Ritts/Hayden, the Los Angeles-headquartered production house headed by executive producer Bill Hayden, has signed director/cameraman Dariusz (a.k.a. Derek) Wolski for representation in the U.S. spot market.
A noted feature cinematographer (e.g., Crimson Tide, The Fan, The Crow and Dark City), Wolski has wrapped his first assignment at Ritts/Hayden, an ad for Cadillac, out of DMB&B, Detroit. The spot focuses on a couple that is on a shopping spree and is taken by surprise when a Cadillac, suspended from a helicopter, drops into a showroom. "It’s a good combination of storytelling and drama," related Wolski.
Wolski was previously repped for spots by bicoastal HSI Productions. His final assignment there was "Defcon," an ad for Mercedes-Benz, out of Merkley Newman Harty, New York. During his two-and-a-half-year tenure at HSI, Wolski also helmed "60" for Federal Express, out of BBDO New York, as well as campaigns for Sony Playstation, Hollywood Cigarettes, the San Francisco Chronicle and 989 Studios.
Earlier this year, Wolski shot the forthcoming feature The Mexican, which was helmed by Gore Verbinski (who’s repped for spots by bicoastal Anonymous) and stars Julia Roberts and Brad Pitt. Slated for a March 2001 release, the film follows a young couple as its relationship unravels. Roberts’ character moves to Las Vegas to start a new life, while Pitt’s travels to Mexico to retrieve an antique pistol known as the Mexican, which is supposedly cursed.
Wolski’s recent feature DP credits also include Rules of Engagement, helmed by William Friedkin, and A Perfect Murder, directed by Andrew Davis.
Wolski was drawn to Ritts/Hayden because of the rapport he struck up with Hayden, and because he felt the production house "will understand my schedule." Wolski typically shoots a feature film each year, directing spots in between. He wasn’t at liberty to publicly discuss the feature film he will shoot next.
"What’s interesting for me in commercials is that I come from a visual background, but as a commercial director I’ve been concentrating on performance and dialogue, trying to combine the two," Wolski said. "I’ve been exposed to dealing with performances on feature sets. So it poses a good challenge for me."
Prior to joining HSI, Wolski was briefly repped by bicoastal Straw Dogs, which he joined in 1997. Earlier in his career, he worked out of now defunct Limelight. While there, he helmed "Agassi," a Nike ad featuring Andre Agassi, out of Wieden+Kennedy, Portland, Ore.
Ritts/Hayden’s sales are handled by Holly Ross of Los Angeles-based Red on the West Coast; Rich Newman and Sue Rosen of Rich Newman & Associates, Chicago, in the Midwest; and Phillip Alden of New York-based Claire.Alden on the East Coast.
