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Sunday, 23 October 2005 | Levent OZLER
Zero 2 Sixty Has Signed Director Thor Raxlen
Director/Visual Effects Designer/Editor Thor Raxlen has signed with the New York-based commercial production company Zero 2 Sixty (0:2:60) for exclusive spot representation, it was announced today by President/Executive Producer Doug Robbins.
"Thor is a filmmaker skilled in many of the creative crafts. He is a superb storyteller and a visual effects artist who has run Chelsea Digital since its inception. Knowledge of effects is tremendously important in our industry these days and the addition of Thor to the 0:2:60 roster is a very important creative opportunity for our company. In the past years, our involvement in special effects production has developed and grown. We feel that our involvement in the effects community will be a tremendous asset in developing Thor's reel and his work, and, in turn, his expertise will help grow our company," explained Doug Robbins.
On joining the 0:2:60 team Thor Raxlen said, "I have been directing work for the last four or five years and when I showed 0:2:60 my reel they asked all the right questions, they understood my work, and the fact that I can marry live-action with effects. A client does not have to hire a director and a visual effect designer. I understand both worlds and can guide a spot accordingly. I have a strong performance and acting background but I have also spent 10 years doing visual effects work, bringing these worlds together, which I think is an advantage over what many other directors might bring to the table."
Over the last four or five years Raxlen has directed a number of commercial projects including 10 Days, a theatrical spot for the Sundance Channel (New York, NY) promoting the Sundance Film Festival, which aired in Loews theaters nationwide; a two-minute piece for the ANDY Awards through Chelsea Pictures (New York, NY); a Freelancers Union spot through Raxlen's own company Pig, Inc. (New York, NY); a psa for MTV Network (New York, NY), also through Pig; an internet spot for the 2004 AICP Awards, "Bumper Sticker," through Chelsea; an internet spot about human trafficking for the United Nations, through Pig; a Summer campaign for Brazil's TACO Clothing Stores chain done directly for the company; and a co-directorial job for George Forman's Men Big and Tall and Avrett Free Ginsberg (New York, NY); among others.
At the same time, Raxlen worked, for the last nine years, at Chelsea Pictures (New York, NY), the last three as Head Editor/Visual Effects Designer of Chelsea Digital, the company's in-house post-production finishing boutique. His effects/editorial work includes spots for AT&T, United Airlines, Verizon, Bugle Boy Jeans (recipient of an AICP Award for "Excellence in Graphics"), Gateway, Adidas, Champs Sports Stores, Crayola, General Mills, and music videos for Moby, The Stereophonics, Scarface, Rival Schools and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones.
Earlier in his career, Raxlen worked on the 1995 TV pilot, Mulligan on Jazz, and went on to write, direct and edit the documentary, Listen - Gerry Mulligan, on the life of the baritone saxophonist, composer and arranger. Commissioned by the Ira and Leonore S. Gershwin Fund as a permanent exhibition for the Library of Congress the film includes now rare footage, lensed by Raxlen, of Mulligan playing with Dave Brubeck, Art Farmer, Bob Brookmeyer and Winton Marsalis.
In 1994 Raxlen moved to Manhattan and spent the next two years involved primarily in directing music videos for Tania Maria, and other emerging artists.
Thor Raxlen originally got into the business when, in 1989, degree in hand, he moved to Amsterdam and founded a company called TRF/TV specializing in photo design and television commercials for companies including Philips, Maxell and Thyssen Staal. Over the next four years the company branched into the creation of music videos as well.
Raxlen joins a creative 0:2:60 directorial team which currently includes Mark Claywell (storyteller/dialogue/contemporary visuals), Robert Mowen (effects oriented) and Glen Owen (situational comedy/broad-based humor/people), all of whom are represented in the Midwest by Maureen Butler and in New York by John Naitove.
Although Thor Raxlen's main focus will be on his directing career, he will continue to do editorial and effects work at Chelsea Digital.
Raxlen, 39, earned his Bachelor's degree at the University of Toronto (Toronto, Canada) where he studied acting (with both Michael Chekov and Sonya Moore) and dramaturge. He currently makes his home in New York City where he resides with his wife and young son.
0:2:60 is headquartered at 121 West 27th Street, New York, NY 10001. For further information about the 0:2:60 directorial team, contact Executive Producer Doug Robbins, Phone (212) 807-7123, FAX (212) 807-0427, or email doug@0260.com. 0:2:60 is represented in the Midwest by Maureen Butler, (312) 320-6027 or mobutler@sbcglobal.net and in New York by John Naitove (212) 633-6211 or naitove@verizon.net. Check out their website at http://www.0260.com.
0:2:60 directors are also available through Comotion Films, 951 Edgewood Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30307. Contact Executive Producer Sheryl Myers at (404) 688-3800, fax (404) 688-3900; Email: Sheryl@comotionfilms.com; website http://www.comotionfilms.com
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