Cohn+ Company has signed directors Martin Bell, Mark Raymon Bennett and Olivier Venturini for spot representation. All come over from 1/33 Productions, Santa Monica, which has closed (see story below) and folded its operations into Cohn+Company, a New York-based house that now becomes bicoastal. Former 1/33 principal/executive producer/head of production David Lasseron has joined Cohn+Company as its West Coast executive producer.
Venturini, a U.K. resident who’s repped throughout Europe by London-based Godman, joined 1/33 in October ’99, according to Lasseron. He and Venturini had been in discussions at that time to launch a satellite shop called Blender, which would be exclusive to the director. According to Cohn+ Company president Jack Cohn, those negotiations have continued, and Blender will most likely move forward as planned.
Venturini has spent much of his career helming spots for the European market; his recent clients have included Sony PlayStation, Alfa Romeo and Telit. Venturini first made his foray into the U.S. commercial market in ’95 when he signed with bicoastal G.M.S. Productions, the predecessor shop to what is now Villains. At G.M.S., he most notably directed a four-spot campaign through DDB Needham (now DDB) Chicago for Westin Hotels, including "Male/No Jeans," "Female/250 SL Turbo," "Resorts Hawaii/ Puerto Rico" and "Asian Resorts/Three Hour Lunch."
After a year and a half at G.M.S., Venturini signed with bicoastal/international Propaganda Films, where he remained until signing with 1/33. In December ’99, he shot his first job through 1/33: a three-spot package for MD Anderson Cancer Center ("Candy," "Art" and "Scuba") out of The Richards Group, Dallas. Cohn described Venturini’s style as being "very visual storytelling." At press time, Venturini was shooting in Europe and could not be reached for comment.
Meanwhile, director Bell had been exclusively represented by 1/33 for the past 10 years. The British-born Bell started out as a cameraman for documentaries on English television before moving to the States in the early ’80s. He continued to explore the genre, and in ’85 was nominated for an Academy Award for Streetwise, a feature-length documentary that followed the lives of runaway kids on the streets of Seattle. Bell’s most recent documentary effort, The Amazing Plastic Lady, tells the true story of child circus performers in India.
Bell’s penchant to document real people is evident in his spotwork. In December, he shot a Crest campaign through 1/33 out of DMB&B, New York, that included "Elderly" and "Zimbabwe." The latter featured a woman relating how she is one of only 100 dentists in Zimbabwe.
Bell is optimistic about his move to Cohn+Company: "It’s a good group of people and I think it’s a great solution to the problems [1/33] was having."
Rounding out Cohn+Company’s spotmaking additions is comedy director Bennett. Before directing commercials, Bennett made a name for himself as the comedic mastermind behind promos for NBC series such as 3rd Rock from the Sun, Just Shoot Me and Working (the show has since been canceled). He worked for four-and-a-half years at NBC in its on-air promotions department; before leaving in ’99, he held the position of VP of special projects and branding. He is credited for being part of NBC 2000, the team that was responsible for the promos that appeared during the end credits of programs and bumpers that branded the network and its shows.
A little less than a year ago, Bennett, who is based on the West Coast, signed with 1/33 for commercial representation. He said he was loosely affiliated with the company for about six months before making an official commitment in March ’99. This past November, he shot two client-direct spots for Buy.com, including "Donuts" and "Fake Christmas Trees." And in January he helmed a spot for Webex.com called "Drag," via Free-Range Chicken Ranch, San Jose, Calif., which featured RuPaul spicing up a tedious board meeting.
Bennett told SHOOT that although he thought his shift to Cohn+Company was a bit like an arranged marriage, he believed that overall it was a positive move. "I was the only comedy director at 1/33, so there wasn’t anyone I could watch whose work I could aspire to. Now I have Paul Goldman, who has one of those reels that I really admire," related Bennett.
Bennett, Bell and Venturini join a Cohn+Company directorial roster that includes Goldman and Paul Cade. Sales representation is being handled on both coasts by Cohn and New York-based Randi Arnold. The company is represented in the Midwest by Nikki Weiss & Co, Chicago.
