Director Richie Keen of Superlounge had the time of his life earlier this summer directing “Glee” star Jane Lynch for a new PSA, part of an integrated campaign from ad agency The Field (social), for The National College Finance Center. Launched last week, the comprehensive campaign includes the 30-second spot featuring Lynch talking to a very proactive little girl concerned with college savings. Lynch explains the benefits of referring to the new National College Finance Center website (www.collegefinancecenter.org), which provides students and their families with tools to learn the smartest ways to address financing for college. nn
nTo view the new spot online, visit here.nnSuperlounge Director Richie Keen has had a bang-up 2012 to date: chosen as a “Digital Luminary” by NATPE early in the year was followed by winning the prestigious WGA Award for achievement in New Media writing, both for his internet hit, “Aim High.” On the heels of a multi-spot campaign for X-Box, Keen has just completed a commercial campaign for AIU via Ogilvy/New York. And Keen just signed on to direct five episodes of the popular “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” airing this fall.nnA natural with directing celebrity talent, Keen says of his collaboration with Lynch on this important PSA: “Jane Lynch is one of the top comedic actors of our time and she was a consummate professional to work with,” notes the Director. “What’s more, she truly believes in this cause and that made our experience with her all that much better.”nn”Working with a star like Jane Lynch takes a lot of different skills,” adds Michael Porte of ad agency The Field (social). “One; you have to be funny and understand comedy. Two; you need to be a great filmmaker and be ready to create and capture funny on film. And Three; you need to have the confidence to work with one of America’s biggest comedy stars and have the conviction to let them know when and what is working and what is not. Richie has all these skills in abundance… Hey, and he’s a nice guy too!”nnCreditsnClient: National College Finance CenternThe New York Public Information Research Group (NYPIRG)n nAdvertising Agency: The Field (social)nExecutive Creative Director: Michael PortenCopywriter/Creative Director: Lisa Birnbachn nProduction Company: SuperloungenDirector: Richie KeennDP: David HenningsnExecutive Producer: David FarrellnProducer: Beth PearsonnAssociate Producer: Bobby Pulliamn nEditorial Company: Miller Wishengrad PostnEditor: Jeff WishengradnExecutive Producer: Gary Levinen nPostproduction Company: New Hat nColorist: Bob Festan nAudio Post Company: YessiannExecutive Producer: Brian YessiannProducer: Marlene BartonnnAbout Richie KeennRichie Keen’s most recent directing credits include the Fox half hour comedy “Traffic Light,” three episodes of the new Fox sketch comedy show “In The Flow” produced by Jamie Foxx, and “How To Be A Gentleman” starring David Hornsby and Kevin Dillon. “Aim High” was released by Warner Premiere and McG, which Richie executive produced, co-wrote and co-created. “Aim High” is about a high school hit man and premiered on Facebook, resulting in a WGA Award for achievement in New Media writing, as well as a Digital Luminary honor from NATPE. Other recent credits include directing the Spike pilot “Kings By Night,” which he co-created, co-wrote and executive produced. Richie also directed all 10 episodes of “Important Things with Demetri Martin” Season 2 for Comedy Central.nnAfter a very successful career in front of the camera starring in dozens of sitcoms and national commercials, Richie became one of Hollywood’s top acting coaches. Working with the famous, infamous and soon-to-be-famous, Richie quickly became the go-to guy for comedy. When his short film “Hooked” premiered at the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in 2006, he caught the attention of several television networks and ultimately signed a deal with Fox. Music videos followed, as well as commercial campaigns for Jeep and AT&T and most recently Mastercard. nnHis viral work including “Deathbed Subtext,” (800,000 hits) starring Topher Grace and Kate Bosworth and “Tom Cruise Is A Cock Block” (1,000,000 hits) have become Internet phenomenons on such sites as funnyordie, break and youtube. Since signing with Superlounge for commercials/advertising projects last year, Keen has shot multi-spot campaigns for X-Box, AIU, and he has just completed this new PSA starring “Glee” star Jane Lynch for the National College Finance Center.nnAbout The Field (social)nBoutique ad agency The Field (social) was created by the merging of two companies, The Field and Nth Degree Creative Group. Brought together in 2009 by executive creative director and president Michael Porte, this team of creatives, producers, animators and editors together with talented online, social media, interactive, experiential, and PR specialists offer creative solutions to our clients’ marketing challenges through exhaustive planning and executing smart, cross-platform strategies. www.thefieldtv.comnnAbout SuperloungenOriginal, wry & sublime; Superlounge features the talents of award-winning comedyndirectors Jordan Brady, Richie Keen, and newly signed Daniel Sheppard. Recentnprojects for the Superlounge team include broadcast & web campaigns for Xbox, Zest, ARCO, Krylon, Toyota, and Trojan. For more on the company, please visit: www.superlounge.tv and “Like” them on Facebook.n
Contact:
Colleen O’Mara @ Hype 323.938.8363 x103 Contact Colleen via email
Contact:Michael Porte The Field (social) 212-253-2888 Contact Michael via email
SPW Category:Public Service Announcement (PSA) News
Who Needs Los Angeles? We Do.
One doesn't have to be a statistician to know that there are fewer commercials being shot in the U.S. today for the American market than ever before, and a dramatic decrease in L.A. in particular. In the last five years, as reported by FilmLA (the office tasked with issuing permits), L.A. commercial production has dipped 31 percent. But here’s the thing: This doesn’t mean that L.A. has lost its importance as the production center of the world. Production in L.A. is vital. It is the go-to. It’s where you can count on access to exemplary crews, a support infrastructure second to none, varied location and backlot options, a large population of on-screen talent and (fairly) predictable weather. The fact is, with overall decline and now the devastation of the fires, we’re on the brink of losing this mainstay resource. Without employment opportunities and now many without homes, talented and trained crew are bound to leave either the industry or the LA area for other opportunities, unless there are enough job opportunities to sustain a solid living. Now is the time when we ALL must support and bolster this community. Production is needed in L.A., now! Of course, advertising is a business, and marketers’ money should be spent as efficiently as possible, BUT we have to think beyond each production and know that if we lose the incredible resource of L.A. production as we know it, then marketers, agencies and the industry loses in the long run. Over the past several days, some agencies have issued directives to production companies that are unilaterally pushing upcoming production options out of L.A. The fact is L.A. is a large area, and many sections of the city and county are not directly impacted... Read More
MySHOOT Profiles
Add A Comment