www.shootonline.com Mekanism Finds Rob Luehrs “Motivation” Accelerates His For Nike+iPod Career With Workout “Shutter Speed” page 16 page 17 THE LEADING PUBLICATION FOR COMMERCIAL, INTERACTIVE, & BRANDED CONTENT PRODUCTION January 26, 2007 $5.00 Director Steve Chase Directors Doesn’t Pass Go Veteran TV commercialmaker shifts Refl ect On to a new U.S. ad roost, attracted by Go Film principals Robert Wherry, DGA Noms Jonathan Weinstein and Gary Rose. TThehe BBigig GGameame By Robert Goldrich Chase’s career spans American and The five nominees for the Directors Canadian spots, and is highlighted by Guild of America (DGA) Award hon- Super Bowl ads, assorted awards and PPopop CCulture–Andulture–And MMedia–Toedia–To FFigureigure oring the best commercial director a coveted Directors Guild of America of 2006 were announced last week Award nomination PProminentlyrominently IInn SSuperuper BBowlowl AAdd MMix;ix; (SHOOT, 1/19). SHOOT caught up See page 4 with the helmers to get their reflections ::3030 SSlotlot GGoingoing FForor $$2.62.6 MMillionillion on being nominated. Taking A Punch At The LOS ANGELES—“At this point in my Live-Action Spot Market A SHOOT Staff Report life I don’t need the notoriety or the Spot animation house ka-chew! diver- MIAMI—The Super Bowl is an indelible part of main- adulation,” related director Joe Pytka sifies with formation of new venture, stream popular culture, with some academicians of Venice, Calif.-based PYTKA. That’s which secures Ellen Knable as execu- contending that the game—and the commercials why he rarely enters award show tive producer and brings four direc- aired during it—reflect in many respects the tone competitions. After all, he’s already tors into the fold—Gary Johns, John and tenor of our country’s society. Short of getting won the DGA Award for commercials Lindauer, Kirby Dick and Suzanne too esoteric and philosophical about Super Sunday, a record-high three times and has re- Luna—to complement helmers Lori it’s somehow fitting and yet ironic that broadcast ceived 15 nominations, a tally that also Precious and Bil White. Richard Mar- television’s biggest event in terms of audience reach tops all directors. lis oversees both shops. and buzz may help to propel what is arguably pop So why enter the DGA competi- See page 4 culture’s medium of choice, the Internet, and spe- tion this time around? For one, the Ray Feeney Visits The cifically broadband entertainment content. high regard he holds for the compe- For example, the Super Bowl could provide a tition. “The DGA is easily the most SHOOT Chat Room bridge to another significant marketing event about prestigious organization of its kind in The storied visual effects software to unfold in the online space. Though there’s no of- the world. There was a stretch in the pioneer is about to receive his lat- ficial confirmation, word is that some of Anheuser- 1990s when I didn’t enter the DGA est accolade, the Gordon E. Sawyer Busch’s Big Game ad inventory will help promote Awards because I was a little embar- Award—an Oscar statuette--from its online entertainment network, Bud.TV, which rassed by the success I had in the com- the Academy of Motion Picture is scheduled to debut on Feb. 5, the day after Su- petition. But I’ve always respected and Arts and Sciences. He shares his vi- per Bowl XLI in Miami. Bud.TV will include sports, admired the guild tremendously.” sion for the future, an assessment of stand-up comedy and programs of varying lengths. The other factor prompting Pytka today’s technological landscape and Most of the shows on various Bud.TV channels will to again enter the DGA Awards fray looks back on the industry and its have an interactive component. was his emotional attachment to the significant accomplishments. As earlier reported (SHOOT, 9/22/06), the Super work he submitted for consideration: See page 14 Bowl itself was a catalyst for the notion of a Bud.TV Budweiser’s “Clydesdale American Continued on page 12 Dream” for DDB Chicago; Disney’s “Preparation Day” out of Leo Bur- ASC Award-Nominated Continued on page 10 DPs Discuss Their Craft Filmmaking, commercials are Approved Visa Ends Career Limbo For Ahmet prime topics. See page 15 By Robert Goldrich situation raised questions about equi- what was to be a two-week stay. But cause, Rep. Jane Harman (D-Venice, LOS ANGELES—Disproving the tably maintaining the delicate balance when he went to the U.S. Embassy to Calif.) and Parliament member Kate famed Thomas Wolfe adage that “you of civil liberties and national security, get his visa approved for a return to Hoey of the British Labor party. can never go home again,” Ahmet Ah- particularly since this was a case in Southern California, he was informed Ahmet, who is a Brit of Turkish met, a creative director with bicoastal which he had a clear right to return to that he needed a security clearance. Cypriot descent, hadn’t anticipated Imaginary Forces, is on his way back the United States as a law-abiding per- Over the next five months, he and his a problem re-entering the U.S. Six to Los Angeles—along with his wife son and an accomplished professional. family had their personal and profes- years ago he was granted a visa to and daughter—after having been in Grateful to now be able to come sional lives disrupted, with no hint as to come stateside and work at Imaginary limbo for five-plus months, awaiting a home and resume his career, Ahmet when there would be a resolution—even Forces based on his being a talent of visa security clearance to return from was in the U.K. with his family to visit with the help of politicians on both extraordinary ability, with credentials London to his stateside job. Ahmet’s his seriously ill mother last August for sides of the Atlantic who took up his Continued on page 25 Perspectives spot.com.mentary By Robert Goldrich THE LEADING PUBLICATION FOR COMMERCIAL, INTERACTIVE, & BRANDED CONTENT PRODUCTION Racing Consciousness January 26, 2007 Volume 48 • Number 2 In an installment Zwart of @radical.media who drove funds to be distributed to all 28 South- tries; Chelsea Pictures; Detour, Argyle www.SHOOTonline.com of this column last under the pseudonym “The Royal land clubs. The clubs provide a safe Brothers; Payday/Need Financial; EDITORIAL Publisher & Editorial Director month (12/15), we Speed Bomb.” Finishing second was haven for kids primarily after school, The Camera House; Cutters; Jigsaw; Roberta Griefer 203.227.1699 ext 13 [email protected] promoted the first annual Downhill GARTNER and affiliated shops tight, enabling them to channel their ener- Musikvergneugen; GARTNER; Cut Derby, a soapbox derby race created Outsider and The Viral Factory in gies into art and music programs as + Run; Machine Head; Location Cre- Editor Robert Goldrich to raise funds for The Boys and Girls a car driven by Sully Carter, the 10- well as leadership initiatives, helping ations; Zoic Studios; and Zwart (a.k.a. 323.960.8035 [email protected] Clubs of Los Angeles. The event, year-old son of GARTNER executive the youngsters to make better sense The Royal Speed Bomb). Sr. Editor/Technology & Postproduction Carolyn Giardina which took place on Jan. 7, was a ma- producer and AICP/West president of where their skills and talents lie. Canova expects the Downhill 323.960.8035 [email protected] jor success made possible by assorted Rich Carter. AICP/West was a major Canova’s assessment of the event Derby to be an annual fund-raiser. Associate Editor participants from the spot- Nicole Rivard 203.227.1699 ext. 16 [email protected] making community. Josh Canova of Detour Films expects the Downhill Derby to be an The derby was the Associate Editor annual fund-raiser for The Boys and Girls Clubs of Los Angeles. Ken Liebeskind brainchild of Josh Canova, 203.227.1699 ext. 17 [email protected] owner/executive producer of Detour supporter of the event. Third place bears repeating. As he articulated in The event steering committee for the Contributor Films, Venice, Calif. According to winner was a car sponsored by edit last month’s column, “We are helping successful first go around consisted of Christine Champagne Canova, a little more than $44,000 house Cutters and driven by editor a worthy cause. We researched orga- Canova, Linda Rahn of the Boys and ADVERTISING was raised for The Boys and Girls Nadia Hennrich. nizations that help under-served and Girls Clubs/L.A. Alliance, Robert Yni- 21 Charles Street #203 Westport, CT 06880 USA Clubs, with some 1,500 people in at- Garnering the best design award underprivileged kids and found The guez, race director of the All Ameri- East/Midwest/Canada tendance throughout the course of was @radical for its “Cuban Cigar” Boys and Girls Clubs to be efficiently can Soapbox Derby, AICP’s Steve Robert Alvarado 203.227.1699 ext. 15 [email protected] the day. The event even received lo- auto, aptly named because the driver run with funds and resources going Caplan, Rich Carter of GARTNER, International cal TV news coverage from the ABC, and handler both showed up dressed directly to programs that support and Anne Kurtzman of davidandgoliath, Roberta Griefer 203.227.1699 ext. 13 [email protected] CBS and Fox channels. like Fidel Castro and the car looked nurture youngsters. It’s a chance for Jennifer Smieja of Wieden+Kennedy, Proceeds were raised largely like it had smoke coming out of it as the industry to simply give back to Ali Hileman of Mirror Films, Sue West Coast Carl Gilliard through sponsorships of cars and it raced downhill.