Tuff Contender has signed director Nem Perez for commercial and music video representation. Perez is a mixed-media and experimental motion artist who has directed music videos, branded content and spots for the likes of Chance The Rapper, Flosstradamus, Audio Push, Vic Mensa, Rockie Fresh, Converse, Disney, Peloton and Snapchat. Prior to joining Tuff Contender, Perez was handled by Strange Loop for commercials (Midwest representation) and Anthem Films for music videos.
“Nem and I worked together many times over the years and something he’s always been able to do with excellence is carry a concept end-to-end for brands–he directs, he animates and he edits,” noted DJay Brawner, co-founder of Tuff Contender. “He brings to the Tuff roster an insatiable drive to captivate audiences through dynamic experiences across all channels.”
Perez’s interest in film began early in life shooting BMX and basketball videos with his friends, but later it became a natural career path when he directed a few commercials for artist Brandon Breaux’s t-shirt design business and several music videos that premiered on BET, MTV and REVOLT. Nurtured in a tight-knit creative community in Chicago, enamored with pop-culture, and working alongside hip-hop artists featured on Fake Shore Drive–an industry website devoted to the Chicago rap scene–Perez and his peers across music, design, and film ideated projects that pushed all of their art forms into the mainstream.
“I always blame my career on my car,” commented Perez.“I had an ‘81 DeLorean that we used for Rockie Fresh’s music video which eventually became a motif for his album and its promotional assets. From there I have been working with artists and brands to bring a memorable perspective.”
Through the years, Perez has worked for agencies Leo Burnett, Tribal, Deutsch LA and, this year, completed the period-inspired, disco commercial for Converse featuring the “A Shirt To Sleep In” collection by Joe Freshgoods, a Chicago-based streetwear designer. Perez most recently directed four spots for Walt Disney World focused on young adult park guests.
“I have been fortunate enough to work with clients where trust runs deep and we’ve been able to create work that pushes boundaries for both of us,” added Perez. “The work is never short of passion when we have this collaborative short-hand. I’m excited to partner with Tuff to expand capabilities for clients and see what’s next.”
After 20 Years of Acting, Megan Park Finds Her Groove In The Director’s Chair On “My Old Ass”
Megan Park feels a little bad that her movie is making so many people cry. It's not just a single tear either — more like full body sobs.
She didn't set out to make a tearjerker with "My Old Ass," now streaming on Prime Video. She just wanted to tell a story about a young woman in conversation with her older self. The film is quite funny (the dialogue between 18-year-old and almost 40-year-old Elliott happens because of a mushroom trip that includes a Justin Bieber cover), but it packs an emotional punch, too.
Writing, Park said, is often her way of working through things. When she put pen to paper on "My Old Ass," she was a new mom and staying in her childhood bedroom during the pandemic. One night, she and her whole nuclear family slept under the same roof. She didn't know it then, but it would be the last time, and she started wondering what it would be like to have known that.
In the film, older Elliott ( Aubrey Plaza ) advises younger Elliott ( Maisy Stella ) to not be so eager to leave her provincial town, her younger brothers and her parents and to slow down and appreciate things as they are. She also tells her to stay away from a guy named Chad who she meets the next day and discovers that, unfortunately, he's quite cute.
At 38, Park is just getting started as a filmmaker. Her first, "The Fallout," in which Jenna Ortega plays a teen in the aftermath of a school shooting, had one of those pandemic releases that didn't even feel real. But it did get the attention of Margot Robbie 's production company LuckyChap Entertainment, who reached out to Park to see what other ideas she had brewing.
"They were very instrumental in encouraging me to go with it," Park said. "They're just really even-keeled, good people, which makes... Read More