Director Jeannette Godoy has joined integrated production house The Traveling Picture Show Company (TPSC) for exclusive representation. Godoy–who was formerly handled by Harpoon Pictures–is set to premiere her documentary Free 2 Be Me at the Newport Beach Film Festival on April 27.
The documentary tells the story of Free 2 Be Me Dance, an adaptive dance program founded by Colleen Perry for kids and young adults with Down Syndrome. “I shot their 2013 season, filming every class, and interviewing all those involved. Having the opportunity to observe these dancers working so hard, and seeing them find such joy in dance was a moving experience,” said Godoy. Free 2 Be Me is also scheduled to screen at the Dance Camera West Film Festival on June 7 and at the National Down Syndrome Congress Film Festival in July.
Godoy’s ad credits span such clients as Zest, NHL team the Phoenix Coyotes, Gannett and Nike, and agencies like Barkley, Cramer-Krasselt and Partners + Napier. She came to the ad industry’s attention in 2011 when she earned inclusion into SHOOT’s New Directors showcase in large part on the strength of Bridgestone’s “A Boy and His Tire,” a spec spot she wrote and directed back when she was at production company Superlounge. Earlier “A Boy and His Tire” made SHOOT’s “The Best Work You May Never See” gallery.
The spec piece takes us through the life of a young boy into early manhood, starting with his playing on his beloved automobile tire turned swing hanging from a tree. He takes the tire with him everywhere and it’s a habit he can’t shake. For instance, we see him seated with the tire at the dinner table as his concerned parents look on. As an older lad, he is a passenger on the school bus, accompanied by the tire. Years later we see him in the movie theater, seated next to his tire. Other kids throw popcorn at him. He even takes the tire to the high school prom as his date.
Belittled and derided as a loser for his tire fetish, one day the tables are dramatically turned when a lovely woman is stranded due to a flat tire on her car. Along comes our boy turned man walking along with his ubiquitous tire. They smile at each other and clearly a romance is sparked—turns out that tire came in handy after all. They speed off together in her sports car convertible.
Godoy began her career as a choreographer for commercials, feature films and music videos. She is well known for her choreography in Sir Mix-A-Lot’s famous video “Baby Got Back”. She later became a stylist for feature film and commercials but it was her desire to share her love of storytelling that led her to pursue directing.
Her storytelling prowess and adept interviewing skills caught the eye of John Noble, TPSC’s executive producer. “With Jeannette I saw an amazing opportunity to collaborate and flourish with a gifted and passionate storyteller,” related Noble. “We immediately connected and quickly discovered we had similar philosophies and ambitions for the commercial/branded content space.”
TPSC is a partially women-owned company, led by CEO/partner Carissa Buffel and partner Kate Bacon. The company is a recent recipient of WBENC certification, which will create more diversity and opportunities moving forward. Godoy joins the roster as the first female director represented in house.
