Actor/director/producer Jonathan Frakes, best known as Star Trek:The Next Generation’s Commander William T. Riker, has been signed for exclusive representation as a commercial director by SunSpots, the Hollywood production house headed by director David Dryer and president Linda Dryer. SunSpots becomes Frakes’ first spot roost; however, he has extensive experience behind the camera, having directed two Star Trek films-Insurrection and First Contact-and many episodes of the long-running sci-fi franchise (including episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Voyager and Deep Space Nine). Through his Goepp Circle Productions on the Paramount lot in Hollywood, Frakes has also produced Dying to Live, a movie of the week that recently aired on UPN, and Roswell, a FOX pilot awaiting pick-up for fall ’99. He has also been contracted to direct and co-produce Total Recall 2; the project is awaiting a green light from Miramax.
The husband and wife team of David and Linda Dryer know Frakes personally, as their son and Frakes’ son are classmates. "We do a lot of birthday parties on weekends together," Frakes said, and recently a casual conversation led to a meeting. He felt comfortable at the company because, he said, it "feels like a family. It reminds me of what we have on The Next Generation, which is a collaborative, creative, open door situation. There’s a great support group."
According to SunSpots executive producer David Coulter, the company was impressed with Frakes’ experience and understanding of the filmmaking process. Coulter also said Frakes "has a great background with effects. He has worked with star talent. And he likes comedy, so that’s a great background to build from. He’s also a great fit to the company personality-wise."
The director’s interest in spots stems in part from the shorter shooting schedule. He also believes commercialmaking is a highly creative arena. "I’ve found that if you do a film, you give a year of your life," he said, "and as your kids grow up that’s a year that you’re in less contact with them than I’d like to be. But also, the level of imagination and creativity that goes into commercials is often as high or higher than other TV and film projects. [Advertisers are] not afraid to spend money, they’re not afraid to take chances, and they let us use all the toys."
Neither the director nor Coulter could estimate how many assignments Frakes would direct each year. "I would hope quite a few," Coulter said, "but this industry is strange. I would think our other directors would be working more than they are right now." For his part, Frakes said, "I’m a virgin at this so I’ll take [jobs] one at a time. Unless I get the entire Ford package."
As SHOOT went to press, the director’s reel-consisting of excerpts from Frakes’ longform projects-had been completed. Frakes and Coulter said they plan to target comedy, effects and celebrity-driven spots. "I’m comfortable with all that blue screen optical stuff," Frakes said, "but what I’m hoping to do is combine that with celebrity spots, because of having so much time with actors and being an actor myself, and comedy too." His added that his reel, while it doesn’t feature any spots, opens with comedy. "The optical is what people expect, because they know that I’m the Star Trek guy. And what they will find is that comedy is where my heart lies. Then we close with the requisite optical blockbuster."
A native of Pennsylvania, Frakes has been active in television and stage since the ’70s, having appeared in series such as Falcon Crest and Paper Dolls. He won critical acclaim for his performances in the mini-series Dream West and North and South. On Broadway, he appeared in Shenandoah; off-Broadway he starred in The Hairy Ape. He has also performed in many regional theater productions, including The Trouble with Europe at the Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles.
Frakes began directing in ’87, helming an episode of The Next Generation. He has also directed episodes of Diagnosis: Murder and University Hospital, and an interactive CD-ROM, Star Trek: Klingon.
Frakes is repped as a longform director and producer by Beverly Hills-based International Creative Management’s Dave Wirtschafter, and as an actor by Sam Gores of L.A.-based Paradigm. Frakes joins a SunSpots directorial roster that, in addition to David Dryer, includes Larry Carroll, Malcolm McNeill, Kevin Dole and Peter MacNicol, who joined the company last month (SHOOT, 4/16, p. 7). SunSpots is repped on the West Coast by Sandra Riley of Free Lunch, San Francisco, in the Midwest by Chicago-based Jim Christell of Jim Christell and Associates, on the East Coast by John Naitove of Naitove & Company, New York, and in Detroit by Pat Costa of Illumini Productions.
