Director Rob “Whitey” McConnaughy has joined humble, a bicoastal hybrid production and post company headed by president Eric Berkowitz. McConnaughy comes over from Hungry Man which repped him for the past several years. Prior to that, he was handled by Believe Media.
McConnaughy burst onto the advertising scene in the mid 2000s with a series of skateboarding spots and shorts that he directed for Nike, working directly for the brand through his own production company, Kingpin Productions. By then he was already a fixture on the snow and skateboarding scene, having directed over a dozen of the best-selling films in the snow and skateboarding genre. Simultaneously, he was serving as the photo editor for the snowboarder publication Blunt, later moving over to the skateboarding magazine Big Brother.
At Big Brother McConnaughy started directing a series of clips that would eventually morph into the MTV series “Jackass.” He not only contributed to the series, but also shot and helped write “Jackass the Movie” and its sequel, “Jackass 2.”
In commercials, McConnaughy’s work has run the gamut from over the top comedy for brands like Coors, Progressive, Dominos, EA and Activision to more traditional scripted spots for brands like Chrysler, Sprint, Dodge and Honda. Among the agencies he’s worked with are Wieden + Kennedy, Goodby Silverstein & Partners, RPA, Arnold and Crispin. His video for Diageo’s Jeremiah Weed brand of whisky-based beverages, featuring the Texas rockers ZZ Top, won a Bronze Lion for CAA in the Branded Content category in Cannes this year.
Having the ability to shepherd projects all the way through from pre-pro to post under one roof at humble will, said McConnaughy, give him maximum flexibility. “You can factor that into your bid going in, and account for it in terms of your creative approach to a job,” he noted. “From the outset you know how you’ll be able to accomplish each project from start to finish, and that’s great in terms of adapting to how work has to get done now. It lets you make sure you’re working within your budget without sacrificing quality control.”
In addition to his skateboarding chops, Whitey also has deep roots in music, having directed videos for a number of punk and indie artists such as The Gossip, Band of Horses, Red Fang and OFF. His work in this genre reflects his taste for guerilla filmmaking, often revealing a “DIY” sensibility marked by outrageous concepts produced on shoestring budgets.
Directors Amy+Pilar and Jose Antonio Prat Join Reform School
Boutique content production company Reform has added comedy directing duo Amy+Pilar (Amy York Rubin and Pilar Boehm) and award-winning multicultural director Jose Antonio Prat to its roster for U.S. representation spanning commercials and branded entertainment.
Partners in both life and art, Amy+Pilar are know for their sharp wit and comedic timing. Their synchronicity is evident in a body of work across TV, film and commercials. Prior to joining Reform School, Amy+Pilar had been repped in the ad market by production company Knucklehead.
Amy has directed high-profile comedy sketches featuring stars like Amy Schumer, Kate McKinnon, and Sarah Silverman. On the episodic front, Amy has helmed for series such as Fresh Off the Boat, Casual, Superstore and Angie Tribeca--as well as the pilot for the hit Netflix comedy Dead to Me.
Before joining forces with Amy behind the camera, Pilar was a psychotherapist, a background that informs her ability to create fascinating characters and stage irresistible, nuanced performances. Amy and Pilar’s shared passion for comedy brought them together. Their collaboration began with a Synchrony Bank campaign, starring cult-comedy favorite Maribeth Monroe (Workaholics), and they went on to direct the pilot of the Hulu series Love, Victor. Amy+Pilar’s ad fare also includes spots for Uber’s “Go-Get” campaign and “Shift,” starring Martin Starr.
“We have been fans of Amy and Pilar for a long time,” said Ryan Ennis, executive director at Reform School. “They excel at capturing comedic performances and dialogue. Coming from the TV and L.A. comedy scenes, they’ve built a strong following and collaborated with some of our favorite funny people.... Read More