Bicoastal The Joneses has signed directors Hans Petter Moland and Philip Kates for exclusive U.S. representation. This marks the first time that Moland has had a stateside roost for helming spots.
The Norwegian-born Moland began his career in America before returning to Europe where he firmly established himself directorially. Among his credits is the Norwegian Lottery’s “Ballroom Blitz,” which earned a Gold Lion at Cannes in 2001. He is best known for his comedic storytelling.
Meanwhile Kates has spent much of his career directing spots and music videos in Canada. Earlier he had been repped in the U.S. by bicoastal Headquarters and New York-based Open Frame. Kates’ reputation is in storytelling and skilled shot design. His work received a Bronze Lion at Cannes in ’01 (Halls’ “Fore” out of J. Walter Thompson, Toronto) and several Gold and Silvers from Canada’s Bessie competition.
Moland said that several factors drew him to The Joneses, including the company’s boutique size, its presence on both coasts, and his longstanding relationship with its executive producer Mel Gragido. The two worked together years ago at the then Giraldi Productions back when Moland was a production assistant.
Moland maintains Norwegian house The Moland Film Company. Among his latest work there are spots for Statoil via McCann, Oslo, Norwegian Lottery for DDB Oslo, and Codan Insurance, out of Agitator, Oslo. Moland also has feature filmmaking experience, having directed The Beautiful Country, which starred Nick Nolte and was released last year in the U.S. by Sony Pictures Classics. He is currently in postproduction on the movie The School Teacher Pedersen.
Among Kates’ endeavors are a series of spots for Greco Pizza and ads for Dodge, Honda and Budweiser. While he is often associated with comedy fare, Kates has delved into the dramatic. For example, a recent PSA for Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) via Saatchi & Saatchi, Toronto, shows a police officer stopping a carload of teenagers who have been caught drinking. Graphics inform viewers that this is a reenactment of a tragedy that results in death–presumably of the teens. Another graphic later reveals that it was the policeman who died when he was hit by a drunk driver while talking with the teens.
Kates and Moland join a directorial roster at The Joneses which consists of the Goetz Brothers, Zosimo Maximo, Derek Richards, Don Burgess, Adam Rosenblatt, Glenn Ashley, Adam Jones, Gary Weiss and Lara Shapiro. Gragido is the company’s West Coast executive producer. Pam Rohs is exec producer on the East Coast.