Directors Justin Klarenbeck and Scott Young have been signed by t minus 30 Films, the house headed by executive producer John Clark. Earlier this month, the shop moved from Venice, Calif., to new digs in Culver City. Klarenbeck comes aboard after two years at bicoastal Fahrenheit Films. Young has been a freelance editor at t minus 30 for the past two years, but in ’98 began to focus on directing. The directors round out a roster that also includes Jeff Kaumeyer, Jim Zoolalian, Andrew Becker, Rene Eram and Gary Califano.
Klarenbeck began his career in special effects and was repped as a director for more than 10 years at Dream Quest Films, the commercial production division of visual effects house Dream Quest Images in Simi Valley, Calif. However, when Dream Quest Images was acquired by Disney (SHOOT, 4/26/96, p.1), the spot division was subsequently phased out, and Klarenbeck moved over to Fahrenheit.
Klarenbeck began shopping around for a new roost because, he said, it was simply "time to move on … that’s how growth takes place." The decision to join t minus 30 was an easy one. "I liked John so much," he said. "And at a time when people are trying to figure out how to make money off a director, he’s trying to figure out how to build one." He added that the company as a whole "has a vision in line with mine, and the desire and means to fulfill it. There’s a synergy here that’s a major part of the success of this place."
At t minus 30, Klarenbeck is interested in building on his performance-driven credits, which he finds particularly rewarding. To that end, he recently helmed a spec spot created by Fallon McElligot, Minneapolis. The simple, humorous spot was a favorite concept of agency creative art director Dawn McCarthy, but it was passed over by the client, a retail clothing line. Klarenbeck turned it into an ad for Spitfire streetwear. The spot opens on a small crowd of people surrounding a teenager, who appears to be a vagrant passed out on the street. The group doesn’t know what to make of the kid, who then stands up, flips his skateboard up and skates off, but not before telling the crowd what to do with their nosy curiosity.
Klarenbeck’s next assignment will be an international client-direct spot for Hyundai (it will air outside the U.S. and Canada). He was also recently awarded a Denny’s Restaurants job via Lowe & Partners/SMS, New York. Additional credits include Carl’s Jr., Balance Bar, Kia and Nissan.
A documentary short about women’s basketball marked Young’s directorial debut. Titled Shooting Star, the film, which Clark helped finance, was screened at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Soon after, the director, who was unavailable for comment at press time, cut from the film’s footage a spec spot for Lady Footlocker. "We’re trying to get his career going," Clark said. "I can look at somebody’s work and tell if they have what it takes to be successful in this business, and Scott does." Young, who is specializing in fashion and dialogue, has also helmed regional spots for Taco Bell via Foote, Cone & Belding, Santa Ana, Calif., and the Hollywood Bowl via Suissa Miller, L.A.
Adding To t minus 30
The new directors are indicative of t minus 30’s low profile but steady growth since Clark launched the company five years ago. Said Clark: "We’re the company that nobody knows about but everyone works with." However, t minus 30’s reputation may be spreading. In addition to securing Klarenbeck and Young, the company’s momentum is evidenced by its new 17,000 square foot Culver City headquarters. The modernistic building, designed by architect Eric Owen Moss, houses both production offices and the shop’s postproduction operation, including three Avids and a trio of staff editors. "More and more agencies are into the collaborative thing," Clark said, referring to the company’s ability to carry spots through post. Clark purchased his first Avid when t minus 30 was two years old, and more recently added the other two. Having editorial capabilities in-house is beneficial, he said, for client presentations, directors’ cuts for reels, "and for creativity, because the [directors] can work with the same editors time and again," and in that way build relationships.
Additionally, the company recently acquired a music video division, t minus 30 Music Videos, which represents 11 directors and is headed by executive producer Leslie Owens. Owens formerly oversaw Santa Monica-based Bedford Falls’ clip division. Then last summer, she launched her own company, Salvo Films. Earlier this month, Clark purchased her company. The advantage of maintaining a clip division, he said, is that the company can "build up spot directors that way. Plus, some of our guys wanted to do music videos." Owens concurred: "Music videos are a start for directors, and they should have higher aspirations. So at t minus 30 they’ll have the opportunity to get experience and break into spots, and when they move on I’ll bring in the next group." The clip division represents t minus 30 commercial directors Kaumeyer, Zoolalian and Becker along with Abdul Malik Abott, Christopher Ciccone (Madonna’s brother), Kim Ferraro, Alex Herron, Morgan Lawley, Michele Laurita, Greg Masuak and Joe Rey.
Clearly, building directors’ careers is what Clark enjoys most. It is a characteristic that is further evidenced by his core directing trio of Kaumeyer, Zoolalian and Becker. All three launched their spot directing careers at t minus 30. Kaumeyer, who specializes in vignettes and visuals, has been at the company since its inception. He began his career as an agency art director, working his way up to creative head at Foote, Cone & Belding, L.A., and creative director at Hill, Holliday, Connors Cosmopulos, L.A. The director’s recent credits include Titleist out of Arnold Communications, Boston; National Discount Broker via Hampel Stefanides, New York; Jackson Hewitt out of Grey Advertising, New York; and Sarasota Memorial Hospital out of The Richards Group, Dallas.
Comedy/performance director Zoolalian, formerly an agency producer at Ketchum Communications, L.A., started out as an editor at Saatchi & Saatchi in Torrance, Calif. He joined t minus 30 three years ago. He recently helmed spots for Budweiser via DDB Needham Chicago, US Unwired out of Lawler Ballard Van Durand, Birmingham, Ala., Acura out of Suissa Miller, L.A., and Bugle Boy via DDB Needham, L.A. Additional credits include Sprint, Sony and Harley Davidson. Within the next year he hopes to make his feature directing debut; at press time he was a leading contender for an ABC campaign out of TBWA/ Chiat/Day, L.A. Said Clark: "Jim’s hot right now. To even be bid on for that [ABC] job was an honor. That’s a really good [sign] for us."
Becker, a three-time Emmy Award-winner, began his career at ABC Sports as a researcher. He went on to become a segment writer/ producer/director for the Wide World of Sports and Monday Night Football. Later he worked at MTV, FOX Sports and he also directed an episode of Law & Order before segueing into the spot arena. He joined t minus 30 a year ago, and has since directed a multi-spot package for UUNET out of Donino, White & Partners in Atlanta, Ga., and a pair of specs, one for General Motors’ EV2 electric car, and another for Amazon.com.
Kaumeyer, Zoolalian and Becker all cite Clark’s willingness to invest in directors’ careers as the key to the company’s success. Kaumeyer, who recalls the early days when they "were really scratching" for work, said Clark continues to take on low-budget assignments even though he doesn’t have to, "because they’re often the most creative. You can only do so many big-budget but uncreative work before it starts to affect your reel [adversely]." Zoolalian added that Clark "knows when to invest in the more creative jobs to benefit my career. There’s a loyalty that I sense with him." Becker, who signed with t minus 30 in part because a friend had heard good things about the company, said Clark "is more understanding about getting someone’s feet wet. At some larger companies you might get swept under the mat."
T minus 30 is repped on the West Coast by in-house head of sales Josh Canova, in the Midwest by Chicago-based Jill Reehl, on the East Coast by New York-based Michael Eha, in Detroit by Al Mancinetti and in Europe by L.A.-based Susan Bachelder.
