WHAT I DO
As an award-winning creative director, designer, and A/V artist, my background/skill-set covers a lot of territory. Gleaned from well-over 10 years in both the LA Film Industry and the OC Advertising+Design realm, I bring a wealth of experience and enthusiasm, to each and every project I undertake—large or small.
Currently, in addition to my own projects, I provide creative to a variety of market sectors in both the advertising and entertainment communities—from conceptual insight and brand development, to graphic design, art direction, production work, photography, video, and music. Contact me for my rates, or general info.
With an eye on emerging technologies, I believe all areas of the Arts are pooling together to serve one common creative platform...
And that's where I thrive.
ABOUT ME
I've spent most of my life in The Arts. I started painting and playing music at the age of six. I started taking pictures when I was eight. Studied architecture & film in college. Spent over 10 years in the LA Film Industry working in production, post-production, and music. Then moved into Advertising, doing broadcast and graphics work, while living at the beach in Orange County, CA.
In addition to my work as an independent artist, I consult and work on projects across a variety of mediums, throughout the country, both onsite and remotely.
key SKILLS
Concept - “The Big Picture”… Ideas/Solutions with Broad Scope, Multi-Media Forethought, Efficient Execution, and Targeted Crowd Appeal
Analog - Print Ads, POP, Packaging, Direct Mail, Brochures, Outdoor
Digital - Websites, Emails, Banners, GIF Creation, Web Assets
Brand Identity - Concept/Development and Design, Logos, Collateral, Social Media
Marketing - Local/National Campaign Development, Business & Product Launches, Event and Trade Show Materials
Video/Broadcast - Video Production, Directing, Writing, Editing, Sound Design, Original Music, Radio, Voice Over
Photography - Social Media, Lifestyle, Street, Product/Tabletop, Real Estate, Event Coverage, Retouching & Post
software
Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Ableton LiVE, MicroSoft Office, Squarespace, Mail Chimp, Google Apps, Lightroom, Muse, After Effects, Logic Pro, Final Cut Pro, Pro Tools, Reason, Painter, and various project management apps
WORK HISTORY
Creative Director | LaManna Creative
In addition to the various staff positions I’ve held (see below), I also independently create work within the entertainment industry, VanLife, surf culture, and advertising market sectors—from concept & design (both print & digital)—to photography & video (product & social media/lifestyle), art direction, production work, strategy, branding, product launch/campaign, and broadcast.
Production Designer | Veritone
[Freelance] - Created over 800 icons, and dozens of digital assets to support the launch of their rebranded website. Produced reports, case studies, Keynote & Powerpoint presentations (including animation), GIFs, event signage, print ads, banner ads, and image comps for blog & online usage.
Production Designer | Rauxa
[Freelance] - GIF creation, banner ads, email campaigns (both mobile & desktop), print ads, brochures, and image retouching/creation. GAP, Verizon, TGI Fridays, Allergan
Production Artist | Blizzard Entertainment
[Freelance] - Produced signage and assets (both print & digital) to support their annual BlizCon Event, created tons of banner ads, packaging/packaging art and posters.
Associate Creative Director | InterCommunications
[Freelance] - Concept, art direct, and/or design theme books, signage, websites, and print ads to market luxury resorts worldwide. Standout campaign: Punta Sayulita, a bohemian resort property along the south-coast of Mexico.
Creative Director | Bates/Lee Advertising
As Creative Director, I lead a small team, designed and oversaw the creative on various accounts—Hilton Hawaii, Conrad International Hotels, BIVB, and American Express.
This work included print, web, digital, photography and television—for both their Southern California and Hawaii offices.
Art Director | O'Leary and Partners
[Freelance] - I worked on several of their accounts. However, the work I did on Kawasaki was a stand-out. Most notably, the Kawasaki Contingency Brochures. I created a variety of looks by hand—many of which became Fine Art prints.
Creative Director | Foote, Cone & Belding
As Creative Director on the Taco Bell Field Account for North America, I led the creative team and developed the concept & design for all marketing tools and campaigns, along with my writing partner. This included all print, POP, outdoor, corporate materials, sweepstakes & game events, radio and television, as well as managing all writers and designers, attending press-checks, photo shoots, and final retouching. Awards: LateNight Outdoor-OBIE 2003, XBox Field & Nationall Merchandising-REGGIE
Art Director | Wunderman, Cato, Johnson
[Freelance] - Part of the initial team that rebranded the Taco Bell creative, and reimagined their marketing voice—including all new logos for each food product, and a reimagined menu. I also assisted in the design and marketing of several new products, which later became TB icons. Additionally, I art directed much of the food photography.
Creative Director | Markzware Software
Originally hired as an Art Director, I was promoted to Creative Director within my first year. Directing a small team, I completely revamped their brand identity, packaging design, and marketing campaigns. Additionally, I wrote copy and developed their trade show elements.
Assistant Director of Video Operations | Playboy Entertainment
Assisted and helped manage the in-house post-production, archival materials, and broadcast elements of all television, cable, film, and home video production efforts. Assisted all ancillary editors, off-line and on-line sessions, voice-over, dubbing, and 3rd-party post-production efforts. Including: the Hugh Hefner Bios (as well as his personal video collection), PMOY specials, the Erotic Fantasies series, Playboy LateNight, and countless Playmate Profiles.
Editor + Post-Production Supervisor / Marketing Division | Twentieth Century Fox
Edited and/or oversaw the post-production on various film, video, and television marketing efforts for broadcast, theatrical and promotional venues to support the studio’s film and television efforts—including roll-out and press materials. Key efforts: off-line editing, online supervision, directing voice-over, post-production supervision and full delivery to network.
Post-Production Supervisor | ZM Productions
Supervised and/or coordinated the post-production efforts—from production phase, thru off-line/on-line and broadcast—of company theatrical, press-kit, and television programs. Additionally, this included a ton of post-production projects I helmed in conjunction with our efforts for Universal, Fox, Disney, Paramount, and Amblin Entertainment.
BIO
TJ has been in the Arts for most of his life. His talents extend through graphic design, film production, editing, sound design, fine art, photography, music, brand development, web media, the written word, and high-end concept generation. He creates original works of Art, in multiple and mixed mediums, consults, produces, and does work-for-hire.
The Entertainment Industry: Tj's years in Hollywood saw him involved in many high-end productions, national commercials, music videos, features, and television programs. He's worked with Amblin Entertainment, Universal Studios, Paramount, 20th Century Fox (film and television), Warner Bros., and Playboy Entertainment—as well as countless other smaller production companies, including R.S.A., Limelight, Propaganda, Red Car, and Cream Cheese. He was an on-staff Post-Production Supervisor with ZM Productions, an Independent Editor/Post-Supervisor at Fox (Marketing Division), and Assistant to the Director of Video Operations at Playboy Entertainment. His hands-on skills with editing, on-line sessions and mastering, sound design, voice over direction, production, and pre-production work give him a vast scope of top-notch experience & skills, gathered from among the industry’s best.
The Advertising Industry: After Hollywood, Tj sought to augment his skill-set beyond that of film & music, and into all forms of graphic design—including print, web, brand development, campaign launch, and high-end concept & design. Fresh out of Hollywood, and new to "graphics", he put together a spec portfolio and was hired straight away as an Art Director for a software company. He made Creative Director at the very same company within his first year. Since then, he has worked as AD or CD at several of the top agencies in the business. He's helmed both local and national marketing campaigns showcasing skills in concept, development, print, outdoor, POP, B2B, radio, and television—more than once an award-winner with campaigns for Taco Bell and Hilton, among others.
As emerging technologies and social media evolve and co-mingle with current art forms & artists, and move into a singular multi-tiered communication arena, Tj is uniquely positioned to channel an immense scope of talent & experience on these new, and existing, forms of creative—both as an original artist and producer, as well as a “creative rockstar” for hire. Combine that with his wit, integrity, personality, and style—and you have a truly positive force of energy on each and every project with which he's involved.
clients / affiliates
Advertising: Blizzard Entertainment • GAP Inc. • Mazda • Quiksilver • Panasonic • Oakley • Hilton • Hilton Hawaii • Taco Bell National • Taco Bell Field • Allergan • Bates Lee Advertising • Foote, Cone, & Belding • Wunderman, Cato, Johnson • Markzware Software • Rauxa • DGWB • Verizon • MEDL Mobile • Dayna Decker • Conrad International Hotels • American Express • Big Island Visitor’s Bureau • Hong Kong Tourism • Lovo Cigars • Ruby’s Diner • Orange County Business Bank • La Coste Resort • ValleyCrest • Francisco Breads • In ‘n Out Burgers • Newport Harbor Yacht Club • Embassy Suites • DoubleTree Hotels • Intercommunications • United Airlines • HOM Group • Nature’s Best • FYI Fridays • Kawasaki
Entertainment: Playboy Entertainment • Capella Films • Twentieth Century Fox • Amblin Entertainment • RSA • Red Car • Propaganda Films • Limelight • Universal Pictures • Disney Studios • The Post Group • Cream Cheese • Paramount Pictures • CBS • Unitel • Modern Post • Fox Television • Anderson Video • Warner Bros. • A&M Records • MCA Worldwide • 525 Post • Sony Entertainment • NBC
