Director Vincent Peone and veteran producer Geno Imbriale have launched Hollywood-based production house ArtClass, which will active in commercials, shorts and branded content.
Imbriale is EP of the new venture, bringing 15-plus years of production experience into the company fold. He has worked for shops including Tool, Caviar, Station Film and most recently, Big Block. Peone was formerly repped by Big Block.
Working as a director, writer, producer, and cinematographer, Peone pioneered web content as a founding member of CollegeHumor original video. While there he created 2,000 films, helping elevate CollegeHumor to one of YouTube’s top comedy channels, reaching viewership in the billions. He is as adept at helming spots for brands like Lincoln Motor Company, American Express, Geico, MLB Shop, and ESPN as he is evoking the natural humor of celebrities such as Mindy Kaling, Allison Williams, Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson. Recently Peone won his sixth Webby Award for a short film he wrote and directed for Vogue. The piece chronicles an insightful tête-à-tête between Meryl Streep and Anna Wintour, captured during their meeting in Wintour’s office, a playful nod to Streep’s portrayal of her in The Devil Wears Prada. A trusted collaborator of Condé Nast, Peone also produces and shoots Vogue’s award-winning 73 Questions video series.
The ArtClass roster’s comedy-leaning positioning is boosted by the signing of Jake Hurwitz for commercial and branded representation. Hurwitz helped to transform CollegeHumor into a content powerhouse as the co-creator of its longest-running series Jake and Amir. Together with his writing/acting partner Amir Blumenfeld, Hurwitz directed, wrote, and produced over 800 comedic shorts. He began his solo directing career with Vimeo Original’s Lonely and Horny, which went on to become the platform’s most purchased video-on-demand series.
Following in the footsteps of Peone and Hurwitz is rising star Andy Dulman who recently gained inclusion in SHOOT’s 2018 New Directors Showcase. Dulman is the co-creator of MakingOf.com with actress Natalie Portman. His improv background and style-with-substance approach is showcased across his range of work for brands like Google, Mulberry, Illy Coffee, Instagram, Mercedes-Benz, TripAdvisor, Airbnb, and Lexus.
Bringing a European sensibility to the roster is filmmaking duo V/K. Comprised of director/model Vincent Lacrocq and art director Kristell Chenut, V/K has a passion for imagery and culture that translates well into the high fashion and luxury markets. ArtClass also expands its offering by repping Kneeon, a Brooklyn-based multidisciplinary studio specializing in 2D animation and stop motion. As a creative partner of ArtClass, Kneeon can be commissioned for full-animation projects, or brought onto any ArtClass production requiring that skillset.
ArtClass is represented by Jack Strachan of Say Hey Representation on the East Coast.
