There is nothing like starting a new year, forget that a new decade, with a new venture. Incredibly talented and innovative Director Shane Valdez, with long-time Producer Norm Reiss, has launched a new commercial production company Realm Films. In collaboration with visual effects and postproduction partner Jake Maymudes at Rebellion VFX.
The trio has also unveiled their “Studio 8558”: a new store-front, production, postproduction & gallery space on Washington Blvd. in the heart of Culver City’s historic Arts District.
Valdez is an award-winning film, documentary, music video, and commercial Director. Since first setting his sights on this highly competitive creative industry with a Writer-Director debut, that went on to win countless accolades, he’s traveled all over the globe, working with some of the world’s most influential brands and celebrities across a wide range of products and categories including Bud Light, Corona, KFC, EGO/Skil, Chuck-E-Cheese’s and Five Below.
“Norm and I want to do something different with Realm,” explains Valdez. “To partner with clients on their brands and collaborate very closely with them to promote them over time. Not just be hired for their latest commercial project, but to work together to really understand what they are trying to do and shoot not just one piece but fifty.”
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With a rich history in documentary, music video, and full celeb access network promo work, Shane has developed an inherently collaborative ability to develop and problem solve in the moment. This sensibility allows him to easily and comfortably collaborate with agency and client and high-end celebrity talent alike, making production days fuller and big ideas bigger.
“When Shane is on-set, something magical happens,” says Executive Producer Norm Reiss. “I have worked with a lot of Directors throughout my career, some very well-known, but no one comes close to Shane in terms of his talent and his collaboration with clients. Everyone just loves him.”
Valdez also directs promos exclusively through the award-winning content studio, Black Label Content, where he has directed content for American Idol, The Oscars, Dancing with the Stars, American Music Award, The Espys, and most recently Live in Front of a Studio Audience and Jeopardy.
Matt Reinhard, Creative Founder of “AdAge 2019 A-List Agency Standout” O’Keefe Reinhard & Paul had this to say: “Shane is blessed with optimistically positive energy and a can-do spirit, both of which are critical when, as a new agency, we’re expected to over-deliver,” he points out. “More importantly, Shane creates an environment where anything is possible. If you can think it, he can make it happen. If Norm says so, of course!”
For the past 25 years, Reiss has been producing movies, commercials, promos, and music videos. Norm has produced for the top Directors in the entertainment business and the top advertising agencies all over the world. Now partnered with Valdez in Realm Films, the duo is currently in the midst of several commercial projects for Ego, Skil and several other projects.
Senior Producer Austen Williams of OKRP adds, “Norm is a true problem solver. He never once let his calm demeanor slip and was always able to provide timely solutions. Shane is the perfect counterpart to Norm. Shane is truly the most enthusiastic and energetic person I’ve ever met and he brought that genuine enthusiasm and energy to every single call, meeting and shoot day. He made it very easy to love what we do.”
Valdez began his industry career collaborating closely with Director Jesse Dylan at creative agency and production company Wondros. He was mentored there by Anne-Marie Mackay, former CCO for Wondros.
“I first met Shane as a favor to a young colleague I liked and trusted,” Mackay details. “It was to be a brief meet-and-greet and I was certainly not looking to sign another Director at that time. Shane proved to be that breath of fresh air that he still is to this day. He was positive, enthusiastic, inspired and inspiring. Based on that first impression, I urged him to come by the office and hang out whenever he liked. I wanted to get to know him better — he was infectious.”
Clients tout the collaborative formula devised by Realm Films. Comments Agency Producer Kent Kwiatt: “Shane and Norm have developed a uniquely effective balance of creative inventiveness and executional effectiveness,” he says. “Shane’s unflagging energy and unflappability in the executional trenches is a force of nature worthy of a documentary. The builds, the solves, the impeccable juggling of the inevitable curve balls thrown is simply a feat to behold, and this of course seamlessly interwoven on top of the management of the filmic shared vision in casting and setting, capability and performance. “
Partnership with Rebellion
Realm Film’s partnership with Rebellion VFX & Post, not only on projects, but in their new space in Culver City is essential to the company’s new model and way of working.
Rebellion VFX created visual effects for the feature film Terminator: Dark Fate, and is in the midst of the new Dune film due out in 2020.
Realm Films and Rebellion VFX have also partnered on the launch of Studio 8558, its new, store-front, production, postproduction and gallery space on Washington Blvd. in the heart of the historic Arts District of Culver City. The private launch event in October featured artwork from JM Art Management’s diverse and celebrated artists John Paul Fauves and Chad Muska.
The new space features production area for Realm and postproduction area for Rebellion VFX, and also a gallery space, where they will be showcasing and rotating new and up-and-coming fine artists quarterly.
“This is our way of giving back to the community,” concludes Valdez. “Culver City has such deep roots in the arts, both fine art and film. We are beyond thrilled to bring these two worlds of art and film lovers together in one place, joined by our incredible passions for both.”
Realm Films is represented by Executive Producer Norm Reiss on the west coast, by Lori Benson on the east coast, and in the Midwest by Laurel Dobose of Gypsy.
SOURCE: Realm Films
