Bicoastal production company Nonfiction Unlimited has added David Gelb to its roster of award-winning documentary commercial filmmakers. Gelb will focus on commercials, short films and branded content projects. nnThe signing follows the success of “Jiro Dreams of Sushi,” Gelb’s hypnotic feature documenting a tiny subterranean sushi-only restaurant in a Tokyo subway station. It collected the AFI World Cinema Audience Award and Monterrey International Film Festival’s Audience Award before its bow at the Tribeca International Film Festival. The film was purchased by Magnolia Pictures at the event and has gone on to amass over $2 Million at the box office.nnnnGelb’s addition enhances the roster of distinguished documentarians under the Nonfiction banner, the only commercial production company devoted exclusively to representing some of the most prestigious documentarians in the country.nn”David has an amazing visual esthetic that is a perfect complement to our roster,” explains Nonfiction exec producer Loretta Jeneski. “His work is full of wonderful character studies with a visual sensibility that is perfect for brands seeking broad commercial appeal.” nnGelb’s career rolled into gear right out of college. A graduate of USC’s Cinema Production program, Gelb traveled across America documenting the rock outfit The Hold Steady. Then shorts starring thesps Robert Downey Jr., Edward Burns, Jeffrey Tambor and Henry Winkler unspooled at the Tribeca International Film Festival. nnSuccess on the Sundance Channel followed with A Vision of Blindness, a behind-the-scenes look at Fernando Meirelles’ feature Blindness starring Mark Ruffalo and Julianne Moore. Gelb has also directed music videos and behind-the-scenes shorts for John Fogerty and the Willowz, Modest Mouse, Bright Eyes and Incubus.nn”Jiro Dreams of Sushi” marks Gelb’s feature film debut. It follows 85-year old Jiro Ono, sushi chef shaping creations with a diamond cutter’s attention to detail. Gelb deftly moves beyond mere cuisine, however, to showcase a fascinating character study of Jiro.nnA distinct visual signature also plays largely, unveiling the essence of Japan. A sushi aficionado since childhood, Gelb spent the better part of a year shooting footage using a combination of Canon HDSLR and Red One cameras.nnGelb looks forward to bringing his documentary experience into the commercial production arena, “I feel that Nonfiction is a perfect fit for me,” he explains. “My work is about telling an honest story and turning the audience on to genuine characters. I am excited to bring that to advertising projects at a company that embraces the best of that.”nnAbout Nonfiction UnlimitednBicoastal Production Company Nonfiction Unlimited works with an exclusive roster of award-winning documentary filmmakers on projects for advertising agencies and advertisers. The company produces TV commercials, feature and short documentaries for screens both large and small. www.nonfictionunlimited.comnnCredits “Jiro Dreams of Sushi” DocumentarynnDirection & Cinematography by David GelbnFilm Editing by Brandon Driscoll-LuttringernProduction ManagementnnProduced bynJoey Carey….executive producernRoss M. Dinerstein….executive producernKevin Iwashina ….producernChris Kelly ….executive producernStefan Nowicki ….executive producernEd Ojdana ….executive producernTom Pelligrini ….producernMatt Weaver ….executive producernnGina Amador…. post-production supervisorn nSound DepartmentnDarlene Gorzela…. additional soundnLaura Harley…. post-production sound coordinatornTim Hoogenakker…. dialogue editornTim Hoogenakker…. sound re-recording mixernChris Johnston…. foley mixernDawn Redmann…. post-production sound coordinatornAnthony Vanchure…. foley artistnDarren ‘Sunny’ Warkentin…. supervising sound editornRobert Weiss …. sound editorn nEditorial DepartmentnEvans Butterworth…. digital intermediate account executivenMathieu Reid…. color timern nMusic DepartmentnJeff Foxworth…. composer: additional musicnThe Ontic…. composer: additional musicnRye Randa…. composer: additional musicnnTalentnJiro Ono… HimselfnYoshikazu Ono… Himself
Loretta Jeneski Executive Producer Nonfiction Unlimited Contact LJ via email office 310.399.9600
Voyager’s “Shanti Rides Shotgun” Gears Up for SXSW World Premiere
Directed by Charles Frank of Voyager, "Shanti Rides Shotgun" is heading to Texas for its world premiere at SXSW. Produced by Daniel Lombroso (“White Noise,” “Nina & Irena”) and Meliz Yilmaz, with editing by Nico Frank of Leap Year, the short film takes viewers on a ride through the bustling streets of Manhattan alongside the city’s most iconic driving instructor as she prepares students for the road ahead. “It’s a huge honor to premiere our film at a festival as prestigious as SXSW,” shares Frank. “ I have always appreciated their taste in documentaries and have discovered some of my favorite work through their platform. With ‘Shanti Rides Shotgun,’ we sought to make a film that matched Shanti’s charisma and I hope audiences have as much fun watching it as we did making it.” The film follows Shanti Gooljar, New York City’s most known and highly talked-about driving instructor, as she hits the jam-packed streets of Manhattan with her students. Known for her unfiltered personality and an impressive 99% passing rate over her 30-year career, Shanti’s teaching style is as unique as it is effective. The film offers an intimate look at her life, capturing both her personal journey with an up-close look at what makes her lessons unforgettable. “Shanti’s charisma has taken New York City by storm," says Producer Daniel Lombroso. "Pair her with Charles Frank, one of the brightest minds in filmmaking, and you have an emotional roller-coaster of a short film. Shanti’s car takes us across the thrilling mosaic that is New York – an expansive world ready-made for a television show.” Building on the success of the short film, the Voyager team and... Read More