Director Andy Lerner was recently brought in by Vitro to helm an Internet-based campaign for the Toyo Tires “Toyo vs. Mayans” promotion. The five-spot campaign features a Mayan calendar believer broadcasting from his doomsday bunker webcam while preparing for the end of the world on 12/21/12. Toyo is using the Mayan prediction to promote tires that are “built to last”, and is giving away a new 4 wheel drive vehicle to their sweepstakes winner. nnActor Dean Cameron was cast as “Donny Doomsday,” the man who believes people are crazy for thinking that the world will still be here after 12/21/12.nn”The agency and I agreed at the outset that this campaign really depended on the character being completely eccentric while still being believable,” said Andy. “We were really excited to get Dean to be our ‘Donny.’ His take on the character brought us a long way, giving us a great improvisational quality while sticking closely to the copy. nnnClick here to see spot “Calendar” online.nnLerner turned out to be the ideal director for this project. Vitro Agency Creative Director Elliot Allen explains, “The end of the world is just inherently funny, and Andy used his directorial prowess to take the humor into new, absurd places.”nn”Andy really brought this idea to life, starting with incredible casting and then directing with just the right touch of his very funny, warped sense of humor, ” said Vitro’s Director of Broadcast, Mickey Strider.nnComing from a long career of award winning work in radio advertising, Andy now also brings years of experience in TV, having produced and directed a comedy series for Starz, short films and web content.nn”My years of working with advertising creatives, as well as producing and directing my own projects and a TV series really prepared me — not just for the layers of input and approval involved in both environments, but also for managing a set within a range of budgets while still getting what I need creatively.”nnCreditsnClient: Toyo TiresnnAgency: Vitro Agency, San DiegonCreative Chairman: John VitronCreative Director: Elliott AllennCopywriter: Scott JohnsonnArt Director: Austin LanenDirector of Broadcast: Mickey StridernEditing: Dave FriznnProduction Company: Rocket SurgerynEP: Justin ViarnDirector: Andy LernernCasting: Gabrielle Schary / Rocket SurgerynDP: Gustavo Petersen
Andy Lerner Contact Andy via email Rocket Surgery 310-450-4600 Photos available on request www.andylernerdirector.com www.rocketsurgery.com
Experience A Delectable Blend Of Joy And Fear – Watch “ALY” At A Festival Near You!
”ALY,” the latest genre-blending short film from writer, director, and editor Kevin L. Lee, is making the rounds on the festival circuit. The short film premiered at the EB Indie Film Festival on August 3, 2024, and has since been showcased at the 2024 El Paso Film Festival, the 2024 New York Shorts International Film Festival, and the 2024 Sherman Oaks Film Festival, among others. “ALY” is starting 2025 off strong with its screening at Short. Sweet. Film Fest. on March 2, 2025. A captivating mix of comedy, romance, and horror, ”ALY” explores the nerve-wracking excitement of new love with an unexpected twist. The 14-minute short follows Michael and Aly on what could be the most significant night of their relationship—until Aly’s unsettling revelation threatens to change everything.
“Even though ”ALY” is technically a horror film, my hope is for the story to feel down-to-earth and relatable,” says director Kevin L. Lee. “I want the audience to have a good laugh and see themselves in these characters in their own weird, unique way.”Lee, an Asian-American filmmaker based in New York City, has spent over a decade immersed in film criticism and journalism. Lee brings a deep understanding of genre and narrative to his directorial work. With an MFA in film producing from Columbia University, he continues to develop innovative projects across film and television. Lee’s latest film, “ALY ,” has garnered widespread acclaim, not only for its compelling storytelling but also for his directorial approach, which has been praised by the film’s lead cast. Max Schuster, lead actor, shared, “Kevin is one of... Read More