LOS ANGELES—Michael Bodnarchek, co-president/CEO of A Band Apart, Los Angeles, has departed the commercialmaking shop he co-founded with feature film producer Lawrence Bender in 1995. Bodnarchek described the parting of ways as amicable; Bender was not available for comment at press time.
Since its formation nearly 10 years ago, A Band Apart has become a mainstay in the commercial and music video arenas. Via the A Band Apart .35mm division, the production company represents high-profile feature film talent including Quentin Tarantino, John Woo and Tim Burton for short format projects. In addition to the A Band Apart .35mm roster, A Band Apart manages a stable of spot talent including directors Chris Applebaum, Gavin Bowden and Nigel Dick, among others.
Diverging paths
Explaining his decision to leave A Band Apart, Bodnarchek said that he and Bender had differing views on what direction the company should go in. As for specific examples, Bodnarchek said that he "wanted to start pushing back towards commercials because the music video industry had changed so dramatically." Additionally, Bodnarchek said that he and Bender also diverged on "which directors to sign and not to sign."
Given their increasingly disparate visions, Bodnarchek said his leaving the company was for the best. "I just said [to Lawrence], ‘You know what? You want to go this way. I want to go that way. We’re friends. Let’s part on those terms,’ " Bodnarchek shared. "I hope that [A Band Apart] continues to do great things. I’m very proud that I was able to do what I did and that I had the support that I did there."
In the wake of Bodnarchek’s exit, Jeff Armstrong, formerly A Band Apart’s executive producer, has been promoted to managing director of music videos and commercials. "I brought him in because I thought he was really good at what he did, and I wish him well [in his new position]," remarked Bodnarchek, who hired Armstrong in ’02. (Armstrong ran now defunct Satellite from ’96 to ’99.)
Regarding his own plans for the future, Bodnarchek is currently mulling his options. Since leaving A Band Apart, Bodnarchek reported that he has fielded calls from interested parties in various areas of the spotmaking industry (including advertising agencies), as well as network and cable television entities. He also disclosed that he has had several meetings with people in the commercial production industry.
In the long term, Bodnarchek said he has an eye toward moving into the feature film industry, but it would take the right director and project to pique his interest. Meanwhile, at this point in his career, he’d like to continue working in spot production. "The commercial world and the music video world is really what I know, and I am probably most comfortable doing that," Bodnarchek said. "Whether or not it’s through my own company, or as part of another company, I haven’t decided yet."
