Director Christine Jeffs has signed with the New York-based commercial production company Xenon for exclusive U.S. spot representation it was announced today by Executive Producer/Founder Doug Robbins. To view her reel, click here.
Known for the moving performances she elicits from her actors, and her talents for storytelling and visual composition, much of Jeffs career has been focused on feature film work. She directed the critically acclaimed American indie “Sunshine Cleaning” (2008), starring Amy Adams, Emily Blunt and Alan Arkin, in which, to raise the tuition to send her son to private school, a thirty-something single mom starts an unusual business – a biohazard removal/crime scene clean-up company; “Sylvia” (2003), a British motion picture starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Daniel Craig, which explored the relationship between poets Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes; “Rain” (2002), an intense family drama about the collapse of a marriage and the dissolution of a mother-daughter relationship, on which she made her feature debut screenwriting and directing. (This film was selected for its World Premiere in the Directors Fortnight at the 2001 Cannes International Film Festival. After enjoying great acclaim at Cannes, Rain had its American theatrical release in Manhattan and was invited to screen at festivals worldwide, including Edinburgh, Melbourne, Toronto and Sundance. While being screened at Sundance, Jeffs was named one of Daily Variety’s 10 Directors to Watch.) Finally, the beautifully realized short film “Stroke” (1994), which Jeffs wrote, directed, and edited, about a lone swimmer who gets revenge on a group of lane swimmers who disrupt her tranquility, was screened at festivals worldwide including Cannes and Sundance. She is currently in development on a romantic comedy, “Wonderful Tonight,” with Castle Rock Entertainment.
Before joining the Xenon family, Jeffs was represented for commercial work by Saville Productions (New York/Los Angeles). Currently airing is her commercial work for Kohl’s (Manifesto, Interview, Baby) through DeVito Verdi, North Shore LIJ (Parkinson’s, Baby), again through DeVito Verdi. In addition, she has completed spots for Seasonique (Who Says) through DDB and U.S. Census (Miss Maybelle), through Plum Advertising.
She has also worked with a number of ad agencies internationally on commercial projects for Baileys (Liquid Silk), Sky City (Safe & Sound), Southern Cross (Mammogram), Tyskie (Breaks Wind), Xenical (Rochelle), Kompania Piwowarska (Tyskie Otago and Otago), Land Transport NZ (Speeders), Fletcher Challenge (Drivethru), a brand ad for Bank of New Zealand (Whale Watch) and the New Zealand Police (Taxi), among many others.
Jeffs’ commercial work has earned her a shelf full of awards including a Cannes Bronze Lion, New Zealand’s CAANZ creative excellence Axis Award for Direction three years consecutively, she topped New Zealand’s AdMedia Magazine poll of creative directors’ vote for Best Director, and earned a number of Australian awards as well.
Jeffs began her career in New Zealand as an assistant editor on feature films and documentaries including “Crush” (1992) starring Marcia Gay Harden, “Absent Without Leave” (1992), “Ruby and Rata” (1990) and “Send a Gorilla.”
In making the announcement Robbins stated, “We were introduced through a mutual friend who thought it would be a great opportunity for the two of us in terms of Christine’s tremendous talent and my drive and motivation. What truly excites me is that in an industry of rebranded directors, Christine offers an authentic fresh new energy.”
On joining Robbins and Xenon Christine Jeffs added, “What excited me was Doug’s specificity of vision, genuine passion and unique strategy for the development of my work which felt perfect for where I wanted to go next in my career.”
When not behind the lens, Christine Jeffs, lives on a ranch in Auckland, New Zealand with her partner John Toon, cinematographer of Sunshine Cleaning and her other films, and raises horses for competition in dressage, jumping and cross country.
Christine Jeffs joins a Xenon creative directorial roster that includes Jamie Way, Ash Beck, Vico Sharabani, Three Volts and Stacy Toyama, covering the categories of comedy, visual effects, web interactive and beauty.
Christine Jeffs reel can be viewed at: www.christinejeffs.com
About Xenon
Xenon is a hybrid – a commercial production team designed to address the ever changing landscape of today’s ad community. The company marries live-action, visual effects, postproduction and interactive work in one seamless environment.
Xenon is headquartered at 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 3020, New York, NY 10170. For further information about the advertising production company contact Doug Robbins via email./a> or call (212) 212 564-4545; Please visit Xenon at www.xenonmktg.com.
Christine Jeffs is also repped on the East Coast by Michael Eha of Michael Eha & Associates who can be reached at 919 968-1633 or via email.
