::TheFamily::

News

1.04.10

SUCCESS IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY (aka F.U. Verizon)

HI Family Friends,
Welcome to a new year and a new decade. We are really freaking excited. Are you? You should be. A new year is a clean slate and a new decade is a blank canvas ready to be painted with all the amazing things we will do and create.
We plan on making MAGIC happen here and you will have many things to look forward to from us. The first of which will be a new look and a new website.
Also, we will be ready to officially announce a new Family Member later this week.
Aren't we off to an incredible start?? We are.
Although, minor setback. Our phones here in the office are not working. So no one can call us, and we can call no one. Huh. Do you think that's a sign? We do. We think it's a sign that no matter what, The Family succeeds.
Go ahead, take our phones - we'll just email you. What? Our internet went down? Who cares! We've got mobile phones with internet capabilities, and this office is one of the few places on earth that Chris' iPhone actually works. So, see? Nothing will keep us down.
Get ready Ad World, this is the year of US.
(it's also the year of the tiger, grrr)
11.17.09

Who? GA!

Hunt No More! Awesome Animation is HERE thanks to Family Member HUGA!!
Check out the New Fall '09 HUnterGAtherer reel , it's really, really good.
11.13.09

THE FAMILY REVEALED

Hi.
If you were curious as to what we look like, now you know....

To see more shots from the Cutting Room Halloween party, click here .
11.10.09

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, PART II

Believe it or not, I'm walking on air...Because there are so many awesome things happening at Believe.

This is a company that never sleeps. In the past month Believe was named to the top 25 production companies in the world by Creativity; they signed an excellent new visual effects and storytelling director Bruce St. Clair whose very clever reel is making waves all over the place; AND they brought on the iconic and amazing Gerard de Thame .
Believe also produced several documentary short films for Glamour Magazine's Women of the Year series which debuted today (the six month project was spearheaded by Liz Silver, congrats Liz!), and put out yet another edition of their food magazine, Edible LA.
Oh and last month they signed feature film legend Alex Proyas (The Crow, iRobot, Knowing).
I'm exhausted just typing about it. But wait, there's more.
Jeff Darling has added three new epic spots to his reel, spots that took him around the world TWICE. Floria Sigismondi is back on the commercial scene after wrapping her first feature film, The Runaways , starring Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart . And finally we eagerly await the return of Zack Snyder, who will be back in the game starting in 2010. He's currently working on two features Guardians of Ga'Hoole and Sucker Punch.

Stay tuned to this website to see what Believe does this month!
7.16.09

EMMYLICIOUS

ASA & DREW, COMPOSERS AT BLACK IRIS, ARE NOMINATED FOR AN EMMY!
This marks Asa's second nomination, he won an Emmy for "Dick in a Box."
Here is the Emmy shortlist and the link!
http://www.thrfeed.com/2009/07/emmy-nominations-complete-list.html

From the Emmy site:
Outstanding Original Music AndLyrics
Saturday Night Live • Host: Justin Timberlake / Song Title: Motherlover • NBC• SNL Studios in association with NBC
Studios and Broadway Video

Akiva Schaffer, Lyrics By
Jorma Taccone, Lyrics By
Andy Samberg, Lyrics By
Justin Timberlake, Lyrics By
**Asa Taccone, Music By
**Drew Campbell, Music By

(TO SEE THE "MOTHERLOVER" VIDEO, SCROLL DOWN TO POSTING 5/13/09)
7.07.09

THE FAMILY LIKES A GOOD VIRAL AND GOLD LIONS

We are excited that several of our directors keep getting noticed for the fantastic viral work that they've put out in the past year.
Caviar director Keith Schofield's Diesel XXX creation, which has been making the rounds for a while, won a Gold Lion in Cannes two weeks ago. Congratulations Keith! The Diesel film is one of our all time favorites, and we'll keep using it on your reel to scare away cautious clients.
Also in Cannes, a special jury commendation was given to Believe Media in Los Angeles for their Wassup '08 "True Vote" ad. Charles Stone III directed and created. This is one of the first times in Cannes history that a special award has been given to a non-advertiser supported PSA.
Finally, the Guardian newspaper came out with their list of the top 10 viral ads of 2008* and our Family members went 1, 2, and 3**. Well done everybody!

* Top 10 virals for 2008 as compiled by GoViral based on compiling numbers of views from Youtube, Dailymotion, Metacafe, Break and Vimeo. Rankings adjusted by taking into account a "people's verdict".
** Viral #3, which shows Kobe Bryant jumping over an Aston Martin, was created by Believe Media and director Whitey. Whitey is no longer with Believe.
5.26.09

CONTACT INFORMATION HAS BEEN CHANGED

If you look just to the right, you'll see that our longtime Baby Brother Ian Riccaboni has been removed from the contact information section of our website. Don't worry! We are thrilled to report that the greatest intern of all time will be graduating from NYU this month, and starting his Masters in business at U PENN. Congratulations Ian - we are so proud of you and your accomplishments! And no matter where you go or what you do in life, you will always be our baby brother.

Also, the most astute readers of this website will notice that Diane's contact information has been moved. Diane really wanted to be on top. So now she is.
5.21.09

FOR SOMETHING REALLY F'ING FUNNY

Click here.
If you don't click you might be missing out on quite possibly the funniest awards show campaign ever produced. Seriously.
Credits include: Aaron Stoller (writer/director), Andy Samberg (writer/actor), Avika Schaffer (writer), Asa Taccone (music producer) and a host of celebs playing some of the best roles of their lives. Do it now. CLICK!
5.20.09

THE BLACK CLOUD THAT FOLLOWS DIANE AROUND

There are some people in life that have the absolute worst luck. So much drama in their life that you almost wonder if there is some other "force" at work. I'm afraid I must tell our dear readers that Diane is one of those people. We have recently started to laugh about it because there is nothing else to do at this point.
If I were to make a list of all the rotten things that have happened to this very nice person since we started The Family many years ago, I could fill up several pages (single spaced) so I won't do it. But let's just review the last couple of days of her life so you can get an idea of what I'm talking about.
Friday (the 15th): Mom's house has an electrical fire. Fire department comes and puts out the fire but in the process rips the entire house up. Everybody is safe (thank God) but the house is condemned.
Saturday (the 16th): Diane has to take Fanny, her mom's new puppy, to live with because her mom can't keep her while she is homeless. Diane (and Cha Cha) discover Fanny is a devil puppy: she spends her day biting, chewing on everything, and barking. She spends her nights that way too.
Tuesday morning (the 19th): Devil puppy falls out of her pen and either breaks or sprains her leg. Diane rushes her to the vet.
See what I'm saying? Now I'm asking all of you to help manifest good things for Diane for the next several years so the black cloud will lift. Thanks.
5.13.09

LOVE YOUR MOTHER

Asa Taccone (of BLACK IRIS) kills it again for SNL! Asa, working with JT and Andy, produced yet another hilarious track for SNL. (previous tracks include "Dick in a Box," and "Natalie Portman's Rap.") We know you've probably seen this, but it never gets old. Check out "Mother Lover" here.