Director Rich Newey, best known for his work in music videos, has joined bicoastal The Joneses for exclusive spot representation. His clip credits are for such artists as Christina Aguilera and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, but he has diversified into the ad arena with work for Midway Games, DeVry University, and a PSA for Kids Count.
Mel Gragido, executive producer of The Joneses, believes Newey’s music video experience will help him carve out a commercials niche catering to the youth market. A graduate of San Francisco’s Academy of Art, Newey got his start by writing video treatments for directors John Landis, Dave Meyers and Darren Grant, among others. Newey signed his first directing contract with now defunct Atlas Pictures; he was later repped by since closed Palomar Pictures and then Copper Media, where he first met Gragido.
Newey is no stranger to The Joneses. He helmed the earlier alluded to Aguilera video (from the Shark Tale soundtrack) featuring Missy Elliott through Karma, which is the music video division of The Joneses. Newey’s latest project was the video “What We Do” by the Kray Twins.
The Joneses’ directorial roster includes Newey, the Goetz Brothers, Derek Richards, Don Burgess, Hans Moland, Fred Durst, Zosimo Maximo, Glenn Ashley, Lara Shapiro and Gary Weis. Pam Rohs is the company’s exec producer in New York.
The sales force for The Joneses consists of independent reps Maggie Klein on the East Coast, Doug Stieber in the Midwest, except for Detroit which is handled by Dawn Ratcliffe, and Howell Associates which covers the West Coast.
Breakout Films and Major Takeaways From This Year’s Sundance Fest
Film wasn't the only thing on people's minds at this year's Sundance Film Festival, which comes to a close Sunday in Park City, Utah ( and online ).
The effects of the wildfires in Southern California loomed large, as did the bittersweet knowledge that this year will be the second to last Sundance based in Park City. Some films offered an escape from reality; others were a pointed reminder of the domestic and international political landscape, from transgender rights to the war in Ukraine.
Here are some of the key takeaways from the 41st edition of the festival.
The effects of the Southern California fires were deeply felt
The wildfires were still burning in parts of Los Angeles when Sundance began last week and reminders of its devastation were everywhere, even on screen. Max Walker-Silverman's "Rebuilding," starring Josh O'Connor as a cowboy who loses his ranch in a wildfire and forms a community with fellow survivors in a FEMA camp, hit close to home for many.
Filmmakers Meena Menon and Paul Gleason lost their home in Altadena where they filmed some of their zombie apocalypse movie "Didn't Die." Sundance artist labs head Michelle Satter lost her Palisades home as well. Satter had an audience of Sundance Institute donors in tears early in the festival while accepting an honor at a fundraising gala.
"It's a deeply devastating time for us and so many others, a moment that calls for all of us coming together to support our bigger community," Satter said. "As a friend recently noted, and I have to listen to this, 'Take a deep breath ... We lost our village, but at the end of the day we are the village.'"
The festival's move to another city dominated conversations
It was a topic... Read More