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PSA for the Troops from ADDigital

2010-12-05T14:23:19-08:00

ADDigital and director Alex Engel created this holiday greeting to members of the US Armed Forces. In "PSA for the Troops," a soldier opens holiday gifts online with his loved one back home. "As a Vietnam veteran, and someone with a son serving in the Marines, I felt it was important to send a message of thanks to our men and women in uniform," said ADDigital Executive Producer Tom Mooney. ADDigital encourages viewers to donate generously to The Wounded Warrior Project.

Credits:

Spot Title: "PSA for the Troops"
Airdate: December 1, 2010 (online)

Production Company: ADDigital
Executive Producer: Tom Mooney
Director: Alex Engel
Editor: Alex Engel
Song: "Merry Christmas 2 U (Merry Christmas 2 Me)" James Tragas

Bed the Series Pilot Goes for 15 Minutes

2010-10-12T18:17:56-07:00

When Tom Mooney first brought up the subject of "Bed The Series" to Moonrap's editorial staff, our response was "Come on, Mooney. If there's anything no one needs to see, it's MORE video of you in the sack!" Fortunately, Mooney is producing, not "performing," in this new web series from Chris Bradford.

Bed the Series Pilot - "Backburners" from Chris Bradford on Vimeo.

Brought to us by creator/writer/director Bradford, Producer/Actor Ben Steele, and Executive Producer Tom Mooney's Moon Media, "Bed The Series" is, in fact, an exploration of life's more vulnerable moments, those that take place in the bedroom.

Read our original article for the story of how these ad guys met and started poking around under the sheets. Then, watch the video, and see if you don't recognize some of your own moves...and missteps.

The show is currently being pitched to sponsors, and when you think about it, the potential exists for some good brands to be showcased. One brand even gets free placement; see if you can spot it (or at least it's package).

BET “Heart of the City” Draws 647,000 Viewers; Cited in NY Times Article on 5th Anniversary of Katrina

2010-08-30T11:46:36-07:00

In a NY Times article titled "View of a Hurricane, 5 Years On," writer Brian Stelter references "an impressive slate of documentaries and reports" airing in commemoration of Katrina's anniversary.

Among those cited is “Heart of the City,” BET’s hourlong documentary about the rebuilding of the Ninth Ward, which drew 647,000 viewers on August 22, 2010 (Nielsen). ADDigital's Dan Klein executive produced the BET project, his third about Katrina. In 2006, Dan created, produced and wrote "Eye of the Storm" for FOX; John Goodman narrated the piece, which took a look at Katrina, LSU and its football team. In 2008, he produced "Building Blocks," a film for PBS about the rebuilding of the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

ADDigital's Dan Klein Produces, Directs "Golf in America"

2010-08-09T08:53:41-07:00

Dan Klein - the EMMY-winning Executive Producer of ADDigital - produced and directed a segment for Golf Channel's "Golf in America." The segment airs on Tuesday, August 10th at 8p.

Profiled in the segment is Bob DeStefano (pictured), a legendary club professional on Shelter Island.

Klein worked closely with sports journalist John Feinstein, who crafted an emotional essay about DeStefano's impact over the course of 50 years at Gardiner's Bay Country Club. Feinstein grew up going to the club.

In addition to producer/director Klein, production credits include Kit Pennebaker, who served as director of photography.

Earlier this year, Klein won his second EMMY Award, as the Writer/Producer of "Miracle in New York: The Story of the '69 Mets". Klein won his first EMMY as producer on ESPN's "Outside the Lines".

The Midnight Bounty Wins Best in Show, Best Editing, at Action on Film Festival (AOF)

2010-08-08T08:28:29-07:00

“The Midnight Bounty,” a short film exec produced by Moon Media's Tom Mooney, and shot, edited, produced, written, and directed by the Scigliano Brothers, took home two top awards at the 2010 Action on Film (AOF) International Film Festival, winning WAB Best in Show and Best Editing - Short. The film was also nominated for Best Action Sequence - Short.

With all the attitude, action, and suspense you can pack into a few minutes of film, "The Midnight Bounty" is a neo-western action comedy about the transfer of a "bounty," someone with a price on their head, that goes awry.The film clearly resonated with audiences and the jury at the festival, which ran July 23-30 in Pasadena, CA.

About Action on Film:

The AOF Fest is one of the most progressive film festivals on the scene today. With writers, producers, directors and filmmakers from all over the globe, we are truly an International affair. We have assisted a number of filmmakers in starting their careers; Stan Harrington, Mark Mahon, Justin Owensby, and many others. We have helped people sell their films and projects and helped others gain the recognition and representation they deserved.

Celebrities like Costas Mandylor, Michael Madsen, John Savage, Maria Conchita Alonso, George Takei, Bill Duke, John Saxon, Frances Bay, David Carradine, Steven Williams and many others have found a home at the AOF Festival. And now, people behind the scenes like super producer Karen Kramer, the people from SONY, The Will Rogers Foundation, Independent Distribution Companies, and Industry Insiders etc., now mix and mingle with our independent filmmakers and writers to guide them along the path to success in their careers.

In 2009, he fest was named "One of the Top 25 Festivals Worth the Fees" by Moviemaker Magazine.

ADDigital Summer 2010

2010-07-14T16:41:00-07:00

ADDitigal, the digital production arm of Moon Media, launched this spring and already has a number of projects under its virtual belt.

The group produced Earth Day's 40th Anniversary campaign, a branding film for Guggenheim Financial (via Rockefeller Consulting/Insight Capitalists), a spot for the NHL (JimBob/Dallas), and is in production on a campaign for Popcorn, Indiana (AdStore).

Vespa: ADDigital's Alex Engel Builds Relationships Across the Globe

2010-07-13T08:52:00-07:00

A little while ago, director Alex Engel of ADDigital decided to take advantage of his European heritage and spend some time overseas. "I lived in Berlin for three months, but my goal was to be shooting the entire time I was in Europe," says Engel, who recently helmed Web spots for the NHL and HVS Executive Advisors through ADDigital. He chose Vespa as his subject, shooting in Germany, Bavaria, France, the UK, Greece, and, ultimately, the US.

The resulting spec spot is "Building Relationships," and it features people in various scenarios, always riding in pairs. It's an appropriate theme, when one considers how Engel got the job done.

"I put the crew together through living in Berlin and meeting people," he says. His budget was fairly consistent: "100euro per actor, 100euro per Vespa rental. Keep in mind, I couldn't do this with just one motorcycle, I wanted certain colors, so tracking the bikes down was a process." In some cases, Engel was able to call upon family for help, such as an uncle in Bavaria. Other times, he just had to be patient. "I sat outside the Eifel Tower for three hours waiting for a Vespa to go by," he laughs. "But I got it."

London was tough, the director recalls. "By that time, I needed a black Vespa. I finally found one on a local Vespa blog." The footage, all of it beautiful and reflecting Engel's keen eye for arresting visuals, was shot on various platforms. He shot on the Canon Vixia in Europe, the 5D in NYC, and the 7D in upstate NY.

While "Building Relationships" is a spec spot, Engel says it is very much in keeping with the way spots are produced for the Web. "There's an immediacy to digital production," he says. "ADDigital works so well because our team provides that - and Tommy brings the creative firepower to the table, the great creatives are still turning out great concepts, only the execution is different."

HVS Executive Advice: Don't Lose It, Use It

2010-07-01T18:45:22-07:00

Director Alex Engel and ADDigital capture key execs at their breaking point in this spot for HVS Executive Advisors. With operatic vignettes calibrated perfectly for the Web, "Opportunity at Hand" drives home the message that even the most seasoned power player will face a moment of crisis. They'll need someone they can turn to, and it should be HVS.

Credits:

Client: HVS
Title: "Opportunity at Hand"

Agency: Rockefeller Consulting/Insight Capitalists
Creative: Michael Campbell

Production Company: ADDigital
Director: Alex Engel
DP: Kit Pennebaker
Executive Producer: Tom Mooney
Producer: Dan Klein
Editor: Alex Engel

Liz Hinlein - General Reel

2010-07-01T17:24:00-07:00

Director Liz Hinlein's general reel spans fashion and dialogue work for Revlon, Almay, the Beijing Olympic Games, and more:

Agust Baldursson - Kids Reel

2010-07-01T15:34:00-07:00

The kids are alright in this showreel from director Agust Baldursson of Moon Media: