Martin Canellakis and Brian Aldrich, formerly known as the directing team of Marty + Brian, have decided to pursue solo careers. Both directors continue to be represented by bicoastal Coppos Films, which has been their commercial roost for the past two years.
Both Canellakis and Aldrich described the split as amicable and as a natural progression. "We went into [directing] together, knowing that this was the way we were going to move [eventually]," said Aldrich. "This is an exciting time in our careers and we’re looking forward to the future." Canellakis added: "It’s not as if we’re fixing something that was broken. It’s that we’re looking for new challenges."
The directors also said they would consider collaborating on assignments at the request of clients with whom they’ve worked in the past. Currently, they are in production on a PSA for the Ad Council via Bates, New York, called "Y2Vote." Their most recent assignment was a four-spot package for Time Warner Cable—"Pigeon," "Contact," "Cabbie" and "Commercial Shoot"—out of New York agency Mad Dogs & Englishmen. Canellakis also recently helmed a pair of ads for Fox Sports, "Mermaid" and "Big Bass," via Cliff Freeman and Partners, New York, while Aldrich directed "Pet Park Paradise" for Petopia.com via San Francisco agency Swirl.
Separation
Canellakis and Aldrich, who initially met 15 years ago as agency creatives at Boston-based Clarke Goward Fitts (now Clarke Goward Advertising), have been preparing to go solo for the past year. During that time, they divided select multi-spot assignments, which allowed each director to build individual reels. For instance, of the aforementioned Time Warner package, Canellakis helmed "Pigeon" and "Contact" while Aldrich directed "Cabbie" and "Commercial Shoot." Other spot packages the pair parceled out include Totes out of Sive/Young & Rubicam, Cincinnati, and Drugstore.com via Leftfield, San Francisco.
"I think we’re really poised for some good work," said Bill Reilly, an executive producer at Coppos Films. "These reels are very strong and I’m very excited. [Both Martin and Brian] have a voice and you can see that their reels have quality and are hand-crafted."
Both directors will continue to work with Reilly and freelance line producer Jamie Haynes. Reilly played an integral role in bringing the directors to Coppos. He began collaborating with the duo on a freelance basis when they were in the process of building up a spec reel. Reilly later joined Coppos as a producer alongside director Mike Bigelow in the latter part of ’97, and shortly thereafter Canellakis and Aldrich found their first commercial home there. Regarding Haynes, Reilly said she "has been as much a part of [the success of this team] as anybody." Haynes produced the duo’s first two spec ads and has continued to work with the directors ever since.
One of the pair’s first commercial assignments after coming aboard Coppos Films was for Compass Bank via The Richards Group, Dallas. The ad, "If I Ran a Bank," showed several kids and their ideas on how they would run a bank. Other clients include 7-Up, Pennzoil and the Virginia Lottery.
Prior to launching their directing careers, Canellakis and Aldrich teamed up as freelance agency artisans. From ’93 until signing with Coppos in early ’98, the pair worked on campaigns for Sprint via Publicis & Hal Riney, San Francisco, as well as Wells Fargo and the Los Angeles Times via DDB, Los Angeles. Other agency clients included Bates, New York; McCann-Erickson, Tokyo; and the former Santa Monica office of the Chicago-headquartered Leap Partnership. Earlier in their careers, Canellakis and Aldrich held staff positions at various ad agencies: Canellakis at Deutsch, New York, Chiat/Day, New York (now TBWA/Chiat/Day), and McCann-Erickson, New York; Aldrich at now defunct Della Femina McNamee WCRS, Los Angeles.
Coppos Films’ East Coast managing director Joanne Ferraro serves as national director of sales. The company is represented by Vicky Miller on the West Coast; Gay Guthrey in the Midwest and Kira Gourguechon on the East Coast.
