"It's all happening..."
Greetings, and thanks for taking a moment to peruse my bio.
Above all, after nearly 20 years in agency production, I can still honestly say "I am so fortunate this is how I earn a paycheck." I've had my highs and lows at nearly every agency I've worked, but in the end, I consider myself immensely lucky. And most of that has to do with all of the amazing people I've met in this crazy business.
I cherish being an integral part of the creative process and working alongside individuals prodigiously more talented than me. That's how I learn. That's how I continue to enjoy what I do... whenever the nuanced lunacy rears its ugly head, and I start to ponder that digging trenches for a living might not be so terrible.
I still firmly believe in what I was told my first day of agency producing: a great producer will never have all the answers, but they'll know where and how to find those answers. More importantly, however, and something I try to impress upon younger producers is this very simple fact about agency producing: when you've prepped that job the best you can and everything is copacetic on set or in post, very few pause to say to a producer, "hey, things are going great, thank you!" But the moment something goes sideways, ALL eyes (creative, account, client...) turn to the producer and ask "Why is this not happening? Why is this missing? Where's our coffee order??" That's something every good producer has to be prepared to manage with both calm and balance, and just exercise common sense at all costs. But I never discount a little bit of luck, either.
I've shot my share of sheet metal and concept-driven spots for the entire big three in Detroit. But despite being originally Motor City-based agency producer, I've managed to work on quite an eclectic mix of clients.
One day it's lighting an SUV, the next it's a bottle of Simply Orange juice. I've filmed mercurial felines on a stage in London; interviewed a grisly fisherman on the frigid waters off the coast of Alaska; ridden in a pursuit car with a Russian Arm shoddily strapped to its roof in Buenos Aires; stood on the deck of the USS Makin Island filming for the U.S. Navy; and in between one of the most grueling shoots I've ever endured, went cage-diving with great white sharks just outside Cape Town, South Africa.
If I'm not mired in production or spending whatever time I can with my incredible wife and young daughter, I love watching films or whatever killer new series is out (and IMDb'ing anything and everything about said content), hot yoga, snowboarding in the Rockies, a great book, and ice cold dirty martinis - preferably with bleu cheese olives. I'm passionate about environmental conservation and truly believe in the saying, "we need the earth; the earth does not need us." But above all of that... music is one of the greatest joys in my life. It's almost like oxygen for me. From Chopin or Radiohead to Led Zeppelin or Goth Babe or the grisly timbre of Kris Kristofferson, I constantly need music surrounding me. And there's nothing better to me than hearing the first few chords of a song that instantly transports me back to a moment in my life that's indelibly tied to that piece of music...
feel free to follow me on insta - @stu_moo.tree
WORK I ADMIRE - BUT DIDN'T PRODUCE...
This section is quite important to me: a handful of work I've enjoyed and respected over the years - spots I didn't produce myself, but I would have loved the chance...
Nike “You Can’t Stop Us” / directed by Oscar Hudson - outside of feeling truly moved by this spot, endless appreciation for what it must have taken to assemble all of that match-cut footage
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA4dDs0T7sM
Crest "Bulldozer" / directed by Harold Einstein - always amazed at how well this holds up... casting for the bulldozer driver is superb
https://vimeo.com/55876249
Under Armour "Rule Yourself" / directed by Martin De Thurah - two of a few for the Olympics... Martin might be my favorite director out there, and these 2 spots just do it for me: the Phelps' spot w/ The Kills "The Last Goodbye" is simply perfect to me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDQDTPWNcQ0
And then I just love the energy the MIA track brings to compliment the intense visuals of these kick-ass gymnasts ….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsovD9IlT3U
Delta "On the Road" / directed by Martin De Thurah - I love how this piece of music delicately carries along the visuals, and perhaps reminds me of my own life on the road over the years
https://epochfilms.com/project/delta-on-the-road
Apple "Misunderstood" / directed by Lance Acord - outside of his indelible VW/Darth Vader spot, another favorite from Lance Acord... tears down my cheeks - all the feels. And Chan Marshall's (Cat Power) vocals... oof
https://vimeo.com/221001942
Adidas "Hello Tomorrow" / directed by Spike Jonze - the visuals and Karen O's song, I still adore
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3IP5uqHft4
Microsoft Windows Phone "Really" / directed by Stacy Wall - I just loved this spot - comedic timing, performances, music... it still makes me laugh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-mo_Qpy6eM
Puma Social "After Hours Athlete" / directed by Ringan Ledwidge - brilliantly written copy and perfect VO choice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhPe7mFBdAc
Audi "Duel" / another by Ringan ... a dear friend of mine got to produce this spot for Venebles in SF - producer envy at its finest ;)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwHApIrYp6A
JC Penny "Aviator" / directed by Frederik Bond - this is an old one (2007!) ... but that little girl... that lesser known version of "Real Love" by John Lennon... kills me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4CBqRdaiik
Nike "Move" / directed by Jake Scott - years before I even entered production or knew what agency producing was, this spot stood out to me as one of my favorites... and I even downloaded the music (w/ sfx baked in, of course) from Napster - ha!
http://www.rsafilms.com/usa/directors/commercial/jake-scott/commercials/nike-move/
Last Days w/ Oden - (not a commercial, and maybe not one to watch at work if you love dogs!) before Eliot Rausch became a commercial director... I stumbled across this so many years ago - and loved the raw simplicity of the storytelling accompanied by the melancholy Justin Vernon/Aaron Dessner track... to this day, it never fails to make me bawl my eyes out
https://vimeo.com/8191217
Some of my favorites from MJZ:
Ameriquest “Surprise Dinner” / directed by Craig Gillespie - so simple, but just forever makes me laugh
http://www.mjz.com/directors/craig-gillespie/commercials/ameriquest-surprise-dinner/
Ikea “Beds” / directed by Juan Cabral - beautiful and cinematic and love the VO
http://www.mjz.com/directors/juan-cabral/director/ikea-beds/
Canal Plus “Bear” / directed by Matthjis Van Heijningen - I bid Matthjis for a Chevy job years back with this spot being his top selling point (job ended up going to Danny Kleinman). The performance and blend of visual and subtle humor are beyond fantastic
http://www.mjz.com/directors/matthijis-van-heijningen/commercials/canal-plus-bear/
Call of Duty “There’s a Soldier in All of Us” / directed by Rupert Sanders - one of my favorite spots in this category - the young girl’s expression around the :16 mark is part of the magic to me…
http://www.mjz.com/directors/rupert-sanders/commercials/call-of-duty-theres-a-soldier-in-all-of-us/
Experience
VP, Executive Producer at Leo Burnett
July 12, 2021 – Present Chicago, IL
As Executive Producer over Cadillac production, I manage a team of 5-7 producers (range varies with freelance), overseeing broadcast, print, digital, social, and experiential production for Cadillac brand and retail - while also still lead-producing all sizes of productions, from multi-million dollar brand campaigns to smaller-scale projects as the need arises. Continually pushing to mentor and assist any younger employees, as well as helping implement better processes and procedures for more cohesive workflow between all departments.
Senior Producer at VMLY&R
February 2020 – July 2021 Chicago, IL
Producing TV, OLV, Social, and Radio content for both Wendy's and Intel. Have also produced work for Walgreen's and Office Depot/Office Max. Hired here Pre-Covid, I was already working remotely with my Wendy's team, who are based entirely in our KC office. And now I've been working remotely with the Intel teams, based in KC, Seattle, Dallas, and NYC.
VFX/Post Producer at Shape + Light
January 2020 – February 2020 Los Angeles, CA
While in between agency gigs, I freelanced post-produced for Shape + Light in LA, where I oversaw post production for Nike, Frito Lay (Tostitos), and Carl's Jr spots. While I don't think I could work full-time in post production, it was invaluable experience to see the other side of things: from juggling freelance flame artists and understanding how post houses operate around ever-important margins to simply sitting behind the desk and cranking out exports on Media Encoder, I'm forever grateful for this position. It also reminded me once again how important relationships are not simply in life, but in our forever-changing industry. Relationships are what helped me secure this job...
Senior Producer at We Are Unlimited
May 2019 – December 2019 Chicago, IL
After spending my entire life in the Detroit ad scene, I relocated to Chicago to work on the McDonald's account. While here, I produced TV, radio, and myriad social content for McD's. Unfortunately, less than 2 months after starting here, we learned the majority of McD's work was going to W+K. 'Tis a fickle beast, our industry.
Senior Producer at Commonwealth // McCann
September 2014 – May 2019 Detroit, MI
Produced TV, radio, OLV, and social content primarily for Chevrolet US and Global. Also produced 2 fun campaigns for ALDI in between all of the sheet metal.
Senior Producer at Doner
2/11-9/11 & – 6/12-9/14 Southfield, MI
Produced a variety of content for FCA (Dodge, RAM, and Chrysler), Coca-Cola (Simply), Bush's Beans, Smithfield, Cat's Pride, and O'Charley's. One of the most unique projects was an endless runner mobile gaming app for Bush's, which we produced with Psyop NYC.
Producer at Team Detroit (GTB)
September 2011 – June 2012 Dearborn, MI
Produced within the Ford Retail First team, covering multiple regions and producing for for TV, Digital/Mobile, and Print. Also produced an Augmented Reality app featuring Derek Jeter for the Ford Tri-State dealer groups. AR was still pretty new at the time, but was a really interesting project to handle. While not a lengthy stint at this agency, further my production acumen quite a bit producing a ton of smaller shoots on lean budgets, where my role often extended far beyond that of an agency producer.
Producer at Campbell-Ewald
February 2004 – February 2011 Warren, MI
Started at my first big agency in Detroit as an Account Coordinator, running job bags around between creative directors and account leads - and trying desperately to schedule myriad client meetings before "online schedules" existed. I was promoted to a Supervisor role without even interviewing or applying for said role before I eventually found my way into the production department, which turned out to be the greatest decision of my career. I was mentored and learned from some of the most seasoned EPs as I worked on accounts ranging from Chevrolet and Alltel to the U.S. Navy and several other eclectic accounts at the agency. My production time at C-E allowed me to be assigned jobs well beyond my experience, and I learned so much in my years there. To this day, no better production experience.
Creative Coordinator & Proofreader at BERLINE
March 2003 – February 2004 Bloomfield Hills, MI
My first real agency gig out of college. I was hired as Proofreader, and then eventually wore a plethora of hats: broadcast traffic, a bit of copywriting here and there, and also acted as a liaison between Account and Creative, assigning new jobs to writers and art directors.
Education
B.A, English at Oakland University
Rochester Hills, MI
Awards
AICP "Cinematography" Judge, AICP
Selected to judge Cinematography Category for 2024 AICP
Gold, The D Show
Color of Emotions Campaign (Red and Gold spots)
Cannes Short List, Cannes Film Festival
Chevy “Blackout” Superbowl 49 TV spot
Fundraising Champion, Special Olympics of Michigan-Annual Fundraiser
7 straight years: Fundraising Team Champions / 7 straight years: highest individual fundraising
Best of TV, The D Show / Adcraft
ALDI U.S. TV Launch Campaign