Have fun.  Make money.

Andrew Becker is an award winning commercial/film director famous for his breathtakingly surreal spots, hi-tech imagery, and ability to capture raw emotion and individuality. One of his many specialties is visual story telling with high production value, and he has captured astonishing and adventurous footage from all four corners of the globe.

A native of San Francisco, Becker grew up in a family of doctors, but chose to study film and English at the University of Pennsylvania. He started his career at ABC Sports and News in New York producing and directing network programming, with stints at MTV along the way. His work in the world of sports earned him his first two Emmy awards.

He left ABC to direct documentaries, and won two more Emmy’s for a striking film on Cuban baseball under Fidel Castro and a compelling and stylized portrayal of young jazz musicians growing up homeless on the streets of New Orleans.

From there he moved into directing commercials, bringing to life everything from world-class dancers in Coca Cola, to cutting edge inventors for the New York Stock Exchange, to a Scottish sheepherder for AT&T. He won a Gold at the New York Festival for his evocative spot, “Messenger” for Uunet. And last year his hypnotic spot “Signs” for Disney was selected as the number 1 ‘most liked spot’ in Adage. Other commercial credits include: Philips, Nissan, General Motors, Titleist, Nike, Monster.Com, Canon, Dell, Visa and Samsung.

His continued desire to experience all avenues of directing has taken him back and forth from commercials to television and film. He has helmed episodic programs like the highly-acclaimed series Law & Order, and directed a short film financed by Sony Pictures, entitled Paperlilly, which screened at the Cannes Film Festival.

Andrew has a reputation for the authentic. He strives to find the reality and honesty in everything he directs. He also sets out to find the fantastical in that reality and to this end, he has earned a name for directing consistently respected spots, highly regarded by the corporate advertising arena, his peers, and the public.

Martha is an accomplished film director, writer and producer.  She has established a strong international presence while shooting commercials and music video worldwide.  Her work came to major notice after her Archers Peach Schnapps commercial which was inspired by the films of Peter Greenaway and won her an EPICA Award.

She has worked with Linda Evangelista (Yardley Perfume Campaign), Jerry Hall (Marshall Field’s campaign) and Beyonce (Macy’s fashion show).  She directed the film CHOMOPHOBIA starring Penelope Cruz, Kristin Scott Thomas and Ralph Fiennes.  It screened at the 2007 Cannes Lion Festival as the honorary closing night show.

Jesse Jacobs is a director who combines live action filmmaking, visual effects, animation and design. He works in commercials, music videos, and broadcast design.With his background as a trained performer at The Second City, extensive hands-on post-production and skill with comedic talent, his integrated approach to production, motion, and story telling often explore characters in absurd surreal situations.

Notable directing work includes working with Skittles, Blue Man Group, Zune, Diesel, Sketches and the opening for the Oxygen TV Series GIRLS BEHAVING BADLY. His work on Missy Elliot’s WORK IT video garnered an MTV award nomination for best special effects.  He also received a Broadcast Design Award for the ELLEN DEGENERIS Show Open.

German born Marcus Nispel started his career in advertising as an art director for Young & Rubicam in Frankfurt, Germany. He came to America on a Fulbright scholarship in 1984 at the age of 20 and made his directing debut in 1989 with a series of music videos for C&C Music Factory. While living in New York, Nispel co-founded and operated his own production company, Portfolio Artists Network, before merging with Ridley Scott and Tony Scott’s RSA-USA to form Portfolio/Black Dog. He joined MJZ in 2000.

To date, Nispel has directed over one thousand commercials and music videos. His commercial clients include: AT&T, Audi, Canon, Chase, Coca- Cola, Dr. Pepper, Fidelity, Kodak, Levi’s, L’Oreal, Marlboro, Mercedes, Motorola, Nike, Panasonic, Pepsi, RCA, Showtime, Sprint, Sprite, Unisys, UPS, US Postal Service, VISA Gold as well as MTV, ABC, CBS, NBC.

His music videos  include over fifteen #1 songs and several breakthrough videos for artists such as Puff Daddy, Bush, No Doubt, the Fugees, George Michael, Janet Jackson, Elton John, Billy Joel, Aretha Franklin, Cher, Mariah Carey, Brian McKnight, k.d. Lang, EnVogue, Tony Bennett, C&C Music Factory, Bette Midler, LL Cool J, Bryan Adams, and Gloria Estefan.

Nispel has been awarded numerous international advertising accolades for his commercial work, including several Clio Awards, the Moebius Award, the Grand Prix at the BDA Awards, honors from the New York, Houston, and Chicago Film Festivals, and the Art Director Club. His work has garnered 12 MTV Music Video Award nominations resulting in four MTV Music Video Awards, including 1993 MTV Best European Video Award for “Killer/Papa was a Rolling Stone” by George Michael. Nispel has won two Billboard awards and Music Video Filmmaker Association Awards as well as the MVPA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001.

Marcus Nispel has been the subject of two documentaries and was featured in Time Magazine’s year-end issue “Best of 1996” for his Fidelity Investments campaign, “A Time Has Come Today.” In 1997, Nispel was featured as a speaker at the AICP MOMA Show. The AICP has honored him with several awards and his work is now part of the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art. His work has been highlighted and screened at the New York Film Festival, the Art Director’s Club and at the Film and Broadcast Museum in Frankfurt.

In 1996 he was honored with the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s “Cross Cultural Dreams” retrospective of his music videos. He was featured in a chapter of Armond White’s book on the pop revolution and was the recipient of the Black Achievement Award for the positive portrayal of African Americans in the mass media. Nispel has been featured in Vogue, Vanity Fair, Details, They New York Times, The LA Times, AdWeek, AdAge, and Creativity. In 2003 his feature film debut “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” for New Line Cinema gross over 100,000,000 dollars, making it the most profitable movie of the year.

His first venue in directing and producing for television: a modern retelling of “Frankenstein” written by Dean Koontz and co-produced by Nispel and Martic Scorsese. Presently, Marcus is about to begin pre production on his next feature film, “Pathfinder”, which he developed and is co-producing with producer Mike Medavoy at Phoenix Pictures. In tandem, Marcus will publish the three-part Graphic Novel of “Pathfinder”.

I started at Bill Hudson Films (which became the Artists Company) as the official head PA. Somehow I climbed the ladder becoming a Production Coordinator, Production Manager and, when the company started a Music Video department, I was the natural choice to move up to Music Video Producer.

Most notable of the music videos I produced were REM’s “LOSING MY RELIGION” and Deep Forrest’s “SWEET LULLABY”. LOSING MY RELIGION won MTV awards for Best Video, Best Breakthrough Video, and Best Director and a Grammy Award for Best Video. Deep Forrest garnered MTV Best Breakthrough Video and was truly a labor of love, shooting for 28 days in seven countries. I was the Producer, PA, Travel Coordinator, Location Manager, Relationship Counselor, and on some days even Cameraman, Camera Loader, Grip, etc….

But it was on the Deep Forrest video that I decided to change channels and become a Director. On a plane somewhere between Beijing and Nairobi I wrote two commercials for Crest Toothpaste. They were based on the nightmares of a little boy who didn’t brush before going to sleep.

I shot the two spots for Crest and tasted what my future was meant to be. I then found fantastic “dead” agency storyboards for Ikea and Citibank. The Ikea spot featured a guy arriving home to an empty house. His realization that his wife had moved out while he was at work led to the obvious voice over: “Need some new furniture?…” The Citibank spot followed bank robbers into the sewer system, setting a triangulated explosive, blowing the wall and entering the bank where they found themselves facing a bank full of customers. This led to the voice over: “Citibank is now open on… Saturdays”.

I had spent my entire savings and the result was four spots on a reel. On a lark I showed the work to one of the Sales Reps at, where else, the Artists Company. She loved the work and suggested they hire me as a director. I accepted. My career built quickly as there was a dearth of comedy directors in the early to mid 90’s and so great opportunities arose. I worked on great accounts out of Hal Riney and Partners, Goodby Silverstein and many other agencies.

I won Cannes Gold and Silver Lions for work I did out of Chiat Day for the Weather Channel and a Cannes Silver Lion awards for E trade “Pizza” and “Cop”. I also won Clio Awards for some spot but I should probably go to the office and see what the plaque reads (I think it was Nike or something). I think of myself as a performance and visual storyteller with a humorous bent. But in every commercial I direct I always try to have at least one shot set it apart. Hopefully that’s apparent.

Yann’s background is in animation and graphic design, something that has lent a unique style to his various commercial campaigns.   He has won many accolades for his innovative approach including a silver and gold BDA and D&AD award.

It was his fresh approach that caught the attention of the Stockholm agency who asked him to produce a series of exhibition films for Saab. He has since directed European and global campaigns for Saab as well as Electrolux.

Originating from a very successful career as an advertising photographer, Mark Toia found his way into directing commercials, bringing his exceptional photographic eye to the small screen, and he has now become one of the most sought after directors in the advertising world.

Where Mark succeeds most is with his clear understanding of visual communication. He knows what visually sells products and this is why clients keep coming back to him again and again. He has since directed ads for Yamaha, Mitsubishi, Mazda, Semen Gresek and the Australian Rugby team.

Envision Media Arts, formerly known as XOVR (Pronounced “Crossover”), was founded by Lee Nelson in 2002.  We are a film, television and commercial production company based at Paramount Studios in Hollywood, California.

For our first 10 years, Envision Media Arts (EMA) functioned predominantly as a commercial production company that sought out the best directors in the commercial world, helping foreign directors cross over into the US market and US directors cross over into foreign markets.  We have filmed all over the world in places like Belgium, Brazil, China, England, Germany, Mexico, Romania, Russia, South Africa and throughout the US.

Over his career Nelson has Executive Produced and Produced award winning spots for Coca-Cola, Sony, Ford, Toyota, and T-Com among hundreds of other prestigious accounts.  Notably, his commercials were aired during the Academy Awards and the Super Bowl.

In addition to our ongoing business producing TV Commercials, Nelson has produced a number of feature films.

In 2004, we filmed the ‘Legends Sequence’ for the blockbuster feature film, NATIONAL TREASURE starring Nicolas Cage (WORLD TRADE CENTER, LORD OF WAR, 8MM) and Diane Kruger (THE HUNTING PARTY, TROY).

In 2007 Nelson Executive Produced the thriller PATHFINDER for 20th Century Fox.  The film starred Karl Urban (THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS, THE BOURNE SUPREMACY, THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING), and was directed by Marcus Nispel (TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE).

Also in 2007, we Produced the TV Pilot FAIR GAME WITH BLOODY BILL for the History Channel and A&E Television Network.

In 2010 Nelson Executive Produced and we supplied financing for JANIE JONES, which starred Abigail Breslin (LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, ZOMBIELAND) and Alassandro Nivola (FACE/OFF, JURASSIC PARK 3).  It screened at the 2010 Toronto film festival and is being released domestically by Tribeca Film.  View the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHS0JTwdHls&ob=av3n

In 2011, Envision Media Arts produced two films.  The first is CHAINED, directed by Jennifer Lynch and starring Vincent D’Onofrio, Julia Ormond, Jake Weber and Gina Phillips.  The films domestic theatrical distribution will be by Anchor Bay Films and Myriad Pictures will handle international sales.  It is looking at a 2012 release.

The second film is CELESTE & JESSE FOREVER, directed by Lee Toland Krieger and stars Rashida Jones, Andy Samberg, Elijah Wood, Emma Roberts and Will McCormack.  The film finished principal photography in Los Angeles, CA and Newport, RI in July and is currently in post production.  It’s poised to show at a number of upcoming film festivals beginning in early 2012.

Continued growth and forging ahead with innovative filmmakers on creative and powerful filmed entertainment, television programs and commercials. We will become a profitable mini studio with the ability to self-finance and self-distribute. We will attain a valuable library of entertainment properties that will cement our profitability for years to come.

All of these goal will be attained through Envisions three core beliefs. Nurturing each project and the creative team to reach their full potential. Operating at the highest ethical levels while providing outstanding value to all of our clients and most importantly having the audacity to take the necessary risks to achieve greatness.

lnelson@envisionma.com
D: 323.956.9687

Lee Nelson founded the award winning Feature Film, Television and Commercial Production Company Envision Media Arts in 2002.  He’s filmed commercials all over the world and has worked with the top names in this industry, helping US directors expand their reach internationally and international directors find work in the US market.

Over his career Nelson has Executive Produced and Produced award winning spots for Coca-Cola, Sony, Ford, Toyota, and T-Com among hundreds of other prestigious accounts. Notably, his commercials were aired during the Academy Awards and the Super Bowl.

In addition to his ongoing business producing TV Commercials Nelson has an extensive career in the motion picture industry. Nelson Executive Produced the 2007 feature film PATHFINDER for 20th Century Fox. The film starred Karl Urban (THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS, THE BOURNE SUPREMACY, THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING), and was directed by Marcus Nispel (TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE).

Also in 2007 Nelson Executive Produced the TV Pilot FAIR GAME WITH BLOODY BILL for the History Channel and A&E Television Network.

In 2004, Nelson launched Canvas Advertising, Inc., as Managing Partner and Chief Creative Officer.  Canvas has created award-winning campaigns for Marshall Fields, the Minneapolis based retailer with annual sales in excess of two and a half billion dollars.  From 2004 to 2007 Canvas generated 100% of the broadcast TV commercials for this retail powerhouse.  Other clients include: The Russian Federation, Macy’s and Express.

In 2003, under a five-picture deal with Mike Medavoy’s Phoenix Pictures, Nelson co-produced the feature film BASIC, starring John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson, which was directed by John McTiernan, (DIEHARD, THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER, and THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR).

Nelson moved to Los Angeles in 1986 as a screenwriter and independent film producer.  Among his early credits as producer are SPUD, an award-winning film funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.   He went on to produce the award winning film THE SEVENTH COIN, starring Peter O’Toole in 1993.

He’s currently producing CHAINED, directed by Jennifer Lynch and WACO, directed by Rupert Wainwright.  Both films are set to go into production this year.

ahalpern@envisionma.com
D: 310.710.5540

As President of Commercial Production at Envision, Halpern develops clever and result oriented production solutions for directors, agency producers and creatives; he joins Envision with a deep background in both advertising and production.

In his repping and producing career began when Ray Lofaro, late great pioneer of Director Artists, who convinced him to embark on a new incarnation as a Directors rep and producer.

Halpern worked with noteworthy production companies including RSA, MJZ, Chelsea and Plum. His strong bond with agencies and advertisers to promote creative excellence stems from the origins of his career on Madison Avenue including a stint at DDB, where he won a Clio for his creative work on Volkswagen.

He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, son, daughter, dog and 1959 Studebaker truck.

dbuelow@envisionma.com
D: 323.956.9687

As President of Film & TV at Envision Media Arts, David Buelow oversees business and creative aspects of the Company, currently in pre-production on “Waco” starring Kurt Russell, Adrien Brody and Sharon Stone, and in development for the musical “Summer Beach Party” with Disney Channel and the live-action pilot, “Idiot Time Travelers” at Cartoon Network. Buelow has extensive experience in the motion picture industry, recently serving as President of Brookwell McNamara Entertainment (BME) where he produced such films as “Bring It On: Fight to the Finish,” “Into the Blue 2: The Reef,” and “Legally Blondes”- sequel to the wildly successful “Legally Blonde” franchise executive produced with Reese Witherspoon.  Buelow also co-executive produced the teen drama “Beyond the Break” and Cartoon Network’s first live-action/animation series “Out of Jimmy’s Head.”  Prior to joining BME, he was Creative Executive of production for First Family Entertainment, where he packaged and produced “The Cutting Edge: Going For The Gold” from MGM/Sony. Buelow had previously been Executive Vice-President of Creative Affairs at The Don Johnson Company for seven years throughout production of the CBS series “Nash Bridges” and a range of other television and film properties.

sjohnson@envisionma.com
D: 323.956.9687

Johnson has worked in film and TV for more than 15 years.  While at MGM, she oversaw production on the long-running sci-fi series STARGATE SG-1 and the critically acclaimed Showtime series DEAD LIKE ME.  She also served as Associate Producer at ABC Family on the series KYLE XY.  Her previous feature credits include working on the William Friedkin directed remake of 12 ANGRY MEN.

Johnson worked with the Envision team on CHAINED and CELESTE AND JESSE FOREVER and will continue to oversee both production and post on their upcoming films.

dtish@envisionma.com
D: 323.956.9687

As the Development Coordinator at Envision, David Tish assesses and drives forward new film and television projects while helping with the management of the day-to-day needs of the company.   He brings an established background in the entertainment industry to the Company, having worked at Sony Pictures and Starz on series such as Spartacus, Party Down, Camelot, Crash and Torchwood.  Tish also has significant film experience, including a five year term at Dreamworks Animation working on The Shrek franchise, Wallace and Gromit, Madagascar, Over the Hedge and Kung Fu Panda.  Additionally, he worked with producers at Firm Films on the features 11:14 and After the Sunset. Tish grew up in Colorado and graduated from CU, Boulder with a BFA in film production.

richard@r2ny.com
D: 212.647.8464

R2 represents a roster of high-end creative talent for the advertising community. Our roster includes live action, animation, editorial and music. We strive to provide the perfect fit to each client we serve, matching sensitive production specs to the person or company to make their vision a reality. With years of experience in the industry, we take pride in our ability to service our clients and to keep them abreast of trends and updates within the creative community.

robin@r2nyc.com
D: 212.647.8464

R2 represents a roster of high-end creative talent for the advertising community. Our roster includes live action, animation, editorial and music. We strive to provide the perfect fit to each client we serve, matching sensitive production specs to the person or company to make their vision a reality. With years of experience in the industry, we take pride in our ability to service our clients and to keep them abreast of trends and updates within the creative community.

robinreps@yahoo.com
D: 312 .948.9000

Robin Pickett moved to Chicago from Hawaii with her sax playing boyfriend in the eighties, determined to find a cool job where she wouldn’t have to cut her hair and wear business suits.  Armed with a BA from the University of Illinois in Liberal Arts & Sciences with a major in Communications, having studied art and gained experience in radio,  she hooked up with established film rep Linda Youngblood and began her journey in film and advertising. Robin’s firm, Robin Pickett & Associates, was established in 1990.

Cut to 20 years later and Robin has made a successful career of representing Directors.  She has established herself as a resource for Midwest agencies and earned the respect of agency Creatives and Producers as well as her peers.

Robin and Dez, the sax player, finally tied the knot in Hawaii after a 20 year engagement. This came at the request of their “children,” standard poodles Koko and Lulu, who realize they are still bitches but no longer wished to be considered “bastards.”

Robin Pickett is an Aries. She loves meeting new people and spreading the good word about the talented people she represents.  She also has a passion for all dogs, live music, beautiful pools, and good weather. Robin divides her time between Chicago and Austin, TX.

info@slantbm.com
D: 818.847.1010
2311 W. Empire Ave. Burbank, CA 91504

info@slantbm.com
D: 818.847.1010
2311 W. Empire Ave. Burbank, CA 91504