat since the premiere of Every Dog Has Its Day. "We feel that this is the right project [Punch and Judy] at the right time to create an alliance with Marc that will be long and productive," commented Soref.
Chiat joins an Orbit Productions’ spot directorial roster that also includes Robert Black and Soref. Orbit Productions additionally represents feature filmmakers Carroll Ballard (Fly Away Home, The Black Stallion), Roger Spottiswoode (The Sixth Day, Tomorrow Never Dies) and the recently signed (SHOOT, 3/16, p. 7) Bruce Beresford (Driving Miss Daisy, Tender Mercies) for commercials.
This marks the second time that Chiat has pulled Red Dog out of spotmaking to gain the production and sales support of another commercial house. He was briefly represented by Green Dot Films, Santa Monica (SHOOT, 7/17/98, p. 1).
Orbit Productions’ spot sales force consists of Sharon Lew and Associates on the East Coast, Robin Pickett and Associates in the Midwest, and Andrew Halpern on the West Coast. Halpern is credited with bringing Chiat and Pateman together to discuss the prospect of the director’s joining Orbit.
Orbit Pictures and Orbit Productions are subsidiaries of the Hollywood-headquartered Orbit Entertainment Group. Soref and Nelson head the parent company. Kevin Moreton is executive producer of Orbit Pictures.
