I'm a New York freelancer with a broad history of working with artists, filmmakers, advertising agencies, tv networks, interactive firms and design studios, and have created a wide range of high-profile creative work, to even opening an art gallery with my wife a few years back. Currently specializing in art direction and motion+design, I am constantly pushing myself to create new original work and break the boundaries of storytelling, regardless of the medium.
Below is my work history in chronological order.
Tony Oursler - Assistant to the Artist
October 2011 - Present
Working with Tony Oursler, I assist in creating pieces that cover a wide range of mediums including video, sculpture, installation, performance and painting. The pieces are shown on an international scale and currently we're preparing for shows in Helsinki and Denmark. Known as one of the first video artists, Oursler has been experimenting with and developing video art in New York City since the 70s and perhaps best known for his use of video footage of human faces projected onto spheres, dolls and other three-dimensional surfaces.
Ken Jacobs - Assistant to the Artist
Febuary 2011 - December 2011
Kicking off 2011 I started working as an assistant to Ken Jacobs, one of the founders of American avant-garde cinema who has worked as an artist of film for over 50 years. We completed two films, the first is "Day/Night", an experiment in a film technique invented by Ken, that was perfected in the latest film "Seeking the Monkey King". Premiering at the 2011 New York Film Festival and originally screened at the MoMA, it received with great excitement along with a glowing review from the New York Times the following day. Currently it is making festival rounds (not available to view online) and will be at Sundance 2012. Be prepared for a cinema experience that takes a place between two and three dimensions, pushing time to take on substance and enveloping you into the a world beyond the surreal. This has been an epic undertaking, incomparable with any other avant-garde film you've ever seen.
Brooklyn Filmmakers Collective - Director & Animator
May 2010 – Present
Currently a member of The Brooklyn Filmmakers Collective, a tight-knit community of professional filmmakers in Brooklyn, NY who are dedicated to innovative approaches to filmmaking. We consist of some of Brooklyn’s most accomplished and most promising emerging filmmakers and collectively we have produced work for the Sundance Film Festival, SXSW, Slamdance Film Festival, A&E, PBS, IFC, Discovery Channel, National Geographic, MTV, France 3, The Smithsonian, and Al Jazeera.
Current Film Projects:
• Writer/Director of "The Second Impatience of the Poet", feature film currently in production.
• Art Director for the feature film "La Fleur d'Haïti" currently in pre-production. Responsible for all special effects, matte painting, title sequence design, and more.
• Title sequence designer for the feature film "Comedia" directed by Pablo Herran, coming 2012.
• Just completed co-directing a new music video for the band Deerhoof, for the song "Merry Barracks".
• Journalistic data-driven animation series involving CNN writers and collaborators in other news media outlets, currently in development.
MTV - Art Director
August 2010 - November 2011
As Art Director over the MTV and VH1 digital brand, I oversaw 12 designers in producing top notch creative while keeping a collaborative, inspiring creative environment that supports the two biggest entertainment brands in the world. Directing the level of creative to ensure it is relevant to the brand, product and sales strategy and exploring new and upcoming technology to leverage the products to communicate and connect with our millennial audience. Our products ranged from Tent-Pole Events (ex. VMA Video Music Awards, MTV Movie Awards), Show Promotion/Support (ex. Skins, Teen Wolf, Beavis and Butthead), Mobile/iPad Applications and Games (ex. MTV & VH1 mobile sites, VH1 Greatest Lists, Co-Star), Site Support (ex. MTV.com, VH1.com), Advertising (ex. Sponsorships), and more. I also worked with our Product Development, Ad Sales, Tech Development and Corporate Strategy teams, leveraging an Agile workflow process on select projects. Our team collaboration produced outstanding results, reaching 16,922,000 visitors a month on MTV.com, with 110,512,000 video streams as of winter 2011.
Razorfish - Art Director
March 2010 - August 2010
As Art Director on Axe, my job was to design and develop fully immersive campaigns - Axe Music "One Night Only" being the most prominent. An exclusive concert series combining the hottest artists with the most intimate venues, the campaign launches at the end of August 2010. Consisting of an interactive full-video site, Facebook campaign, mobile outreach that all tie in with Axe products branded with AR (augmented reality) codes to give users a better chance at winning tickets to the next show. The product became a dynamic, exciting, and unique way for consumers to become immersed in the experience. I also worked on several other smaller online campaigns including "Sprinkler".
Showtime Networks - Freelance Art Director
January 2010 - March 2010
Designed the new online identity of Smithsonian Channel HD (SmithsonianChannel.com), a joint venture between Showtime Networks and the Smithsonian Institution. The channel features original documentaries, short-subject explorations and innovative, groundbreaking programs highlighting America's historical, cultural and scientific heritage. After Smithsonian, worked with a hand-picked international design/ux team assigned to a new Showtime project (currently unable to give details due to confidentiality agreement).
The Wonderfactory - Freelance Motion Designer
November 2009 — December 2009
If people are willing to pay for apps on the iPhone, why not deliver magazines as apps also? Time Inc's top-secret "Manhattan Project" was unveiled on December 2nd, 2009, a collaboration with The Wonderfactory and an example of how tablets will enable the creation of innovative experiences by publishers, media companies, and advertisers. I was pulled in as a freelance motion designer for the project's tight deadline. View the demo on YouTube and read more about the project in The New York Times and Washington Post.
BBDO - Sr. Art Director
June 2008 – November 2009
While at BBDO I was an integral part in winning new business pitches and creating award winning campaigns. Working with a team creating compelling design, interactive, broadcast, and motion graphics, streamlining the process of a quality product all within the realities of tight budget constraints and short deadlines. Achieved goals and solutions that span across digital, social, and mobile platforms to tap into the full potential of a brand, by not merely persuading people, but by engaging fans. Clients ranged from AT&T, REI, ING, Embassy Suites, Capitol One, Bayer, Georgia Pacific, Erickson Living, and Alliance Theater. My job was to create compelling campaigns and brand supporting creative that stand out in their concept and creative. Being a part of the digital/motion team means we had a wide range of work produced, from motion graphics, immersive websites, online video, music videos and more.
Adult Swim - Art Director
October 2006 – May 2008
Adult Swim's comedy online social network, Super Deluxe featured exclusive programming developed by established and rising comedians from Tim & Eric, Eugene Mirman, Brad Neely, David Cross, and Chelsea Peretti to name a few. Users could communicate with them and express their own sense of humor using social networking tools, such as uploading their videos, creating profiles, and sending messages.
Super Deluxe become one of the most recognized underground online comedy networks, generating millions of unique visitors monthly. We received write-ups in The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, The Onion, and were hailed by The New York Post as the "funniest site on the web..." From branding, website design, tv spots, and more, our small team was tasked with branding this new Turner venture to target a younger, taste-making audience.
Hushpuppy Gallery - Curator/Owner
September 2007 – Present
Back in September 2007 my girlfriend and I opened Hushpuppy Gallery, a nest of creativity, a mingling of creative spirits and a place to inspire those who visit. We offered great gifts, funky t-shirts, and an array of hand crafted items. The gallery also hosted special events such as wine tasting's and local acoustic musicians. A few of the artists featured were Meta Gary, Adam Bueb, Allyson Ross, Erin Ashford, Kitty Snyder, Erin Dutton, and Drew Dominey. Currently we have moved out of the gallery space and are looking for a new location.
Nurun - Senior Designer
January 2004 – October 2006
While at Nurun, my responsibilities included information architecture design, concepting, storyboarding, designing, and implementation of interactive sites, online advertising, social networks, pitches, and emailers. Our clients ranged from HomeDepot Canada, AutoTrader, Cingular, L’Oreal Paris, Dasani, Disney, McDonalds Canada, Uniroyal, Pleasant Holidays, to Sea-Doo. Implementing my skills in design, illustration, and photography I would create final creative results that went above and beyond what the client expected. Also researching latest technology and keeping our agency ahead of the competition, I worked with a team of cutting edge developers to implement cell phone augmented website and other cutting edge ideas.
The Longitude Group, LLC - Creative Director / Partner
January 2003 – October 2004
• Responsibilities included developing websites, new identities, collateral, marketing material, emailers, flash demos, and ad campaigns.
• Met with clients to discuss best approach to solving their needs.
• Developed site architecture, conceptualized best approach to execute, designed and developed final product.
Amerisave Mortgage - Art Director
January 2002 – January 2003
• Responsibilities included designing new brand, email flyers, new website, ad campaigns, and print material.
• Worked with CEO and lead Marketing Director to design site architecture and develop final web-based product.
• Ad campaign featured on CNN Financial News.
• The only creative person in company, had to keep efficient and not waste time.
Bellsouth Real Pages - Designer
January 2000 – January 2002
• Responsibilities included designing and implementing 1-2 websites or 4-7 online ads a day, communicating with clients to fully understand what was best for them, and working with sales team to determine best end product for client.
• Averaged 300 websites and banner ads while employed.
Kaplan Communications - Designer and Teacher
January 1997 – January 2000
• Responsibilities included working with various types of media, including web animation, 3d modeling, audio compilation for web based projects, video rendering for web output, storyboarding concepts and flash animation.
• Certified Macromedia Flash & Adobe Photoshop teacher – taught classes on design, usability and Flash animation.
Freelance Designer
January 1999 – Current
Clients include: Showtime Networks, Smithsonian Channel, Penguin Books, Sports Illustrated, Commission for Presidential Debates, Weather Channel, SOPO Bike Co-Op, Ning, Cingular LypSync, Arobase Group, Kyle TV, UNICEF, Flor, Flycatcher, Better Bills, Godeva, Bright Med, Dad Studios, Muse Holliday, Wisdom River Partners, CAT, Hormel Foods, Peachdrop ’02, Earthlink Live, Mumbo Jumbo, Optio Wireless, Nteractive Design, Novient inc, Javakitty Media