LOS ANGELES—Sandwick Films, the bicoastal production house headed by veteran executive producer Bill Sandwick, has launched The 5th Column, a division which handles feature film directors for select commercial assignments. Susan Kirson has been named executive producer of the new venture. She comes over from @tate, the feature directors division of Tate & Partners, Santa Monica.
Kirson brings to The 5th Column several of the relationships she maintained with filmmakers while at her former roost. These include directors Albert Hughes and James Woods, who are now exclusive to The 5th Column for commercials. Additionally, Kirson has brought Tom Sigel, a noted feature cinematographer (Three Kings, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, X-Men), into the fold. Sigel is being exclusively handled by The 5th Column for spot directing.
The Lineup
Sigel just wrapped and is editing a short film produced through Sandwick Films titled The Big Empty, which he directed and co-wrote with his wife, Alison Smith. Meanwhile, Woods is about to embark on his first project under The 5th Column banner for New York City’s campaign to host the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Woods, a noted actor (an Oscar nominee for Salvador and Ghosts of Mississippi), made his commercial directing debut last year with @tate: a package of five PSAs for the American Stroke Association, out of Carmichael Lynch, Minneapolis. Sigel was the DP on this campaign. Earlier, Woods directed a short film for Skyy Vodka, out of agency Lambesis, Carlsbad, Calif.
Hughes, half of the Hughes Brothers directing team with sibling Allen, has also been active in the ad discipline. The Hughes Brothers (From Hell, Dead Presidents, Menace II Society) have helmed spots over the years for such clients as Nike, adidas and Sprite, which were produced by Oil Factory Films, Beverly Hills, Calif. Albert Hughes then linked with @tate, where his credits included an EA Sports spot for Odiorne Wilde Narraway & Partners (now See), San Francisco. He also recently completed a Hitachi campaign for Lambesis.
Kirson explained that she came to Sandwick Films due in large part to Sandwick’s reputation, which was built primarily during his lengthy tenure at bicoastal HSI Productions. "Billy has established himself as a guy that agency people know will give them the right talent for the job, and then deliver on it," she said.
Sandwick related that Kirson brings to The 5th Column "access to a level of creative talent that the industry is constantly searching for. We know it’s important to always be able to present agencies with a wide range of solutions and options, and The 5th Column does just that—it represents a specialized creative resource that enhances our ability to serve clients."
The 5th Column’s sales force is comprised of independent reps Maria Stenz on the East Coast, Nikki Weiss in the Midwest and Stacey Altman on the West Coast.
Sandwick bought JGF, Hollywood, from director Jeff Gorman earlier this year. JGF then became Sandwick Films (SHOOT, 5/14, p. 1). Sandwick Films’ roster of spot directors consists of Gorman, Marc Klasfeld, Stephen Kessler and John Curran. The latter joined Sandwick just after the release of his feature film We Don’t Live Here Anymore, starring Naomi Watts, Laura Dern and Mark Ruffalo. Curran recently moved back to his native U.S. after a 10-year spot helming career in Australia.
Kessler recently wrapped a Massachusetts Lottery campaign for Hill Holliday Connors Cosmopulos, Boston. Gorman’s latest credits include Cingular for BBDO New York, and Coors out of Foote Cone & Belding, Chicago. Klasfeld has recently directed music videos for Sum 41, Destiny’s Child and Slipknot through his own company, Rockhard Films, New York.
Sandwick Films’ representation team consists of Dan Sbrega of White Hart Lane, New York, on the East Coast, Chris Breneman and Paul Saylor of BS, Chicago, in the Midwest, and Altman on the West Coast.
