Comedy director Ron Lazzeretti has joined STORY for exclusive, national representation. A native Chicagoan, Lazzeretti has broad experience as a commercial director and agency creative director with credits including Chevy, Coors Light, KFC, A&W Root Beer and Taco Bell. He has additionally enjoyed success as an independent filmmaker, writer, producer and musician. He also leads Hog Butcher, a creative services company made up of comedy artists and improv artists from Chicago’s comedy community.
Lazzeretti got his start as a director while working as a creative at Chicago agency Eisaman, Johns & Laws. He went onto co-found the production company Two Olives and also directed through Chicago-based Spoke Films.
Along the way, Lazzeretti developed a nuanced touch for comedy and a command for directing talent, including pros, non-pros, celebrities and kids. Outside advertising, Lazzeretti is co-creator and director of the popular web series The Graveyard Show starring David Pasquesi and Christian Stolte as a custodian and security guard who share revelations, epiphanies and confessions “while the rest of the world sleeps.” The Chicago Tribune called it “an existential gem.” “I like it for its simplicity,” he said. “I’m a huge fan of simplicity. Whether it’s a fifiteen second commercial or longform video, I love a story that’s simply told.”
Lazzeretti wrote and directed Something Better Somewhere Else¸ an independent film that the late critic Roger Ebert called “delightful.” He also wrote and produced The Merry Gentleman, starring Michael Keaton and Kelly MacDonald, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and earned positive reviews from the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times and other outlets.
In discussing his move to STORY, Lazzeretti said that it provides him a platform to broaden the scope of his commercial work. He described STORY’s Mark Androw as being “a smart executive producer who gets what I do and appreciates what I bring to the process. He knows the business, has enjoyed a lot of success and does it the right way. I’m glad to have this opportunity.”
STORY is represented on the East Coast by Ilene Silberman, in the Midwest by Amy McIntyre, in the Southeast by Miller + Associates, and in the Southwest by Gossip!
Oscar and Emmy-Winning Composer Kris Bowers Joins Barking Owl For Advertising, Branded Content
Music, audio post and sonic branding house Barking Owl has taken on exclusive representation of Oscar and Emmy-winning composer Kris Bowers for advertising and branded content.
Bowers’ recent film scores include The Wild Robot and Bob Marley: One Love, alongside acclaimed past works such as The Color Purple (2023), King Richard and Green Book. His contributions to television are equally impressive, with scores for hit series like Bridgerton, When They See Us, Dear White People, and his Daytime Emmy Award-winning score for The Snowy Day.
In addition to his work as a composer, Bowers is a visionary director. He recently took home the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject for his directorial work on The Last Repair Shop. The emotionally touching short film spotlights four of the people responsible for repairing the musical instruments used by students in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). The Last Repair Shop reflects the positive influence that musical instruments have on the youngsters who play them, and the adults in the LAUSD free repair service who keep them working and in tune.
Barking Owl CEO Kirkland Alexander Lynch said of Bowers, “His artistry, diversity of style and depth of storytelling bring an unparalleled edge to the work we create for global brands. His presence on our roster reflects our continued commitment to pushing the boundaries of sound and music in advertising.”
Johanna Cranitch, creative director, Barking Owl, added, “Kris first caught my attention when he released his record ‘Heroes + Misfits’ where he fused together his jazz sensibility with a deeply ingrained aptitude for melody, so beautifully.... Read More