John Adams, whose talent for crafting smart, funny, true-to-life stories has made him one of the top comedy directors in advertising, has joined bi-coastal Original for exclusive representation. Adams joins Original after a ten-year run at Los Angeles-based Form where he directed campaigns for Bud Light, AT&T, Home Depot, Snickers and many other national brands.
“John is a phenomenal talent, an A-list director in every sense of the word,” said Original partner/executive director Jeff Devlin. “I have been a fan of his for years and continue to be impressed with the incredible spirit and enthusiasm that he brings to his projects.”
Adams began his career on the agency side as a copywriter and producer, including tenures at Hal Riney & Partners and Wieden & Kennedy. He broke into directing while serving as Head of Production at DDB Needham, Dallas.
Adams enjoyed quick success as a director and remains in high demand. He estimates that he has directed more than 400 spots, most of which leverage his understated approach toward dialogue driven comedy. His most recent work includes a spot for Cellular One in which a teen reacts in incomprehension when her parents present her with an old fashioned device called a “camera.” (“Who would invent a camera-phone that doesn’t call anyone?” she whines.) He also directed a spot for Home Depot promoting a national “Tool Trade-In” event. In it, a man consoles a buddy who is about to part ways with a treasured, but aging drill.
“I was lucky that, from the start, I got to do things that involved comedy and storytelling,” Adams explains. “Styles and fashions change quickly in advertising, but people will always enjoy spots that involve human storytelling.”
Adams said that he was attracted to Original by its unusual combination of national reach and boutique size. He was also impressed that the company has been growing at a time when many others are struggling. “I talked to a lot of companies, but the combination of Jeff Devlin, Bruce Mellon and Joe Piccirillo (the company’s partners and executive producers) was something I couldn’t find anywhere else,” he observed.
“There is something about people who have not only survived but thrived in what have been some very tough times for the advertising industry,” he added. “More than ever, it is important to surround yourself with people who have been successful and know what they are doing, because they are the people who can help your clients.”
About Original
Original is led by executive producers Bruce Mellon, Joe Piccirillo, Marc Lasko and Jeff Devlin, and maintains production offices in Los Angeles and New York City. The company’s post production division, headed by Jonathan Del Gatto, provides editorial, design, graphics and visual effects services. Original is represented on the West Coast by Options, (310) 578-9383; on the East Coast by Jeff Devlin, (212) 832 2271 ; in the Midwest by HK Reps (312) 533-4047; and in Texas by Jack Reed, (214) 213-8249. For more information, call (310) 445-9000 or (212) 832-2271, or visit www.originalfilm.com.