UVphactory continues its expansion with the addition of Executive Producer Paul Schneider and Creative Director Michael Darmanin, it was announced today by UVphactory Principals/Co-Founders Scott Sindorf and Damijan Saccio.
"With Paul's extensive production and management experience at various design shops, he brings a wealth of knowledge and insight we have rarely seen," said Sindorf. "Michael is a Creative Director whom we have followed and admired for a long time. His temperament, aesthetics and background make him an ideal fit for us. Our newly expanded lineup guarantees that we will continue to provide our clients with first rate design and execution."
"Through our many expansions we have always focused on the creative team," added Saccio. "UVphactory has developed a reputation for having a talented, diverse, and well-rounded team. We take very seriously the decisions on key staff additions. The work we do here is pretty varied: from network and corporate branding, to music videos, experiential films and stereoscopic projects. Michael's extensive design experience and Paul's comprehensive production and organizational skills will help cement our reputation in these various fields."
Executive Producer Paul Schneider
A 25 year veteran of the industry, Schneider comes to UVPH from his eponymous PS Consulting (active 2008-2010 and 2002-2004) where he served as a specialized production resource, offering a full range of design and production services for broadcast, cable and special venue clients. With his years of experience and extensive database of producers, designers, animators, and creative directors, Schneider was an invaluable resource for clients that included Digital Kitchen, Curious Pictures, Version 2, Peer Health Communications, Razorfish, Showtime, Broadway Video, AMNH/Hayden Planetarium and Team/ Wash DC.
In January 2004, Schneider teamed with one of his former PS Consulting clients, TeamPeople, on the BMW Group University Studios account. As General Manager/Executive Producer he oversaw the management, financial and creative aspects of day-to-day operations, including all media productions across the BMW, MINI, and Rolls Royce brands. (From 2008 to 2010 he was also a member of the Board of Directors of Asgard Entertainment/TeamPeople, Washington, DC.)
Paul Schneider's interest in graphics, animation and television led him to work with some of the premier companies in the United States. In recent years, he lent his considerable talents as Executive Producer or Supervising Producer to companies including TZ, Lee Hunt Associates/Razorfish, Oculus, and Cyclotron at Post Perfect; and earlier in his career, in a variety of senior positions at Post Perfect. Before making the move to New York City, Schneider cut his industry teeth as an Account Executive at Production Masters (Pittsburgh, PA) and at the pioneering computer animation company, Cranston/Csuri Productions (Columbus, OH), where he was first a Video Tech and then a Producer.
For his outstanding body of work Schneider has been awarded a shelf full of BDA Gold, Silver and Bronze honors; a Promax network redesign award; National sports Emmys; Tellys; and a New York International Film Festival award.
Schneider, 45, earned a BS in Communications at Ohio University (Athens, OH). He is married and resides with his wife Sarah Schneider, an Account Supervisor at branding and design consultancy Landor Associates, a division of Y&R, and his 11 year old son Jordan, in Glen Rock, NJ.
Creative Director Michael Darmanin
Michael Darmanin comes to UVPH from Sticky Pictures (Brooklyn, NY), the design and 2D-3D animation company he launched in September 2007. As Chief Creative Officer and Creative Director he worked with clients including Nickelodeon, HBO, Planet Green, USA Networks and AKQA New York.
From 2001-2006, he freelanced as Art Director and Creative Director at many of the leading design firms in New York, including Brand New School, Eyeball, Shilo, Trollback + Co, Digital Kitchen, Loyal Kaspar and UVPHACTORY. During that time, he also worked directly with several networks and agencies including HBO, Oxygen, Grey Advertising and Trio; as well as Foxtel Australia's music channels CMC and Channel [V]
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Earlier in his career, from 1999 - 2000, Darmanin was Senior Designer, and later, Design Director at ATTIK NY where he worked on a mixture of high profile network and agency accounts. Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, Michael Darmanin made the move to New York City in 1998 when he joined TZ as Senior Designer. His career in motion design began in 1995 at Extro Design, the leading design firm in Australia at the time.
His editorial work has been honored with Gold and Platinum Creativity Awards and Promax awards, among many others.
Michael Darmanin graduated with a degree in Visual Communications from the University of Technology (Sydney, Australia). Today, Darmanin, 38, is married and makes his home in Brooklyn, New York.