Director Robert Kenner, whose documentary feature film Food Inc. was recently released nationally to critical acclaim, has joined Weaselworks Ltd., a newly opened New York-based multimedia production company headed by executive producer Robert Berman. Robert Kenner Diversification Berman envisions Weaselworks being active in commercials, long- and short-format corporate films, webisodes, viral videos and varied other forms of branded content. He noted that Schofield Films had already started to delve into alternate media with director Schofield turning out a documentary, Starkman making forays into the web and long form, and Barnes and Starkman helming films for CNN.
Berman served as exec producer for Schofield Films the past 10 years. He now brings over the same coterie of talent from the Schofield shop to Weaselworks–namely directors Stan Schofield, David Anderson, Judy Starkman and Gilly Barnes.
While the Weaselworks moniker represents a rebranding designed to help diversify the shop in terms of talent and new pursuits, it also marks a change in ownership. Director Schofield owned Schofield Films but wanted to shed his responsibilities for running the company so he could fully focus on directing. Berman stepped up to the plate to become owner of the shop, which now assumes the Weaselworks banner.
“Besides broadening our scope into other projects while continuing to do commercials, the new venture better positions us to build our roster,” related Berman. “There might be some directing talent out there that doesn’t feel comfortable joining a production company that carries the name or brand of a single director. I think the rebranded company opens up some attractive options for us.”
Kenner certainly is a noted talent coming into the Weaselworks fold. In his Food Inc., Kenner explores our nation’s food industry and exposes how the food supply is manufactured and controlled by just a few companies. The film features interviews with Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation), Michael Pollan (The Omnivore’s Dilemma, In Defense of Food: An Eaters Manifesto) and Stonyfield Farms’ Gary Hirshberg, and reveals shocking truths about where our food comes from as well as observations about who we have become as a nation. Kenner has recently appeared on such shows as Nightline, and Good Morning America, and is part of a traveling panel with Schlosser and Alice Waters (co-owner Chez Panisse/locavore), accompanying the film as it opens in different cities.
“Rob is an outstanding documentarian with a varied portfolio of brilliant work in his archive covering such diverse subjects as war to films about the blues. He is a fascinating and articulate communicator with interests in many subjects. Advertising creatives and producers will surely appreciate him for both his enthusiasm as well as his highly evolved aesthetic,” said Berman.
Kenner is no stranger to the ad biz. Prior to embarking on Food Inc. which he both produced and directed, Kenner was represented for commercials by bicoastal Nonfiction Unlimited and has to his credit spotwork for Hallmark as well as corporate films for eBay, the latter coming out of Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, San Francisco. The eBay films focused on interesting eBay customers, including a woman who collects glass eyes, and a military serviceman who retrieved his long lost dog tags via eBay.
At press time, Berman was in the process of assembling Kenner’s reel for the agency community. The reel will likely contain the trailer for Food Inc., some of the Hallmark and eBay fare, and perhaps an excerpt from Kenner’s work on the acclaimed PBS series American Experience (directing such episodes as Two Days In October, War Letters and Influenza 1918).
Weaselworks is looking to build on that diversification and Berman believes his roster is already steeped in experience spanning multiple disciplines. For example, Schofield has been directing for more than 20 years. He has helmed a documentary for the Special Olympics; short stories for PBS; and commercials for clients such as The American Cancer Society, American Medical Association, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and Blue Cross/Blue Shield of California. He has also directed two award-winning feature films: Cost of Living and Parting Words. He recently completed a long-format project for the Washington DC-based Heroes, a non-profit organization that financially assists family members of fallen law enforcement officials.
Starkman is a commercial director and documentary filmmaker. She worked overseas for many years producing, writing, and directing documentaries for both British and American networks including Channel 1, BBC, CNN, ABC, and CBS. She has shot short-form documentaries and commercials for Yahoo, Converse, HIP, Alli, and Metrohealth. Starkman also directed a short film about painter and former CBS correspondent, Bill Lagattuta. She was one of five directors selected to direct two segments of CNN’s Heroes during a special Thanksgiving 2008 international telecast presented by Anderson Cooper.
Barnes’ clients include MTV, Nike, Sony, The Disney channel, ABC, NBC, Atlantic Records, and ESPN. She has also directed a number of music videos and special television series including a narrative series on Nickelodeon. Her short film, Wait Here, earned honorable mention at the Hampton’s Film Festival and is currently running in rotation on the IFC Channel. In 2002, Barnes received an Emmy® Award for writing and directing a series of PSAs for PBS. She, too, directed several segments for the CNN Thanksgiving 2008 Heroes project.
Anderson is known for creating innovative dream imagery by using stop-motion and cel animation mixed with live-action and a vast array of techniques and visual styles. The London-based director is highly recognized for his role in Peter Gabriel’s 1986 video for “Sledgehammer,” which garnered accolades for its groundbreaking visuals. Anderson’s animated short film Tongue of the Hidden, which brought the words of Persian poet Hafez to life, recently toured the world including a special presentation in Iran. He has recently been working with Euro RSCG and VESIcare, directing the ongoing “Pipe People” campaign.
Exec producer Berman’s career is marked by two lengthy tenures–the 10 years at Schofield Films, preceded by a 17-year affiliation with noted director Henry Sandbank.
David Attenborough, The Enthused But Hushed Voice Of Nature Programs, Turns 100
The BBC is hosting a party for David Attenborough at the Royal Albert Hall. Cinemas are playing his nature films. Friends have spent weeks lavishing praise on the man and his work. But the world's most famous wildlife presenter is likely to be uncomfortable with all the attention as he celebrates his 100th birthday on Friday, said Alastair Fothergill, the producer of some of Attenborough's most well-known documentaries and the director of Silverback Films. "He's always been very clear to all of us that work with him: 'Remember, the animals are the stars, I'm not,''' Fothergill told The Associated Press. "So, yes, surprisingly for one of the most famous men on the planet, he doesn't like being famous at all." Glorious gorillas But Attenborough has had to accept the accolades this week as scientists, politicians and conservationists celebrated the man who has brought frolicking gorillas, breaching whales and tiny poisonous frogs into living rooms around the world for more than 70 years. Through BBC programs such as "Life on Earth," "The Private Life of Plants" and "The Blue Planet," Attenborough has illuminated the beauty, ferocity and sometimes downright weirdness of nature in a hushed melodic voice that conveys his own awe at what he is witnessing. Viewers who might never leave their hometowns were transported to the Himalayas, the Amazon and th unexplored forests of Papua New Guinea. But behind the stunning images was an attention to scientific accuracy that helped teach people about complex subjects like evolution, animal behavior and biodiversity. And as the evidence mounted, he began to sound the alarm about climate change, ocean plastic and other human-caused threats to the planet. That helped people understand not only how... Read More