Director Randy Spear has signed for spot representation with Dublin Productions, the Hollywood-based company headed by principal/ director Rick Dublin and executive producer Jonathan Miller.
Spear comes aboard after spending two years at Los Angeles-based Palomar Pictures, which he joined in 97 (SHOOT, 8/15/97, p.7); he exited Palomar six months ago. At press time, Spear was supervising the post on his first official job as a Dublin director: a Norton Healthcare spot for Louisville, Ky.-based Creative Alliance.
Before focusing his efforts on a directing career, Spear worked as an agency creative. He spent nine years at Chicago-based Leo Burnett Co., the last five as a VP/ creative director. At Leo Burnett, Spear was responsible for creative on accounts including Reebok and Cheer. His work as both an art director and creative director has amassed multiple awards, including a Gold Lion at Cannes in 88.
Before Leo Burnett, Spear worked in the Atlanta ad market, spending four years as art director/associate creative director at now defunct Burton-Campbell, and a year and a half as associate creative director at J. Walter Thompson.
Miller related that it was shortly after he joined Dublin last June that he began looking to line up new directors for the company. Jim Robison, Palomars Midwest sales rep, introduced Miller to Spear.
I really have a high degree of respect for Randy, based on his agency credentials as well as some of the work hed done as a director, said Miller. I thought it was very interesting work; very graphic and visual. It spoke of a lot of advertising savvy.
Dublin began discussions with Spear last fall and, in March, the company produced a job for him: an Alberto-Culver spot via Euro RSCG Tatham, Chicago. Based in part on that favorable experience, they invited Spear to join the company. He demonstrates a real talent, added Miller. Ive seen him work and have seen how he deals with clients. Ive had a lot of good experiences with commercial directors that have the kind of advertising background Randy does, and Im very comfortable with that. I think hes a nice, interesting, eclectic addition to the staff.
Commenting that he had a friendly parting from Palomar, which had been so good to him, Spear said it had been a difficult task to try and establish himself as a new director. I think as you get on this side of the business, you start to learn and find the kind of place whose size is right for you, said Spear. Palomar had a really high-profile list of directors, and youre kind of competing internally. But more than anything, I needed to get to a place where I was a little more of the focus of things.
After Spear decided he needed to move on, Miller was one of the first people to contact him. I think Jonathan Miller is in a better position to focus on a few of us, rather than a lot of us, said Spear. Hes one of those guys that knows the business really well. It was the right timing for both of us.
Among Spears recent credits are a Fanta spot, Africa, and a Coca-Cola spot called Jeri-Curl, both via Leo Burnett, Johannesburg; Budweisers Nude Beach via DDB Chicago; and a Deans Dips spot, Dips for One, via Euro RSCG Tatham, Chicago. He also directed several Canadian-market spots produced through Toronto-based Revolver (whose commercial division recently split off to create Trailer Park Films), including Baseball Fantasy for Labatts Blue Light beer via Ammirati Puris, Toronto. Spear also directed several music videos for Nashville artists including Mary Chapin Carpenters Almost Home.
The aforementioned Jeri-Curl demonstrates a strong visual and graphic style. It combines the live action of four male characters filmed against greenscreen, and cut-out animation by freelance animator Adam Byrd, who used color copies of every third frame to enhance the piece. Following this, Spear was awarded Africa for Fanta, which depicts a Miss Funkytown beauty pageant where attendees break out in an infectious dance. Both spots came Spears way vis vis Leo Burnett, Johannesburgs creative director Basil Mina, who was a former colleague of Spear at Leo Burnett, Chicago.
My reel is currently geared toward visual/graphic projects, and Id like to get into more storytelling, said Spear. Id read something where Kinka Usher [director/principal at House of Usher, Santa Monica] was quoted as saying it takes one hundred hours of shooting to find your style, and I think hes absolutely right. You have to do it a lot to figure out what seems the right thing for you to do.
Spears early directorial efforts include a Chicago ADDY-winning regional Georgia Pig campaign from 93-a side project he conceptualized and co-directed with director Leroy Koetz, who is now at New York-based DC-3. Spear made his solo directing debut in 94 with a client-direct Oil Express spot titled Pride, which recalled a 40s musical and featured Oil Express servicemen performing a song-and-dance number.
During his last year and a half at Leo Burnett, Spear got the opportunity to further hone his directing skills by helming four spots in-house for several agency clients: No Wait and Spencer for Reebok; Mototopia for Oldsmobile; and Moms Day Out for Coca-Cola. All were produced by Palomar Pictures.
Spear joins a directorial roster that also consists of Dublin, Walter Pawluk, Rauf Glasgow, Tom Megalis, Peter Montgomery, director/DP Peter Hyams and Jeffrey Kimball (a feature cinematographer who is available for spots through Dublin).
Dublin is represented by John Naitove on the East Coast; John Dunnicliffe and Harvey Warren on the West Coast; and Tim Harwood in the Midwest.
