Director Justin Klarenbeck has signed with TWC for exclusive representation in commercials as the company continues to add highly accomplished, multi-talented filmmakers to its staff. Klarenbeck, whose expertise ranges from visual effects to directing talent, is probably best known for his automotive work, within credits including virtually every leading automaker. His recent work includes spots for Toyota, Chevy, Lexus, Honda and Mercedes Benz. His non-automotive output includes a spot for San Miguel Beer and Young & Rubicam, Barcelona an imaginative spoof of the running of the bulls in Pamplona as buffalo chase through New Yorkers through the streets of Manhattan.
“Justin is a major talent who consistently turns out unique and engaging spots,” said TWC exec producer Mark Thomas. “He has tremendous vision and he knows how to communicate his vision to agency creatives and how to execute it brilliantly. We are very excited to welcome him to TWC and to help shape the next stage in his career.”
Klarenbeck said that he first met Thomas several years ago and was impressed then with his views on building directorial careers. “He sees a director’s career as something that can be shaped,” said Klarenbeck. “It’s like any other business you create a goal and then set about achieving it.”
“We see the business the same way,” he added. “First and foremost, we want to do great work, and we want to be smart and work hard in how we do it.”
Klarenbeck’s mastery of visual effects and ability to use effects techniques to craft impressive visuals has brought him to the forefront of the commercial industry. The last few years have been particularly productive and include some of the director’s most ambitious projects. Among them is the spot Big Dig for General Motors’ Sierra (Lowe Worldwide, New York) that shows a truck traveling through a construction site of immense proportions. His work also includes Bulldozer for Ford (JWT, Detroit) in which a pair of bulldozers attempts to crush a Ford truck.
Not all of Klarenbeck’s subject matter is quite so muscular. Recent efforts also include a campaign for True Valley (MARC USA, Pittsburgh), in which a couple’s black & white house paints itself in vibrant colors, and a spot for Pacific Life (Kovel Fuller, Los Angeles) in which marathon runners race through city streets as the image of a whale swims across nearby buildings.
Klarenbeck began his career with Dream Quest Images, where he helped to create visual effects for such films as TOTAL RECALL and THE ABYSS. He later joined other DQ staff members in forming DQ Films and through it got his start in directing commercials. He later joined Fahrenheit Films and then spent several years with t minus 30 films (later Boxer Films) before joining Space Program.
TWC also represents directors Suthon Petchsuwan, Brian Baderman, David Jellison, Michael Fueter, Trevor Cornish, George Jecel, Jeff France, Seamus Masterson, Martin Brierley and Elliot Hegarty.
TWC is located in Santa Monica. For more information, visit
www.thomaswintercooke.com .
