The Traveling Picture Show Company has named advertising industry veteran John Noble to head its commercial production division as executive producer. Noble, who also becomes a partner in TPSC, brings broad experience in both agency and production company roles, including senior production posts with The Martin Agency, Element 79, Eyeball and Optimus.
Noble arrives with a mandate to grow TPSC’s commercial division both by building its directorial roster and expanding its relationships with advertising agencies nationwide. “We thought it was very important to bring on someone with experience on both the agency side and the production company side,” said TPSC CEO Kevin Matusow. “John shares our vision for how to run a successful production company. He knows how to work with advertising agencies. He is also director friendly and will work hard to support our filmmakers.”
“The unique opportunity to become a partner and to head the commercial division of a company of national scope is an honor and a tremendous opportunity,” said Noble. “I’m excited and extremely focused on taking TPSC to the next level, to reach its full potential as a competitive national player.”
Noble most recently served as executive producer and managing director at design and graphics company Eyeball. Prior to that, he set up and ran ONE@Optimus, the production unit of post house Optimus. He is currently on the board of the Midwest AICP and council member of the Midwest Independent Film Festival.
“I know firsthand what agencies go through to sell an idea, the hoops they jump through and the hard work they must invest in their projects before bringing their ideas to us,” he said. “I use that experience to make their productions smarter, less stressful, and ultimately, more successful.”
The company also announced that it has signed directors Mike Chaves and Andrews Jenkins to its roster. Chaves, formerly with Backyard Productions, has directed commercials and branded content for Toshiba, NASCAR, 7-Eleven, Ford, McDonald’s, Microsoft, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Kellogg’s, SeaDoo and Zippo. A graduate of Art Center College of Design, he worked in postproduction early in his career and his spots often include an innovative use of special effects and visual storytelling.
Jenkins, most recently represented by Go Film, began his career as a copywriter for the in-house advertising department of Adidas. His directorial credits include work for Adidas, Nike, Saturn, TaylorMade, Budweiser, Mercedes, Gatorade and BMW. Jenkins also directed the feature How to Rob a Bank (And 10 Tips to Actually Get Away with It) starring Nick Stahl, Erika Christensen and Gavin Rossdale.