Harpoon Pictures, the NY based production company headed by Executive Producer, Chester Mayer, has added director Rohitash Rao to its roster for exclusive US spot representation, Chris Miller, Director of New Business Development, announced today.
Rao’s work encompasses all forms of animation, as well as live action, which has helped to establish him as the go-to guy for mixed media work. He brings an interesting combination of conceptual thinking, technical know-how and a view that is slightly left of center. This is most evident in the live-action and animation spots he did for Nike’s “Be Transformed” campaign, created and produced by AKQA in San Francisco. His work also includes a wacky set of promos for G4, as well as a racy stop-motion spot for Boost Mobile, in which Mrs. Claus and a snowman are caught in a compromising position.
“Personally, it’s very rewarding to have an opportunity to work with Ro. We’ve been good friends for many years and I know well the depth of his vastly creative mind,” says Miller. “Ro is truly a conceptual genius whose ideas have always left me on the edge of my seat.” Mayer agrees “As we strive to improve the creative strength of our roster, Ro is an invaluable addition and allows us to respond to needs in a different genre.”
Rao started his film career by building a self-financed spec reel while he was still working on the agency side. A graduate of the Art Center in Pasadena, his agency experience also includes BBDO, Larsen/Colby and Stein Robaire Helm in L.A. and freelance work at such shops as TBWAChiatDay, Cliff Freeman & Partners, Kirshenbaum Bond & Partners, Ogilvy and Fallon.
Rao’s work has garnered attention from the One Show, D&AD, the Clios, ADWEEK, Creativity, Rolling Stone, the Webby’s, Entertainment Weekly and ABC’s “Funniest Commercials.” His short films have played in over 25 film festivals around the world including TriBeca, Ottawa, Annecy and the Spike and Mike “Sick and Twisted” Animation Festival. He recently co-authored and illustrated his second children’s book, the sequel to "Herbert"s Wormhole" through Harper Collins and a third book is due out in the spring of 2014. He also just finished making an animated pilot for 20th Century Fox entitled "Rancho Cucamonga" which is based on his life. The show was executive produced by Lorne Michaels.
About Harpoon Pictures
Based in New York, NY, Harpoon Pictures is a national commercial production company featuring the diverse talents of Directors Joel Peissig, Hernán Kesselman, Jeannette Godoy, Alejandro Toledo, Tricia Caruso, Anita Madeira and Jeremy Russell. Under the leadership of EP Chester Mayer and Director of New Business Development Chris Miller, the company offers a wide range of talent, who all play a distinct role in the creative process, contributing to a highly collaborative culture. Harpoon Pictures is represented by Miller in the East coast, in the Midwest by Laurel Dobose at Gypsy, in the West and Southwest by Toni Saarinen & Brandon Pico at Saarinen and in the Hispanic Market by Sylvia Barrera. For more on Harpoon Pictures, go to www.harpoonpictures.com or “Like” us on Facebook at: facebook.com/harpoonpictures.
