Bicoastal production company Durable Goods has signed director Paul Schneider to its roster of North American talent. With hands-on experience in design, cinematography, and visual effects, Schneider is a multifaceted visual storyteller who brings fresh angles and nuanced exploration to the commercial, TV, and film work he directs. The signing comes on the heels of a deal with HBO Max to develop Schneider’s original episodic series Downriver, a darkly satirical drama rooted in his hometown of Detroit.
“Paul is one of the most talented and versatile directors I have ever worked with,” remarked Durable Goods EP/managing partner Mike Brady. “He brings a complete vision to each project; and with a skill-set spanning live-action, design, VFX, and color finishing, he has a knack for crafting memorable, performance-driven stories across a fantastic palette. His time as an executive creative director on the agency side also gives him unique insight into what agencies need–and the best way to get there quickly. His work shows it.”
Schneider added, “Durable Goods is a modern production company that operates on the pulse of what’s happening in media and advertising and what’s coming down the road. That’s what drew me to them as I approach my work with the same kinship for these things.”
Schneider has had a camera in his hand since he was a teenager shooting skate films with his friends. The kinetic energy, humor, and sarcasm found in his earliest films are infused in his work to this day.
Schneider went on to parlay his early filmmaking efforts into an MFA in Graphic Design from Cranbrook Academy of Art. After that, he co-founded WIDEOPENSPACES, a boutique studio specializing in film and design for the art, fashion, and sporting worlds. A long tenure at Digital Kitchen followed, where as an Emmy-nominated executive creative director, he helmed main titles for shows like Rescue Me and Nip/Tuck, the feature film Second Hand Lions, and promos for Sex and the City and The Sopranos at HBO.
Schneider further explored his passion for directing in the commercial space, shooting campaigns for Budweiser, Target, Xbox, and McDonald’s. As a result, he gained extensive technical knowledge of all phases of production–from editing to VFX–leading to a fruitful directing career at production companies Crossroads, A Very Small Office (AVSO), Hello (HKM), Concrete & Clay, and On The Day, spearheading commercials for Wrangler, Toyota, Hyundai, Vicks, and HBO.
With years of experience in directing, writing, and design now under his belt, the self-described “culture sponge” is always looking for new angles and challenges to keep his imagination fresh and his inspiration from running dry. Gravitating towards the humor and authenticity in everyday life, Schneider says he finds “inspiration in life’s little moments–the nuances in a conversation or a story that taps into the human condition on the street level.”
In addition to his commercial and promo work, Schneider also helmed the award-winning short thriller Fifty Minutes, starring Stephen Tobolowsky and DJ Qualls. The 2017 short played in film festivals across the country, winning awards for both Best Short and Best Actor for Qualls.
Schneider is currently based in Los Angeles.
“Heretic” and “Maria” Set As Red Carpet Premieres At AFI Fest
The American Film Institute (AFI) has announced that Heretic, the psychological thriller starring Hugh Grant, and Maria, based on the life of opera singer Maria Callas starring Angelina Jolie, will round out the Red Carpet Premieres section at this year’s AFI Fest. The Heretic Gala Screening will take place on Thursday, October 24, and the Maria Gala Screening will be held on Saturday, October 26. The complete Red Carpet Premieres section includes the world premieres of Music By John Williams, Robert Zemeckis’ Here, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl and Clint Eastwood’s Juror #2. All Red Carpet Premieres will take place at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre. The full lineup for AFI Fest 2024 will be unveiled on October 1.
“At the heart of AFI Fest is an unwavering dedication to celebrating the best in global cinema--together,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI president and CEO. “We look forward to uniting artists and audiences once again to be inspired by the art form in a powerful sense of community.”
Heretic follows two young missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) who are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed (portrayed by Grant), becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse. The film is directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods and produced by Stacey Sher, Beck, Woods, Julia Glausi and Jeanette Volturno. The film will be released nationwide by A24 on November 8.
Directed by Pablo Larraín, Maria presents a tumultuous and beautiful depiction of one of the world’s most renowned artists and reimagines the legendary soprano in her final days in Paris, as Callas (Jolie)... Read More