Hoytyboy Pictures has signed director Eric Steinman for exclusive commercial representation in the U.S. He has already booked his first job under the Hoytyboy banner, a project slated to shoot in mid-December promoting an undisclosed client for Young & Rubicam, New York.
The Y&R job is line with Steinman’s desire to get back to the American ad arena. “I want to get re-entrenched in this country, after having done numerous international spot campaigns the past two years,” he said. Steinman was referring to commercials recently completed in Milan, Singapore and Moscow.
Although the director is known more for comedic dialogue, Steinman points to more humanity-centric spots as part of his repertoire. “Casting, timing, performance, detail and design are constants in my work,” he said. Recent projects in the U.S. include work for Florida Power and Light (out of agency Machado/Garcia/Serra, Miami) and a pharmaceutical campaign for Zostavax (via DDB New York).
Steinman started in the business on the agency side, making his first mark as a copywriter at now defunct Allen & Dorward, San Francisco (the predecessor to such former Bay Area shops as Chiat/Day/Mojo and Goldberg Moser O’Neill). From there, he migrated to Young & Rubicam, New York, where he spent four years writing for varied clients, including AT&T. Next came three years at BBDO New York, where Steinman’s reputation as a creative blossomed on accounts like Pepsi, HBO and Pizza Hut.
He then moved over to the production house side as a full fledged director, working out of such shops as GARTNER, Headquarters, Trio Films and most recently Crossroads. Over the years he has helmed campaigns for such clients as Sony, Mazda, Citigold and LG. Steinman-directed spots for Astro Mobile garnered a Silver at the London International Awards and were shortlisted at the 2008 Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival. He also directed award-winning PSAs for Big Brothers of America and the Partnership for a Drug Free America.
The Big Brothers work was originally a spec piece he directed while on staff at BBDO New York. The PSA went on to gain regional air time and was initially honored in the spec category of the AICP Show in ’94, the first year in which that competition recognized spec fare.
Steinman joins a Hoytyboy directorial roster that includes Steve “Spaz” Williams, Richard Kizu-Blair, John Kricfalusi, Rob Schneider and animation house Little Fluffy Clouds. Clint Goldman is Hoytyboy’s exec producer.
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt Reach Divorce Settlement After 8 Years
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have reached a divorce settlement, ending one of the longest and most contentious divorces in Hollywood history but not every legal issue between the two.
Jolie and Pitt signed off on a default declaration filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday, saying they have entered into a written agreement on their marital and property rights. The settlement was first reported by People magazine.
"More than eight years ago, Angelina filed for divorce from Mr. Pitt," Jolie's attorney, James Simon, said in a statement. "She and the children left all of the properties they had shared with Mr. Pitt, and since that time she has focused on finding peace and healing for their family. This is just one part of a long ongoing process that started eight years ago. Frankly, Angelina is exhausted, but she is relieved this one part is over."
The filing says they give up the right to any future spousal financial support, but gives no other details. A judge will need to sign off on the agreement. An email late Monday night to Pitt's attorney seeking comment was not immediately answered.
Jolie, 49, and Pitt, 61, were among Hollywood's most prominent pairings for 12 years, two of them as a married couple. The Oscar winners have six children together.
Jolie filed for divorce in 2016, after a private jet flight from Europe during which she said Pitt physically abused her and their children. The FBI and child services officials investigated Pitt's actions on the flight. Two months later, the FBI released a statement saying it would not investigate further, and the U.S. attorney did not bring charges.
A heavily redacted FBI report obtained by The Associated Press in 2022 said that an agent provided a probable cause... Read More