LOS ANGELES—Director/cameraman Bob Gordon has entered his Flying Tiger Films into an association with Form, the Los Angeles-based production house founded a year and a half ago by executive producer Craig Rodgers and director Jesse Dylan.
Gordon recently bought out his longstanding partners at Flying Tiger—executive producers Skip Short and Jeff Devlin—to become sole owner of the seven-year-old shop. (Short is now partnered with executive producer Lance O’Connor and director Klaus Obermeyer Jr. in Santa Monica-based Aero Films. Devlin has formed Media Logic, New York, through which he serves in key capacities for Aero and Los Angeles-headquartered Original Film—SHOOT, 5/9, p. 1.).
Having assumed full ownership of Flying Tiger, Gordon began exploring his options, ultimately deciding to link up with Form for its business, production and sales infrastructure. He continues to team with Sheila Tighe, his executive producer at Flying Tiger, which still maintains its Santa Monica quarters. Plans call for Flying Tiger and Form to avail themselves of one another’s facilities, as needed.
Gordon, a veteran director known for his visual and storytelling prowess, has numerous spot credits over the years, spanning such clients as Heineken, Anheuser-Busch, Coors Light, Ford, the United States Golf Association, Jeep and Visa. For the latter, he helmed the lauded "Kangaroo Dreams," a :60 out of BBDO New York. The spot promoted Visa’s sponsorship of the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. At first the ad appears to be an inspiring story attesting to the human spirit and competitive drive of Olympic athletes.
But an unexpected plot twist reveals that not only was it a dream—it was a dream of a kangaroo who imagines himself winning the triathlon. "Kangaroo Dreams" earned distinction as a SHOOT Top Spot (4/28/00, p. 14). The commercial also went on to be honored at the ’01 Association of Independent Commercial Producers (AICP) Show in the editorial category. (The spot was edited by Bob Jenkis, who is now at Crew Cuts/West, Santa Monica.)
In addition to the AICP Show recognition, Gordon-helmed work has also garnered honors at such competitions as the Clio Awards, the ADDY Awards, the automotive industry’s Caddy Awards and Canada’s Bessie Awards.
At press time, Gordon was headed to Sydney to helm his first job since Flying Tiger entered into its joint venture with Form: a five-day shoot for an undisclosed international beauty/fashion client. Gordon’s other recent work includes Ford featuring pro golfer Phil Mickelson for J. Walter Thompson, Detroit; Top Flight golf balls starring golf legend Lee Trevino for agency Allen & Gerritsen, Boston; and a Bell Canada campaign via agency Cossette, Toronto. The latter was done through Mad Films, Toronto, which handles Gordon in Canada.
All this recent work continues a diversification that started with the aforementioned "Kangaroo Dreams," whereby Gordon—whose initial reputation was in visually driven stories—has broadened his filmmaking palette to also encompass light comedy and more actor-based performance fare.
Gordon said that last year was his career best in terms of business volume and number of shoot days. "I needed a comfortable infrastructure to continue to support that," he related. "Craig’s leadership and working philosophy is simpatico with mine—and the same for Jesse [Dylan]. Through this joint venture with Form, I will be able to focus my efforts on where they should be—on the creative process."
Rodgers said he’s a long-time fan of Gordon and has tracked the director’s career over the years. Form executive producer Rossi Cannon recently introduced Rodgers to Gordon, which laid the groundwork for the affiliation. "Bob is coming off his best year," related Rodgers, "and we’re looking to maintain the Flying Tiger reputation and to add to the number of opportunities for him."
The link with Flying Tiger comes on the heels of Form signing directors Enda McCallion, Harry Patramanis and Lisa Cholodenko for commercials (SHOOT, 5/23, p. 1). They joined a core roster at Form that includes helmers Dylan, John Adams, David Denneen (who continues to maintain his Filmgraphics, Sydney), Bill Timmer, Charles Wittenmeier, Rob Lieberman, Chris Woods and Paul Boyd.
Flying Tiger is now handled by Form’s sales force consisting of independent reps Carol Biedermann on the West Coast, Tracy Bernard in the Midwest, and Chris Messiter and Ann McKallagatt on the East Coast. Separately, Gordon continues to be repped in the Detroit market by Ron Hoffman.
