Director Aaron Stoller, well known for creating and helming assorted spots and promos for MTV, has come aboard Venice-based Backyard for exclusive representation.
The move marks his transition into full-time spotmaking via Backyard. However Stoller is no stranger to the production house. While still at MTV, he directed several Backyard-produced commercials for such clients as Anheuser-Busch, Nintendo, Rogers Wireless, Pringles and Frito-Lay.
Stoller broke into MTV as a college student. During his senior year at the University of Missouri, Columbia, he won a coveted internship in the network’s on-air promotions network. Stoller later became a full-time MTV staffer and over the years worked his way up to director. During his MTV tenure, he built relationships with such clientele as Fox Search Light, PepsiCo, Paramount Pictures, MTV Films, The Weinstein Company and Disney.
At MTV he also got the opportunity to work with high-profile celebrities. Last year, for example, he directed campaigns featuring such notables as Tom Cruise, Ashton Kutcher, The Black Eyed Peas, Kanye West, 50 Cent and Common. Stoller also hired creative talent Randy Krallman to help him craft and co-direct the lauded “If MTV Were” campaign. (Krallman now directs spots via bicoastal/international HSI Productions.)
Stoller joins a Backyard directorial roster that includes Rob Pritts, Kevin Smith, Don Rase, Chase Strickland, Steve Burrows, Tim Abshire, Nick Piper, Jeffrey Karoff, Jesper Ericstam, Magnus Rosman, Michael Chaves, Rob Sanders and John Immesoete.
Backyard’s national representation is handled by The Family on the East Coast, Them Reps in the Midwest, and Where’s The Boards on the West Coast.
