Bicoastal production house Sticks and Stones has signed director Michael Shapiro, who comes over after three years at Cucoloris Films, Venice, Calif.
Shapiro is currently the sole director on the roster at Sticks and Stones, which was formed three years ago by executive producer Jonathan Weinstein and director Blair Hayes. Recently, Hayes moved over to the newly-formed production entity, The Hayes Office, which also has offices in New York and Santa Monica.
Id thought when we first opened the company that Blair should have put his name on the door, said Weinstein, who continues in his role as principal of New York-based repping firm Yakkity-Yak. At that time, he wasnt comfortable with that. So we [formed The Hayes Office] right about the same time we were finalizing the deal with Michael. We thought, ALets have two companies and add directors to both.
Before moving into directing, Shapiro started around 10 years ago in the New York production community, working in various roles including set decorator and art director on spots for such directors as Bob Giraldi and Jeff Lovinger. It was during this time, Weinstein related, that he and Shapiro struck up a friendship that has continued over the years.
After a stint directing theatrical productions in New York, Shapiro moved into spot directing and, in 93, signed with Santa Monica-based Tate & Partners, which Weinstein also repped at the time. After a year and a half, Shapiro moved over to Cucoloris, and crossed paths with Weinstein again-although the director joined just as Weinstein was leaving the company.
Shapiro related that he had been observing the growth of Hayes career at Sticks and Stones, and had thought seriously about joining the company over the past six months. I was starting to think thats where I would end up, said Shapiro. I talked to several people and I just felt most comfortable with [Weinstein]. I know him and trust him. Hes done a lot to get Blair where he is.
Shapiro is known for his visually driven work. His recent credits include a South American-airing four spot Ford package, spots for TJ Maxx (his last Cucoloris job) out of Ingalls Advertising, Boston, and his first job under the Sticks and Stones banner: a Johnson & Johnson ad via Ammirati Puris Lintas, New York.
However, Shapiro has spent much of the past year focusing on longform projects. He spent eight months directing an ABC made-for-TV movie, Max Q, which aired in Nov. 98. The action movie of a space shuttle disaster was executive produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and had a huge budget for TV, but not for a Jerry Bruckheimer movie, said Shapiro. He also directed several episodes of the Bruckheimer-produced cable series Soldier of Fortune.
The director said he took the hiatus from spots in order to work with actors and broaden his reach into storytelling. I prefer story-driven work and structure, said Shapiro, adding hes looking forward to the synergy between Hayes and himself. It feels good that Im with a director that does work like my own.
West Coast-based Preston Lee continues as head of production for Sticks and Stones and The Hayes Office. Both companies are repped by Saarinen/Korsan on the West Coast, by Tim Harwood in the Midwest and by Chris Messiter, Ann McKallagat and Barrie Isaacson on the East Coast.
