By SARAH WOODWARD
Composer Michael Skloff has purchased Sublime Music, the West Hollywood music house founded in ’93 by noted commercial director Jim Sonzero. The transaction was finalized in February, at which time Skloff renamed the company The RecRoom in order to reflect both the shift in ownership and the company’s recent expansion into the record business. "I didn’t want to have the same identity as Sublime," Skloff said, "[because] aside from doing commercials [and TV and film scores], we’re also producing artists and we have relationships with people in the record industry that we’re starting to nurture. The record business is a new and exciting venture for us."
Already, The RecRoom is in advanced negotiations to produce albums for two artists, Joel Virtil and Christian Smith. "The paperwork is still happening," Skloff said, but barring any unforeseen complications, "we are doing the music." Skloff describes Virtil as "an exotic, eclectic singer" whose album will likely feature "Caribbean and Latin American beats but also some electronic music mixed in." Smith, on the other hand, has "a Bob Dylan approach: politically informed folk music," according to Skloff, who said he could not estimate when those albums would be completed. The RecRoom also has a demo deal with a third artist, Christine Mourad.
Originally, Sublime was comprised of Sonzero (currently of bicoastal Venus Entertainment, a satellite of HSI Productions), who backed the company financially but was not involved with daily operations, and composer/sound designer Giorgio Bertuccelli. Bertuccelli maintains his position at The RecRoom, and will also team with Skloff to produce records.
Skloff joined the company in ’97 as a composer. Last year, the company moved into its present office in West Hollywood, which features a Frontwall recording system-a unique, freestanding piece of furniture that consists of a frame, acoustic panels, monitors and electronic components for sound monitoring (SHOOT, 1/16/98, p. 38).
Other changes within the company include the addition of producer Elisa Rosen, who joins The RecRoom after a year at Skloff’s independent company, Michael Skloff Music, where she served as an assistant. Rosen replaces producer Pegi Murray, who left the company in February and has since joined bicoastal music house tomandandy as a producer. As for Michael Skloff Music, Skloff said there will likely be some crossover between his two companies, but he will maintain them separately. "If, for instance, someone approaches me specifically to do a film score," he explained, "I’ll probably record it through The RecRoom, but it will be a Michael Skloff Music production."
The RecRoom’s most recent project was producing music for the Knowledge Adventure company’s Dr Brain: Thinking Games, a series of educational games available commercially on CD-ROM. Skloff said the adventure and logic games can be described as educational video games. The RecRoom also continues to score the NBC series Friends, Veronica’s Closet and Jesse.
The RecRoom is currently without representation in the spot arena, but Skloff said, "We have some relationships with agencies and that seems to keep us going."
For TV and film projects, Skloff and Bertuccelli are repped by Cheryl Tiano of the Gorfaine-Schwartz Agency based in Sherman Oaks, Calif. Jeff Antebi of Waxploitation Entertainment Group, Hollywood, represents the duo as record producers.
Director Jack Begert Joins Biscuit For His First Commercial Representation In U.S. & U.K.
Biscuit Filmworks has added filmmaker Jack Begert to its roster in the U.S. and U.K. This marks Begert’s first representation in advertising, building upon his acclaimed work in music video and film. He is best known for his striking aesthetic and surreal use of visual effects, displayed in his feature film debut Little Death, which won the NEXT Innovator Award at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. The film stars David Schwimmer, Gaby Hoffman, Dominic Fike, and Talia Ryder, and was produced by Darren Aronofsky.
Miami-born and L.A.-based, the USC Film School graduate began his career in VFX and as an editor. Begert has worked with iconic musical artists including Kendrick Lamar, SZA, Flying Lotus, Childish Gambino, and Olivia Rodrigo, and has independently directed international campaigns for brands such as Apple, Converse, New Era, and Reebok.
Shawn Lacy, founding partner of Biscuit Filmworks, said of Begert, “We are such fans of his work--and of him as a creator, thinker, collaborator, and great guy.”
“My creative approach is often about trying to discover something unexpected in the filmmaking process,” said Begert. “Biscuit is a place where I can bring my own perspective to the work and still feel supported. That philosophy is clear from the talent they represent, and I’m excited to join their roster.”
“Jack’s work blew me away the moment I first saw it,” said Rupert Reynolds-Maclean, managing director at Biscuit Filmworks UK. “He is a modern young director who clearly cares deeply about both craft and the necessity for it in his storytelling. Everything always pushes the narrative forward. We’re looking forward to making great work together.”
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