Director Scott McCullough, whose work includes spots for Ford, EA Sports, Budweiser and NAPA Auto Parts, has joined Story, bicoastal and Chicago, for exclusive national representation in commercials.
McCullough, who often works as his own DP, comes over from BeachHouse Films, Santa Monica, where he was on staff since 2001. His credits include much automotive-related ad fare, including Ford for J. Walter Thompson, Detroit, NAPA Auto Parts via Fahlgren Advertising, Columbus, Ohio, EA Games’ “NASCAR Thunder” for Odiorne Wilde Narraway & Partners, San Francisco, and a PacifiCare spot featuring actor Paul Newman and his Haas Racing Team for Doner, Detroit.
McCullough’s initial success came in music videos. He spent nearly two years working with rock star Prince on assorted music video and film projects. McCullough then broke into commercials via James Productions in his native Minneapolis, where he helmed Rollerblade’s “Cats” for Carmichael Lynch, Minneapolis, a spot that was short-listed at Cannes. The director then moved to the West Coast in ’01, first hooking up with The Directors Network, Studio City, and shortly thereafter shifting over to the then newly formed BeachHouse.
Besides spots, McCullough has experience in longer form fare such as NASCAR Winston Cup 100%, an 11-minute 65mm film produced for R.J. Reynolds that covered action from seven races in the NASCAR Winston Cup series. McCullough also has three short dramatic films to his credit, including Innocent, which garnered a best director award at the ’03 Festival Internactional de Biarritz, and God’s Helper, a winner of jury and best actress awards at the same fest.
McCullough said he was drawn to Story’s national presence, reputation and sales support. The company is headed by executive producer Mark Androw.
Oscar Nominees Gather For Cocktails, Dinner and The Annual Class Picture
Five days before the Academy Awards, nearly every nominee gathered for a cocktail reception, dinner and class picture shoot that served as an Oscars orientation.
The event Tuesday night at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures was a stand-in for the annual Oscars luncheon usually held about a month earlier but scrubbed because of the Southern California wildfires.
With the voting over and winners determined, contenders got chummy and the mood was cheerful. Best actress favorites Mikey Madison and Demi Moore hugged and chatted. So did best actor front-runners Timothée Chalamet and Adrien Brody.
"Everyone say Oscar nominee!" best actress nominee Cynthia Erivo shouted gleefully from the front row of the museum's David Geffen Theater, where the dozens of nominees sat for their group picture.
Clustered in front with Erivo were three best supporting actress nominees: her "Wicked" castmate Ariana Grande, Monica Barbaro of "A Complete Unknown" and Zoe Saldaña of "Emilia Perez" along with Madison, nominated for "Anora." The five women stood in a circle and talked happily together after the photo, and kept the conversation going as they descended the stairs together to dinner.
In the back of the theater, a trio of best actor nominees sat together: Sebastian Stan of "The Apprentice," Colman Domingo of "Sing Sing" and Brody, of "The Brutalist."
After the photo was taken, Academy President Janet Yang gave the orientation presentation, reminding everyone that the 97th Academy Awards will be held Sunday.
She greeted first-time nominees and acknowledged there were also some with more than one.
Denis Villeneuve, director of "Dune: Part 2" and a four-time nominee, raised his hand. Sixteen-time best original song nominee... Read More