Mono-monikered director Angel has signed for exclusive spot representation in North America with bicoastal RSA USA, the commercial production house headed by managing director Jules Daly. Though his prime focus is on spots, Angel also gains clips representation via Black Dog, RSA USA’s bicoastal music video division.
Most recently, Angel had been freelancing for a brief stretch. Prior to that, under his full name-Angel Gracia-he was on board bicoastal/international hungry man, which repped him in the U.S. and Canada from 1999 to 2000.
Before signing with RSA USA, Angel helmed a pair of European market ads for Fiat via Vitruvio/Leo Burnett, Madrid. "Follow that Truck" and "Emergency" were shot in New York and co-produced by RSA USA and Got Film?, Barcelona, which reps Angel in Spain. "Follow that Truck" was short-listed at this year’s Cannes International Advertising Festival.
"Ridley and Tony Scott’s work has always been an important inspiration to me," related Angel. "Joining their company is a true honor."
Shortly after signing with RSA USA, Angel, who is based in New York, traveled to Spain for three assignments: ads for Dorada beer via Vitruvio/Leo Burnett; Via Digital satellite TV out of Ruiz Nicoli, Madrid; and the El Pais newspaper via McCann Erickson, Madrid.
Daly said Angel has "a great mixture of a European feeling but with an uncanny understanding of American advertising, and he’s hugely enthusiastic." Angel is the first helmer to sign with RSA USA since Daly was promoted to succeed managing director Linda Ross, who was let go (SHOOT, 6/2/00 and 6/9/00). as a result of the controversial actors’ strike-related print ad that the company placed in SHOOT.
RSA USA creative director/ executive producer Jim Czarnecki added that Angel is "a well-rounded filmmaker" who "has an effects background, is very visual, and also has some comedy/ dialogue [experience] and a little bit of storytelling."
During his year-long association with hungry man, Angel helmed "NASCAR goes to Hollywood," a client-direct :70 for Coca-Cola that screened nationally in cinemas; and a Canadian market ad for Cadbury via Leo Burnett, Toronto.
Born in Caracas, Angel briefly studied film at Miami-Dade Community College, Miami, where he directed two award-winning shorts. The first, The Three-Cornered Hat, about Flamenco dancing and a love triangle, won a student Academy Award in ’87. The second, "If I Were Alone," was a music video for singer John Bauer. It won a Florida Emmy Award in ’88.
That same year, Angel won the chance to direct a video for Madonna’s "True Blue" via an MTV-sponsored contest. Angel’s black-and-white film submission was selected and went on to become the actual "True Blue" clip.
From there, the director began helming clips for artists such as Selena and Enigma. In ’92, he was recruited to head up a new music video production and special effects house under BMG’s Logic Records label. Based in Frankfurt, the new division was called A&M. (Logic had an additional office in London.) While overseas, Angel helmed clips for artists such as Snap, Daryl Hall, Dusty Springfield, Heaven 17 and Jam & Spoon.
By ’94, Angel had broken into the European commercial market, directing ads for clients such as Fuji, Coca-Cola and BMW. He continued to helm music videos, however, and his association with Logic also led Angel to direct a one-hour TV movie that aired overseas. Titled The Spirit, the documentary-style film examined the members of the pop band 5NY.
Angel’s additional commercial directing credits include ads for Ericsson cellular phones, Luis Phillipe menswear, and Iberia airlines. His first feature film is in development.
RSA USA’s East Coast sales are handled by New York-based Andrea Marcucci and Michelle Thibault. Santa Monica-based Stacey & Annie reps RSA on the West Coast, and Chicago-based Nikki Weiss handles the Midwest.
