Creative Film Management International (CFM), New York, has added two directors for spot representation: Chazz Palminteri and Jamie Johnson. A noted actor, Palminteri recently made his feature directorial debut with Noel starring Penelope Cruz, Susan Sarandon, Paul Walker and Alan Arkin.
Meanwhile Johnson is a relative newcomer to film, debuting as a director with Born Rich, an HBO documentary that provided an insider’s look at the privileges and drawbacks of being born wealthy. The subject matter was personal for Johnson who is an heir to the Johnson & Johnson fortune. His film chronicled the lives of young heirs whose names are associated with wealth, including Trump, Whitney and Bloomberg.
CFM president/executive producer Lou Addesso said that Johnson “adds a certain level of cache. With his associations to high society and [his] mainstream appeal, he is sure to be a hit by bringing his own brand of youthful perspective to an ad campaign.”
Addesso cited Palminteri’s experience on both sides of the camera as being advantageous to spot clients. Palminteri received a best supporting actor nomination for his work in Bullets Over Broadway. Palminteri also had roles in such films as The Usual Suspects, Hurlyburly, Analyze This and A Bronx Tale. For the latter, Palminteri starred opposite Robert DeNiro, who chose the script for his directing debut. Palminteri also has writing chops; he wrote the original A Bronx Tale script for the stage and performed it as a one-man show. On the TV front, he recently starred opposite Ving Rhames in USA Network’s remake of the hit series Kojak.
Palminteri and Johnson fit the CFM profile of helping to transition feature film and TV directors into commercials. The company also handles spot representation for such filmmakers as Matthew Penn, Gregory Hoblit, Nick Cassavetes, Kaos, Sidney Lumet, John Leguizamo and Andrew McCarthy. Based on this lineup, CFM has developed a reputation in celebrity, dialogue and performance-driven campaigns. The shop has turned out commercials for such clients as Coca-Cola, Burger King, Cadillac, Volkswagen, Campbell’s, the National Football League, TD Waterhouse and Dunkin’ Donuts.
