Karma Kollective (KK,) a full-service production company based in Culver City, CA, specializing in local, regional, national and international TV commercials, music videos and multi-media projects, has announced that its newly signed director Dean Karr has just completed two new projects. KK’s Yamani Watkins, Founder/Executive Producer, and Edy Enriquez, Executive Producer, made the announcement.
Karr and his producer Arthur Gorson as Wild Indigo@Karma Kollective, have just completed direction of a new TV spot promoting Universal Studios, Orlando, entitled “Halloween Horror Nights: Bloody Mary” for client, El Segundo, CA-based David and Goliath. In this highly stylized horrific spot, a man “summons” up the legendary ghost of “Bloody Mary” as he looks into a mirror. Much to his surprise—and horror—”Mary” actually crashes through the mirror. The VO says, “Bloody Mary comes alive, only at Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights.” To view this spot, please see:
http://www.halloweenhorrornights.com/orlando/commercial2.html
Said Carrie Lighthall, DavidandGoliath producer, “Dean Karr was a great collaborator. He took the legend of ‘Bloody Mary’ and created a character that literally jumps through the screen and grabs your attention. From the casting down to the most minute set detail, he really thought about how to best bring our concept to life for Universal Orlando Resort.”
Karr, Gorson and Wild Indigo@Karma Kollective have also completed a TV spot promoting the introduction of “Palms Place” at The Palms Hotel in Las Vegas. In this spot, the viewer sees a happy young couple enjoying the various amenities that the new “Palms Place” has to offer, including sophisticated dining, luxurious spa relaxation, and intriguing swimming pool settings. The VO says, “One day, Las Vegas will evolve. Living spaces will be civilized. Man and Woman will rejuvenate together in a kind of co-ed pleasure dome. Dining will be sophisticated, but also playlful. Welcome to Palms Place.”
KK’s client for The Palms project was SK+G Advertising Creative Director Clayton James. James said, “Dean is an amazing director, and his producer Arthur and production company Karma Kollective together create a formidable team that can seemingly and routinely pull off the impossible. We’ve worked together on two projects so far, and each time they have gone over and above to create memorable and breakthrough spots. Dean is a pure visual thinker and storyteller. He creates a vision and he knows how to capture it. If you know Dean, you know that he combines a ‘Rock and Roll, Balls to the Wall’ energy with a tasteful and well crafted creative sensibility. To me, it is this combination of traits that separates him from other directors with whom I have worked.”
Regarding his latest projects, Karr said, “Collaborating on Universal’s annual ‘Halloween Horror Nights’ project is a highlight of our work year. The opportunity to bring my understanding of macabre drama to a broadcast commercial venture is always exciting, and this year’s ‘Bloody Mary’ was among the best. With the Palms Place project, my task was to introduce and capture the seductive nature of this beautiful new facility. The agency’s clear understanding of the target market, and our killer visual team helped do the trick.”
He adds, “Karma Kollective provides us with the perfect home for our creative activities. There is nothing like the energy that comes from working with a group of people that you know and trust.”
ABOUT DEAN KARR:
Director/Photographer Dean Karr is considered a true original. His signature style, often copied but never duplicated, has gained him international recognition. A native of Seattle, Washington, Karr received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Washington State University, and later attended LA’s Art Centre School of Design in Pasadena.
Intrigued by the potential of the moving image, Karr ventured into music videos. The promise of his early work led him to be asked to direct Marilyn Manson’s "Sweet Dreams." The resulting piece was a shocker, drawing immediate and broad commercial attention, serving to propel both Manson and Karr into the forefront of the visual rock world. Work with other top artists soon followed.
Karr’s prolific work as a music video/commercial director has brought him to the forefront of his craft. His visuals reveal a highly tuned sense of style, fashion, art, and storytelling. His music videos are constantly found at the top of national play lists, and have been nominated for major MTV, Billboard, and MVPA Video Awards. He won “Video of the Year” and “Best Rock Video” at the 2007 MUCH Music Awards. Karr has worked with such major recording artists as The Dave Matthews Band, Tommy Lee, Wilie Nelson, Ozzy Osbourne, Cypress Hill, Stevie Nicks, Dr. Dre, Queens of the Stone Age, Godsmack, Iron Maiden, Velvet Revolver, and Damian Marley.
Karr’s TV commercial projects combine his distinctive bold imagery with strong product recognition, and include work for clients such as: Mazda Automobiles (Foote, Cone & Belding), Woolrich (Siquis, Ltd.), Mortal Kombat (DDB Needham), Palms Hotels (S+K Group); and annual “Halloween Horror Night” spots for Universal Studios Orlando and Coca Cola (David & Goliath Agency.)
Karr’s photography has been the subject of numerous shows at galleries ranging from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art to the prestigious Merry Karnowsky Gallery where his art pieces are in great demand. His striking album and print work includes providing imagery for such artists as T-Pain, Tool, A Perfect Circle, Marilyn Manson, Match Box 20, Lenny Kravitz, Busta Rhymes, Chris Rock and Three Doors Down. His numerous institutional print campaigns include Universal Studios, HBO, Tommy Hilfiger and the National Ad Council, alongside publications Newsweek and Vibe Magazine.
ABOUT KARMA KOLLECTIVE:
Founded in 2008 in Culver City, CA, by Executive Producer Yamani Watkins with Edy Enriquez also serving as Executive Producer, Karma Kollective is a full-service production company specializing in commercials, music videos and multi-media projects. KK’s Mid-West Rep is Lauren McNamara, of the rep firm Lauren McNamara, Inc., who is based in Chicago, its Southern Rep Jack Reed of Jack Reed Reps, based in Dallas, and its West Coast Rep Yvette Lubinsky of the rep firm YvetteReps, based in Culver City, CA. Karma Kollective’s address is 5870-D W. Jefferson Blvd, Culver City, CA 90016, the web is www.karmakollective.tv and the phone is 310/836-5100.
