When Click 3X opened its new full-service, live-action content company C3X Live last year under the under the leadership of EP Mary Crosse, they promised a big talent influx in the near future. That future has arrived as C3X Live announces the addition of comedy standouts and director/DP team; Josh Ruben and Vincent Peone, owners of j+v films. The duo joins director/designer/animator Juan Delcan along with the Click 3X directors.
"As we move aggressively to reach the forefront of the branded content universe, we are looking for innovative new talent," noted Crosse. "Josh and Vince fit this description exactly, helping to fill out an already deep and versatile roster. And after directing, DP-ing, producing, even acting in thousands of comedic web videos for #1 comedy site collegehumor.com over the past 6 years, with several videos reaching over 15 million views, the team has mastered comedy and really understands what it takes to make a pop culture viral success." In fact, a rough calculation of total views of their videos exceeded over 2 billion served!
J+V will transpose their esoteric comedy aesthetic and comedic sensibilities onto the commercial, branded-content and advertising worlds. "As a younger generation moves into decision-making roles in the advertising world, they'll be looking for work that appeals to their sensibilities," noted Ruben. "People love comedy, they love irreverence, and they love beautiful cinematography. We intend to bring this dynamic to every spot we produce for C3X." Click 3X President/Partner, Peter Corbett adds, "Amazingly right out of the box, the guys are 2-for-2 bidding, winning and finishing campaigns—a social-media-tied Hostess project and a series of puppet-based Durex spots. We're excited to see what's next."
The pair will continue their relationship with CollegeHumor, where they are currently on-staff directors, having created well over one thousand enormously popular viral sketches, and music videos and will work with Click 3x for commercial work. Recent work includes a spoof of popular Black Eyed Peas, Katy Perry and Rihanna videos as well as a legit music video for singer/songwriter Rachael Yamagata. Their clients have included Trojan, Banana Boat, Nintendo, BlackBerry, SoBe, Time Warner Cable, BBC, IBM, Comedy Central's Atom Films, Budweiser and Tribeca Productions.
"We like to make everything from cutting-edge web videos to comedic narratives, and C3X complements us perfectly," noted Ruben. "Everything Click 3x does, from their GEICO spots to the Rihanna's Rude Boy video to their interactive work, is really standout. The opportunity to direct commercials, interactive and branded content with access to all the varied talent, post and interactive resources of C3X is a huge step for us."
J+V worked with Mary Crosse in her past life at Lucky Branded Entertainment, so when they heard she had moved to C3X, they knew it would be a perfect fit for them. "Click is always putting out new and exciting stuff that's right on the cusp of where technology and comedy meet," stated Peone. "When we heard that Mary started here, we knew it was a great opportunity. We've been very impressed from the time we've spent in the studio getting to know the team, and we can't wait to get in there and create with them on a regular basis."
Ruben and Peone have worked with a range of big-name talent, including Abby Elliot, Aubrey Plaza, Ben Schwartz, Sarah Wayne Callies, and Allison Williams, among many others. Both directors received 2011 Webby Awards for their work on Grammar Nazis, a parody of Quentin Tarantino's Inglorious Basterds, as well as the Web series Hello My Name Is. Paper magazine ranked their sketch Woman Afraid of Owls number 3 in their list of 2011's top 10 Funniest Videos Online. Their work has also received praise from E!, CNN, The Huffington Post, The New York Times, The Today Show, and more. Ruben and Peone, who are regular performers at the Upright Citizen's Brigade, are also the founders of sketch group Dutch West.
Click here to check out j+v films' reel.
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