Noted U.K. production house Thomas Thomas Films is opening an office in New York. A prime catalyst behind the decision to launch a U.S. operation was the increasing amount of American work being done by director Kevin Thomas, who founded the London company with managing director Philippa Thomas in 2000.
In recent months, Thomas has directed jobs for Citibank through Fallon, Minneapolis, and the Oxygen network via New York agency Toy. Facilitating those jobs was New York-based executive producer Jenny Gadd, who now heads Thomas Thomas’ stateside shop. Gadd formerly served as exec producer at the Manhattan office of bicoastal/international Believe Media. Prior to that, she had a seven-year tenure producing at Fallon–the first six at the agency’ s Minneapolis headquarters, and the following year at its New York office.
Director Thomas gained a high profile stateside several years ago for his work on the Citibank identity theft campaign for Fallon, which included “Outfit,” winner of the coveted primetime spot Emmy Award in ’04.
Plans additionally call for Thomas Thomas’ New York shop to serve as a springboard into the American market for new directorial talent that the London office is developing, such as director Jim Gilchrist, who joined the company in October ’05. Earlier Gilchrist had been directing via since shuttered production house Small Family Business, London, which was helmer Ringan Ledwidge’s shop. (Ledwidge has since teamed with director Daniel Kleinman in an as yet unnamed London production company.) Gilchrist first established himself on the agency side. He spent five years at Fallon, London, where he shot numerous test films This in turn inspired Gilchrist to attend the International Film School in Rockport, Maine. His directorial credits over a relatively brief span include spots for such clients as the BBC, Coca-Cola, Holsten, Mars, Nike, Skoda and The Sunday Telegraph.
Gadd noted that Thomas Thomas also hopes to bring a U.S.-based director into the fold at some point, but the company is taking its time and intends to be very selective.
Oscar Producers Preview What’s In Store With New Wrinkles From 1st-Time Host Conan O’Brien
"I'm Just Ken" is a hard act to follow.
Last year's Oscars was by all accounts a successful show, with memorable performances and unscripted moments (thanks in part to Emma Stone's dress), and a winning movie that most people had seen. But the team behind last year's show is "aiming for the stars" once more.
"We're feeling the pressure," said Oscars executive producer and showrunner Raj Kapoor. "But we're not ones to rest on our laurels. We always want to push the envelope."
With just days to go until the three-and-a-half hour live broadcast, airing on ABC and streaming live on Hulu Sunday, March 2, the team behind the show provided a little insight into what to expect.
"We want people when they watch the Oscars to be inspired by the films but also be inspired by the broadcast and feel something like it's a show that you can watch with your friends and your family and debate on who should have won and who is winning," Kapoor said. "We want people to have all the feels when they watch the show."
Conan O'Brien has some surprises in store
One of the major things that the producers are excited about this year is their first-time host, Conan O'Brien.
"That alone brings this fresh, invigorated energy," Kapoor said. O'Brien, he said, has been a "wealth of ideas and imagination" since he accepted the gig and that he and his team are going to keep writing up until the show โ and as a veteran of live television, he's skilled at in-the-moment improvisation as well.
"He is going to be this great, exciting, warm hug and guide us through the night," said Oscars executive producer Katy Mullan. "He's got some surprises up his sleeve, which is fantastic because we love to keep people... Read More