Content development and production company Rodeo Show has signed British director Jamie Lane for U.S. representation spanning commercials and branded content. He has directed for a wide range of clients, including BMW, McDonald’s, Mars, Kellogg’s, and Vodafone.
“I was first introduced to Rodeo Show through [commercial rep] Corey Rodgers in New York,” recalled Lane from his home in London. “Not only are they just really nice people who take the time to listen to and chat with you, but they’re also exactly the right size where you know you’ll truly be supported as a director.”
Lane has been in the industry for almost three decades, directing commercials for the past 18 years, all the while building a name for himself, particularly in comedy, across the U.K. and Europe. He got his start as a director in the London arm of award-winning production company Great Guns, before moving on to helm commercials for The Love commercial production company, as well as HOBEN. Along the way, Lane also honed his craft by working as an assistant at Partizan to established directors, including Michel Gondry and Doug Nichol, to name but a few.
Lane has been described as having an eye for natural and fluid performances, which he credits to his desire to discover new and engaging actors–all of which ties back to his general love of people-watching. “I can be on the bus, unable to stop watching two strangers have an argument, and I realize it’s just like creating comedy — it’s fundamentally about working with interesting people,” Lane notes. Having worked with Belinda Norcliffe Casting for 18 years, he also makes it a rule to never work with the same actor twice.
Having earned multiple Cannes Lions for his commercial work, namely for the hoax ComputerTan.com website via ad agency McCann Erickson London and client Skcin (The Karen Clifford Skin Cancer Charity), Lane has an eye for comedy that encompasses both everyday and slightly stylized situations. One of his most notable ads for online gambling company Sun Bingo features a dizzying range of subtly colorful individuals, all interacting in a lively series of kinetic whip pan shots. Another ad for Kellogg’s Crunchy Nut, titled “The Rummager,” sees a relatably rumpled office worker searching for any utensils he can find to enjoy his morning cereal, all while an unseen narrator dryly tweaks his unorthodox eating habits.
“Jamie is a master and commander of the commercial format in his own right,” said Mike Brady, Rodeo Show executive producer and managing partner. “One look at his reel and you’ll find an entire universe of offbeat worlds and characters brimming with life. Every story he tells manages to feel original and true to the brands he works with; but anyone who knows Jamie’s work will most certainly know it’s him. We’re excited for the U.S. market to see just what we’re talking about.”
Lane had been repped briefly in the U.S. (via Trio Films) early on in his career but has not been engaged in the American market since then. Beyond his European commercial work, Lane enjoys still photography, with a notable interest in documenting London’s closed shopfronts and more eccentric residents. Whether he’s “having more than one camera nicked in a dodgy neighborhood,” or photographing a train commuter with a large snake around his neck, Lane is not one to sit still.
He is eager to embrace the American ethos that gives commercial directors more creative freedom in the editing of projects, especially with the backing of Rodeo Show.
“I’m excited to see what we can achieve together,” concluded Lane.
“Heretic” and “Maria” Set As Red Carpet Premieres At AFI Fest
The American Film Institute (AFI) has announced that Heretic, the psychological thriller starring Hugh Grant, and Maria, based on the life of opera singer Maria Callas starring Angelina Jolie, will round out the Red Carpet Premieres section at this year’s AFI Fest. The Heretic Gala Screening will take place on Thursday, October 24, and the Maria Gala Screening will be held on Saturday, October 26. The complete Red Carpet Premieres section includes the world premieres of Music By John Williams, Robert Zemeckis’ Here, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl and Clint Eastwood’s Juror #2. All Red Carpet Premieres will take place at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre. The full lineup for AFI Fest 2024 will be unveiled on October 1.
“At the heart of AFI Fest is an unwavering dedication to celebrating the best in global cinema--together,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI president and CEO. “We look forward to uniting artists and audiences once again to be inspired by the art form in a powerful sense of community.”
Heretic follows two young missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) who are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed (portrayed by Grant), becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse. The film is directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods and produced by Stacey Sher, Beck, Woods, Julia Glausi and Jeanette Volturno. The film will be released nationwide by A24 on November 8.
Directed by Pablo Larraín, Maria presents a tumultuous and beautiful depiction of one of the world’s most renowned artists and reimagines the legendary soprano in her final days in Paris, as Callas (Jolie)... Read More