Lesley Robson-Foster has signed with Manhattan Transfer, New York, as a designer/director. Robson-Foster was most recently represented for spots through New York-based Zero 2 Sixty Productions, which she joined in September 1998.
Leaving Zero 2 Sixty this past September when her two-year contract was up, the London-native—who has worked as a director in the U.S. for the past nine years—was searching for a new roost. Her most recent credits include a freelance job directing Absolut Vodka’s "The Informant" via Pearl Fisher, London, and a pair of Zero 2 Sixty-produced projects—Benadryl’s "Flowers" via Bates Worldwide, New York; and Downy’s "Tropical Bloom" via Grey Advertising, New York.
As a director, Robson-Foster has been a client of Manhattan Transfer for many years and when visual effects supervisor Bill Denahy took vacation leave in October, she was approached to fill in for him. "While I was standing in for Denahy, I was given the opportunity to work across the board: directing, working as a DP, designing and supervising on visual effects. I saw opportunities for more production at Manhattan Transfer and suggested I join the team. So, I’m still shooting commercials but I’m also designing and visual effects supervising, and when the visual effects designers want to shoot commercials, I’ll be working with them as the DP," explained Robson-Foster. "This job brings all the elements of my background together. I’ve just been a plain old director for 15 years and it’s such a treat to be able to use all the things I have experience in."
Robson-Foster’s background covers broadcast design, visual effects and feature film/spot directing.
Graduating with a bachelor of fine arts from the University of London’s Goldsmith College, Robson-Foster got her start in ’81 at the BBC, London, where a one-week internship evolved into a full-time position as a designer lasting six years.
In ’88, she joined London-based design firm English Markell Pockett, (since renamed English + Pockett) as a designer/director working on broadcast projects and commercials. A year later, she joined London production company Kinsman and Company where she worked for clients including Absolut Vodka, Canon, British Telecom and Procter & Gamble.
In ’91, Robson-Foster relocated stateside to take up a position at the commercial production division of Industrial Light + Magic (ILM), New York. Here she designed and directed visual effects-driven commercials for such clients as Hewlett Packard, Oil of Olay, Molson, and Labatts. In ’93, she joined New York-based production company Peter Corbett & Co. (renamed Full Blue and since closed) where she worked for the next three years directing commercials. She then switched to feature films for two years, directing Passion and Most Unusual Girl. On both films, Robson-Foster wrote the story, and commissioned the script. She re-entered the realm of commercial work at Zero 2 Sixty.
Dan Rosen, president of Manhattan Transfer, said the company was initially attracted to Robson-Foster’s combined design sense and technical prowess. "Lesley’s understanding of the visual effects process from production to post is a perfect fit for us as an effects studio, while her creative sense and directorial experience will only add to our design department’s capabilities to create some of the most captivating work on television. With this appointment, we are one step closer in our quest to create the ideal model of a truly integrated communications studio. Our ability to offer a complete solution incorporating concept, completion, and each stage in between makes Manhattan Transfer truly unique."
Connie Griffin, Manhattan Transfer VP/executive producer of visual effects, added: "Lesley is a terrific complement to our existing talent and Bill Denahy. Her technical mastery has already made her an asset."
Other designers at Manhattan Transfer who also serve as live-action helmers are creative director/visual effects designer Kieran Walsh and director/designer Jeremy Hollister. The company also recently added Man Wai Cheung as senior designer. Wai Cheung comes across from the U.K. where he has worked as a designer for companies including London-based design company Plume Productions, and the London office of the international/bicoastal Attik Design. The Attik also maintains offices in Huddersfield, U.K., New York, San Francisco, and Sydney, Australia.
Manhattan Transfer is repped nationally by an in-house team lead by Susanne Mordoh, VP/ director of sales.
