Boutique production company HB Films has added The Cronenweths to its roster of filmmakers for commercial representation in the U.S. Comprised of brothers Jeff and Tim Cronenweth, The Cronenweths have helmed films for Apple, Audi, Gatorade, American Express, Mini Cooper, Bud Light, and Warner Brothers, among others.
Jeff and Tim Cronenweth have been co-directing and shooting their whole lives. Filmmaking is their family business–––their grandfather was Oscar-winning studio still photographer William Edward Cronenweth, and their father Jordan Cronenweth is a revered cinematographer, having lensed the groundbreaking Blade Runner. The brothers grew up on Hollywood soundstages, learning filmmaking from the masters from an early age. In addition to directing branded work, Jeff is also a two-time Academy Award® nominated DP–for the David Fincher films The Social Network and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Jeff additionally shot Fincher’s Fight Club and Gone Girl.
“We have been very selective about adding other directors to the roster,” said Matt Hoffman, HB Films co-founder, and half of another director brother duo, The Hoffmans. “The Cronenweths represent an excellence in commercial filmmaking and collaboration that we, as a company, want to foster and support. They firmly believe in emphasizing the creative before commerce, like us, so it was a no-brainer to add such elite performers to the roster, who are absolutely dedicated to the craft as well.”
HB Films’ Midwest sales rep Nikki Weiss-Goldstein of Nikki Weiss & Co., added, “I’ve been fortunate enough to represent the Cronenweths for many years. We’ve been an instrumental part of each other’s careers through many iterations of the business. The way in which they approach every project with a commitment to raise the bar for both the agency and client is exceptional. I’m proud to have signed them to HB Films where the ethos of the company aligns with their core values.”
Tim Cronenweth said, “Jeff and I believe in collaborating with good people who share our values and a dedication for the pursuit of excellence in craft, so Matt, Mark [Hoffman], John [EP Beveridge], and the rest of the team at HB are a perfect match. As we turn the page on a new chapter of our filmmaking careers, we are proud to stand among the talented filmmakers and visionaries at HB Films.”
The Cronenweths were previously represented in the U.S. by Wondros Collective.
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Two first-time feature directors who are generating Oscar buzz this awards season were front and center this past weekend at AFI Fest in Hollywood. Rachel Morrison, who made history as the first woman nominated for a Best Cinematography Oscar---on the strength of Mudbound in 2018--brought her feature directorial debut, The Fire Inside (Amazon MGM Studios), to the festival on Sunday (10/27), and shared insights into the film during a conversation session immediately following the screening. This came a day after William Goldenberg, an Oscar-winning editor for Argo in 2013, had his initial foray into feature directing, Unstoppable (Amazon MGM Studios), showcased at the AFI proceedings. He too spoke after the screening during a panel discussion. The Fire Inside--which made its world premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival--tells the story of Claressa “T-Rex” Shields (portrayed by Ryan Destiny), a Black boxer from Flint, Mich., who trained to become the first woman in U.S. history to win an Olympic Gold Medal in the sport. She achieved this feat--with the help of coach Jason Crutchfield (Brian Tyree Henry)--only to find that her victory at the Summer Games came with relatively little fanfare and no endorsement deals. So much for the hope that the historic accomplishment would be a ticket out of socioeconomic purgatory for Shields and her family. It seemed like yet another setback in a cycle of adversity throughout Shields’ life but she persevered, going on to win her second Gold Medal at the next Olympics and becoming a champion for gender equality and equitable pay for women in sports. Shields has served as a source of inspiration for woman athletes worldwide--as well as to the community of... Read More