Director Charles Wittenmeier-who spent the past three-plus years at A Band Apart Commercials, bicoastal and Minneapolis-has joined bicoastal/international Propaganda Films for representation worldwide, except for Canada where he continues to be handled by Imported Artists Film Co., Toronto.
At press time, Wittenmeier was unavailable for comment. But Steve Dickstein, president of Propagandas commercial division, confirmed the signing.
Dickstein related that he has long been tracking and admiring Wittenmeiers work, dating back to when the director was at now defunct Harmony Pictures and first established himself in the ad humor genre with a string of lauded spots for Little Caesars out of Cliff Freeman And Partners, New York. (The agency lost the account last year.) The Little Caesars fare included the Wittenmeier-helmed Singing Baby which back in 1995 picked up a Bronze Lion at Cannes and was honored at the AICP Show in the direction/ humor category.
Awards recognition has steadily continued throughout Wittenmeiers career. For example, at last Novembers London International Advertising Awards, the Wittenmeier-helmed Mall for Nintendos Pocket Game Boy out of Leo Burnett Co., Chicago, topped the toys/ games category. Last month, his Budweiser spot Mind Control for DDB Needham Chicago earned the Grand Award for best commercial at the New York Festivals 41st Annual Television Advertising Awards competition.
In Mind Control-which additionally won Gold in the N.Y. Festivals alcoholic beverage category-fans of the supersensory fill an auditorium to judge the prowess of three contestants. One contestants desire for a Bud seems to give him the edge, but the ultimate mind-over-matter power turns out to really belong to an audience member who outperforms the on-stage psychics. Wittenmeier also directed Handyman and Rain, two of the three Bud Light spots from DDB Needham Chicago which collectively copped a N.Y. Festivals Gold for best alcoholic beverage campaign. (The third ad, Shopping was directed by Dave Merhar of Visitor, Santa Monica).
And most recently (see separate story, page 8), a trio of Wittenmeier-directed spots came up first place winners at the Mobius Advertising Awards, Chicago: Buds Mind Control and My Chair, both for DDB Needham Chicago; and Alaska Airlines Lawn Boys out of Seattle agency WongDoody. My Chair tells the humorous story of man and dog vying for a choice livingroom seat while Lawn Boys depicts a youngster going above and beyond the call of duty when tending to an elderly womans front lawn.
Charles is one of the very few directors who can make you laugh with timing, his sensibility and casting, assessed Dickstein. We want to focus on his strengths and expand opportunities for him based on that skillset.
That expansive approach also applies to long-form. Dickstein said he views Wittenmeier as a filmmaker and a commercial director; in that vein, Propaganda has also signed Wittenmeier for career management encompassing theatrical features.
Wittenmeier had been with A Band Apart since December 1995 after ending a nearly six and a half year tenure at Harmony. He is the second significant addition to Propagandas roster in early 99. Last month, the company secured director Jason Harrington who shifted his U.S. representation over from Tony K., West Hollywood (SHOOT, 1/22, p. 1).
