Somewhat lost in the recent turbulence at bicoastal RSA USA has been the promotion of producer Jules Daly to managing director. A 10-year veteran of the company, she brings a measure of stability and continuity to the role in the wake of high-profile personnel changes that were prompted by the controversial print ad that RSA USA ran in the 5/12 issue of SHOOT. Those earlier reported changes were the resignation of director Marcus Nispel (who has since joined Morton Jankel Zander, Los Angeles), and the dismissal of managing director Linda Ross as well as independent rep firm Creative Management Partners, bicoastal and Chicago (SHOOT, 6/2 and 6/9).
As Ross’ successor, Daly oversees the RSA USA commercial operation, its bicoastal music video sister shop Black Dog Films, and RSA Independent, a bicoastal house that handles a roster of feature directors for select spot assignments. RSA USA has two executive producers, Marjie Abrahams in Los Angeles, and New York-based Jim Czarnecki; head of production is Fran McGivern. Susanne Preissler is executive producer of RSA Independent. And Vicki Mayer serves as Black Dog’s executive producer.
Daly has been active in commercials and longform during her tenure at RSA. She has produced spots for most of the RSA USA directors over the years, including Tony Scott, Ridley Scott, Jake Scott, Nispel, Allan Van Rijn and Thom Higgins. Daly recently served as co-producer of Shanghai Noon, the feature directorial debut of RSA USA director Tom Dey. She earlier did some second unit producing on the Tony Scott-directed features The Fan and Crimson Tide. Additionally, Daly was co-producer on the pilot trilogy for Ridley and Tony Scott’s Showtime series, The Hunger; two of the episodes in that trilogy were directed by RSA directors Adrian Moat and Chris Hartwill.
Prior to RSA, Daly freelance produced for several commercial production houses, including bicoastal Epoch Films, Venice, Calif.-based Cucoloris and bicoastal/international The Artists Company. Earlier, during a three-year span, she produced exclusively as a freelancer for Venice-headquartered PYTKA. Daly said that her extensive experience as a line producer has helped her to form positive relationships with ad agency creatives and producers over the years, a factor that should help her as managing director of RSA USA.
In addition to finalizing jobs and servicing clientele as RSA USA’s managing director, Daly will be involved in the procurement of additional directors and making sure the helmers already on the company roster are getting the proper career development and opportunities. Though she said the possibility of her becoming managing director had been broached in the past, Daly noted that this time around she felt the timing was right. For one, she had resisted past offers because of her desire to gain some feature experience. Having done that most notably with Shanghai Noon, which is currently in theaters, Daly said she was ready to again make commercials her priority. Even under the admittedly "uncomfortable" circumstances in recent weeks with the aforementioned departures of Ross and Nispel, Daly observed that the transition has been "a natural evolution" given her familiarity with the company and its people.
