Aero Film, Santa Monica, has diversified into comedy with the signing of director Brent Jones, who gained initial recognition in the commercialmaking community with his work at Group101Spots, a showcase for up-and-coming helmers.
Jones’ humorous spots at Group101 included spec fare for Fox’s coverage of the National Hockey League, and a Callaway Golf Clubs’ commercial in which a man’s priority is on the links, even after a romantic interlude with an attractive woman. Jones’ experience also includes successfully venturing into the branded content arena, directing Become U.S. Air Guitar Champion, one in a series of Internet short films with a New Year’s resolution theme for Aquafina out of Tribal DDB, Dallas.
Though Aero is perhaps best known for its high-end production, the company is no stranger to comedy, pointed out company partner/executive producer Lance O’Connor. He cited the fact that Aero president Skip Short handled the Coen Brothers for spots over the years at the former GMS. And earlier Aero repped New Zealand-based humor director James Holt.
O’Connor observed that Aero gravitated to Jones simply because he and company colleagues Short and director/partner Klaus Obermeyer watched Jones’ reel and “it makes you giggle.”
After some 15 years working on commercial, feature and music video sets as an electrician, gaffer and key grip, Jones made the jump to directing. In 2004 he helmed from his own story The Company Man, which he described as “a Twilight Zone-like thriller.” The film starred Scott Vance of Fox TV’s 24 and became an official selection at both the Los Angeles and Kansas City Film Festivals.
Over the past year, his endeavors at Group101 had him directing original concepts from creatives at such agencies Los Angeles agencies as The Ballpark, Dailey & Associates, and TBWA/Chiat/Day.
“For me, it all starts in casting,” related Jones. “Working with good uninhibited actors who are willing to throw caution to the wind is what drives me. Great concepts need the extraordinary magic that only great talent can bring.”
Agency feedback on Jones has been favorable. On the aforementioned Aquafina job, Scott Johnson, executive creative director at Tribal DDB, said of the director: “Brent put in an extraordinary amount of work to make sure everything that wound up on the screen was right. He gave us the big budget look on a budget that was far from big. Perhaps most importantly, Brent demonstrated that he can do one of the hardest things in the world. He can make people laugh. He got exceptional performances out of the actors, and the scenarios he created were full of comic possibilities. He’s also a great collaborator who doesn’t let his ego get in the way. I’m looking forward to our next project together.”
