Director Ondi Timoner–who helmed the documentary DiG!, which won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival–has joined Hollywood-based Mirror Films for exclusive representation in commercials. Timoner has already wrapped her first career spotmaking assignment, a Mirror-produced McDonald’s campaign for DDB Chicago. The two McDonald’s ads were produced by Mirror, which is headed by executive producer Eric Barrett.
Timoner continues to be repped exclusively by Nonfiction Spots, Santa Monica, for branded content projects spanning short and longform client-sponsored pieces for the Internet, film festivals and TV. She currently has several branded projects in development with Nonfiction.
Additionally, Timoner recently signed with Limelight Films, Los Angeles, for music videos. She had been helming music clips via her own Interloper Films, Los Angeles.
Timoner not only directed but also financed, produced and edited the aforementioned DiG!, which follows the tumultuous relationship between Courtney Taylor, lead singer of the Dandy Warhols, and Anton Newcombe, who leads the band the Brian Jonestown Massacre.
While she is perhaps best known in the documentary genre as a result of this film–which was seven years in the making–Timoner has been active in other disciplines. She also created and directed TV series for VH1 and ABC, and has helmed music videos for assorted artists. Timoner’s work in clips and music documentaries encompasses such acts as Dave Koz, Vanessa Carlton, The Vines, Paul Westerberg and Lucinda Williams.
Barrett said he was drawn to Timoner’s across-the-board strengths in visuals, narrative, and the creative as well as the technical sides of filmmaking. He described her as “both artist and craftsman.”
Timoner joins a Mirror directorial roster that includes Chris Woods, Scott Messick, Cameron Casey, Greg Stump, Louis-Pascal Couvelaire, Tim Gibbs, Michael Saunders, Joe Blogs, Bobby Montero, Alan Friel and Branson Veal. The company is active in different film disciplines, with its primary focus being on commercials and music videos.
Mirror was launched by Barrett in ’03. He previously served in exec producer capacities at Form, Los Angeles, and the former Atlas Pictures. Mirror has produced ads for such clients as McDonald’s, Jeep, Michelob, Busch and Dodge.