By Robert Goldrich
SANTA MONICA --Bicoastal The Joneses has signed directors Hans Petter Moland and Philip Kates for exclusive U.S. representation. This marks the first time that Moland has had a stateside roost for helming spots.
The Norwegian-born Moland began his career in America before returning to Europe where he firmly established himself directorially. Among his credits is the Norwegian Lottery’s “Ballroom Blitz,” which earned a Gold Lion at Cannes in 2001. He is best known for his comedic storytelling.
Meanwhile Kates has spent much of his career directing spots and music videos in Canada. Earlier he had been repped in the U.S. by bicoastal Headquarters and New York-based Open Frame. Kates’ reputation is in storytelling and skilled shot design. His work received a Bronze Lion at Cannes in ’01 (Halls’ “Fore” out of J. Walter Thompson, Toronto) and several Gold and Silvers from Canada’s Bessie competition.
Moland said that several factors drew him to The Joneses, including the company’s boutique size, its presence on both coasts, and his longstanding relationship with its executive producer Mel Gragido. The two worked together years ago at the then Giraldi Productions back when Moland was a production assistant.
Moland maintains Norwegian house The Moland Film Company. Among his latest work there are spots for Statoil via McCann, Oslo, Norwegian Lottery for DDB Oslo, and Codan Insurance, out of Agitator, Oslo. Moland also has feature filmmaking experience, having directed The Beautiful Country, which starred Nick Nolte and was released last year in the U.S. by Sony Pictures Classics. He is currently in postproduction on the movie The School Teacher Pedersen.
Among Kates’ endeavors are a series of spots for Greco Pizza and ads for Dodge, Honda and Budweiser. While he is often associated with comedy fare, Kates has delved into the dramatic. For example, a recent PSA for Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) via Saatchi & Saatchi, Toronto, shows a police officer stopping a carload of teenagers who have been caught drinking. Graphics inform viewers that this is a reenactment of a tragedy that results in death–presumably of the teens. Another graphic later reveals that it was the policeman who died when he was hit by a drunk driver while talking with the teens.
Kates and Moland join a directorial roster at The Joneses which consists of the Goetz Brothers, Zosimo Maximo, Derek Richards, Don Burgess, Adam Rosenblatt, Glenn Ashley, Adam Jones, Gary Weiss and Lara Shapiro. Gragido is the company’s West Coast executive producer. Pam Rohs is exec producer on the East Coast.Damon Wayans and Damon Wayans Jr. Explore Generations, Old School vs. New School, In “Poppa’s House”
Boundaries between work and family don't just blur in the new CBS sitcom "Poppa's House" starring father-and-son comedy duo Damon Wayans and Damon Wayans Jr. They shatter.
"It's wonderful to come to work every day and see him and some of his kids and my sister and my brother and nieces and nephews. They all work on this show. They all contribute," says the senior Wayans. "I don't think there are words to express how joyful I am."
Wayans plays the titular Poppa, a curmudgeonly radio DJ who's more than comfortable doing it his way, while Wayans Jr. plays his son, Damon, a budding filmmaker who's stuck in a job he hates.
"My character, Pop, is just an old school guy who's kind of stuck in his ways," says Wayans, who starred in "In Living Color" and "My Wife and Kids."
Pop yearns for the days when a handshake was a binding contract and Michael Jordan didn't complain if he got fouled on the court. Pop laughs at the younger generation's participation trophies.
"It's old school versus new school and them teaching each other lessons from both sides," says Wayans Jr., who played Coach in the Fox sitcom "New Girl."
"They (the characters) bring the best out in each other and they're resistant initially. But then throughout the episode they have revelations and these revelations help them become better people," he adds.
The two have worked together before — dad made an appearance on son's "Happy Endings" and "Happy Together," while son was a writer and guest star on dad's "My Wife and Kids." But this is the first time they have headlined a series together.
The half-hour comedy — premiering Monday and co-starring Essence Atkins and Tetona Jackson — smartly leaves places in the script where father and son can let... Read More