Production company SixTwentySix has signed multi-disciplinary commercial, music video and film director Najeeb Tarazi for commercial and music video representation in the U.S.
A first generation Lebanese-American talent, Tarazi’s experience spans various realms with work for agencies, record labels, brands, and artists ranging from retro animation to cinematic live-action. He has helmed an array of campaigns for agencies such as Virtue, 72andSunny, The Richards Group and Media.Monks as well as brands including Dr Pepper, Snap, Capital One, Logitech and Sweet Green. Tarazi has directed talent from Naomi Osaka and Tony Hawk to AC/DC and TikTok star Josh Richards. The director’s work has garnered recognition from SXSW and 1.4’s Showcase Gold, as well as multiple accolades from Vimeo, where he’s collected five Staff Picks and Best of Year honors.
After graduating with a BA in physics from Harvard College, Tarazi cut his teeth in the film industry by receiving his start working as a technical programmer and director at Pixar. Over his four years at the Disney-owned studio, he honed his talent and made a name for himself by working on films like Toy Story 3 and Monsters University. An inventor on two patents in the field of computer graphics, he made a historical, groundbreaking move in the creative industry with his music video “Another Love,” which became the first to feature volumetric video.
Prior to joining SixTwentySix, Tarazi had been repped by production house Pomp&Clout.
SixTwentySix partner and managing director Jake Krask said, “Najeeb is a true storyteller and artist. Between his background in being a storyteller and unique ability to integrate VFX in a thought provoking yet simplistic way, he brings a POV that is rarely seen in this market. We are excited to support his passion for stories and projects to create content that captivates and inspires audiences.”
Austin Barbera, SixTwentySix partner and executive producer, added, “With his keen eye for detail and his unwavering dedication to his craft, we have no doubt that Najeeb will make a significant impact in the industry, and we feel honored to have him join our team. We cannot wait to see what innovative and imaginative work he will bring to the table as we collaborate on future projects.”
Tarazi recalled, “I met Jake and Austin when SixTwentySix was just getting started, and it seemed like everyone who crossed their path was impressed by them. Their excitement and ability to manifest their projects through some combination of sheer will and wisdom beyond their years are qualities I admire a lot. In this business there are a lot of people who are jaded or running on autopilot, but SixTwentySix is a company that is wide awake, forward looking, and excited to build the next generation of talent and content. I share their hustle and love of community, so it’s a great fit.”
Tarazi has recently filmed work for MassMutual and is currently in production on multiple projects. Alongside two short films, he is also filming a commercial for Microsoft. Next up, he will be directing American pop band LANY in a music video for Interscope Records. His creative short, One More Try, just received a shortlist nomination by The One Club’s ADC Awards.
SCHROM x Yacht Club and Be Electric Studios Launch Electric XR for Virtual Production
SCHROM x Yacht Club, a full-service live-action, tabletop, and postproduction company, has teamed with Be Electric Studios, a soundstage, equipment rental, and virtual production company, to launch Electric XR, a virtual production collective.
Industry veteran Thomas Rossano will lead the new venture, which provides advanced virtual production solutions across multiple facilities. He brings over 25 years of experience in live-action, tabletop, postproduction and talent curation to enhance Electric XR’s offerings as a resource for brands and agencies, as well as other production companies in need of virtual production solutions. Additionally Rossano continues to serve as EP at XR New York (XR-NY), a role he’s held since December 2022. SCHROM x Yacht Club originally established XR-NY to help provide XR services for third-party rentals. While XR-NY will continue to function independently for SCHROM X Yacht Club, it now operates under the Electric XR umbrella.
Rossano’s expertise spans producing live-action commercials, branded content, interactive and experiential content. In addition to leading Electric XR, he holds responsibilities at SCHROM x Yacht Club which include driving business development, collaborating with sales reps and expanding the company’s creative talent network. Rossano’s career includes serving as an exec producer at Hungry Man for about 11 years, right from that company’s inception. He then went on to become a partner at Station Film where he also had a lengthy tenure. Later he was a partner at PRISM. Then after the pandemic hit, he became a freelance EP for nearly two years, looking into opportunities in virtual production, which led him to XR NY and now Electric XR. Over the years, he has produced high-profile... Read More