NEW YORK—Director Tom Schiller has signed with bicoastal Go Film for commercial representation. Prior to joining Go, Schiller had been represented by Coppos Films, which shut its doors earlier this year (SHOOT, 7/5-7/18, p. 1).
Jonathan Weinstein, partner/executive producer at Go Film—along with Robert Wherry and Gary Rose—related that he initially contacted Schiller after a conversation with Barbara Gold, the director’s long-time producer. "We always look for a certain level of talent in a director," said Weinstein. "Tom has a brilliant sense of humor, and the fact that he can translate that sense of humor to the film he shoots is a great quality."
Schiller joked that he decided to join Go because the shop’s New York office is located three blocks from his apartment. He added, "I was attracted by their philosophy of how they handle directors and work on projects, and I love the idea of having three partners to work with, because if you get sick of one, you can go to another. … I also like the name ‘Go Film’—it’s a positive, forward-sounding name, and I would love to be commanded to do that."
Schiller has already wrapped a job through his new roost, a comedic spot for an undisclosed client out of Publicis NY, and is in the midst of prepping two projects—one for Leo Burnett USA, Chicago, and another for The Richards Group, Dallas.
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Schiller’s commercialwork reflects a comedic sensibility grounded in parody, a skill he honed while working as an Emmy-winning writer for Saturday Night Live in the 1970s, and later in the ’90s. While working on the show, he was responsible for creating commercial parodies for products such as the "Manbra" (for men who suffer from gynecomastia) and the "Klinger," a human-hair yarmulke.
He initially made his mark in the ad world in the late ’90s with a trio of spots—"Missed Cue," "Reporter" and "Jockey"—for Courtyard by Marriott out of Lowe & Partners/SMS (now Lowe Worldwide), New York, and produced via now defunct Five Union Square Productions. The spots, shot mockumentary-style, emphasize the importance of professionals getting a good night’s sleep, and won numerous awards, including a Gold and Silver Lion at the ’98 Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival for "Missed Cue" and "Reporter," respectively, as well as two Gold Clios—one for campaign, the other for "Missed Cue."
In ’00, Schiller signed with Coppos, where he continued to direct humor-based fare, including the first TV execution of the long-running "Real Men of Genius" radio campaign out of DDB Chicago. Schiller’s efforts included the ads "Mr. Really Bad Toupee Wearer," "Mr. Pro Wrestling Wardrobe Designer" and "Mr. Nudist Colony Activities Coordinator." While at Coppos, he also directed spots for Nintendo, Cingular, the National Automotive Parts Association (NAPA), ESPN and Staples.
Schiller plans to focus his attention on spots. "I love to make commercials," he said. "I love collaborating on the ideas for each spot with the creatives, and meeting new creatives. I love casting and finding interesting characters who are funny, and creating a feeling on the set that is fun for everybody."
He joins a directorial roster comprising David Dobkin, Rene Eller, Caitlin Felton, Christopher Guest, Tim Hamilton, Overall & McQuoid, Michael Shapiro, Neil Tardio Jr. and the directing team Who?.
Go is represented on the East Coast by Douglas Howell and Jamie Scalera of White Hart Lane, New York; in the Midwest by Jill Rheel of Get Rheel, Chicago; and on the West Coast by Steven Monkarsh of In-House Reps.
