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 The preeminent commercial director of advertising campaigns across the television, interactive, and print media in Hollywood today, Jay Silverman, founder of Jay Silverman Productions, is currently celebrating his 30th Anniversary Year in the ad/marketing industry. The year 2010 also marks the 10th Anniversary of Jay's remarkable 40,000 square foot production studio lot, located in the heart of Hollywood. "Having a three-stage complex – always at the ready – allows me to satisfy any and all of my creative needs at a moment's notice," he jokes.
Originally making a name for himself as a still photographer by shooting renowned lifestyle and celebrity endorsements on behalf of numerous national and international ad campaigns, Jay evolved his client base to later include directing multi-media advertising projects for such Fortune 500 clients as McDonalds, Intel, Disney, Coors, Budweiser, Coke, Pepsi, Frito-Lay, Visa, and Gatorade, among many others.
During the span of his award winning career, Jay became a noted celebrity photographer, specifically requested by high profile actors, sports personalities, recording artists, industry leaders, and supermodels. His stable of clients regularly utilize his services, due, no doubt, to his skillful creativity, and extraordinary enthusiasm (some even calling him "Mr. Energy" to his face). Jay's also been widely recognized as much for his technical expertise across media, as well as for his ability to, as he says, "Really reach down and preserve a celebrity's signature persona -- no matter how colorful or outrageous that celebrity may be."
Graduating with honors from the famed Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, CA, Jay was deeply inspired by many of his photography heroes. These notables included Richard Avedon, and Irving Penn, whose work continues to influence Jay to this day. In 2000, Jay's photographic accomplishments were recognized by Ernest Brooks, founder of the Brooks Institute of Photography, who awarded him the prestigious "Masters of Professional Arts Award." Over the years, Jay's work has also been honored with numerous Belding, Telly, Promax, and Lucy Awards. In addition, he has also been recognized for his achievements in creating and producing many national PSA campaigns for such worthy causes as the American Cancer Society, the Foundation for the Junior Blind, the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness, the ACLU, and the Sierra Club.
Passionate about his never-ending creative urges, Jay become a commercial director in 1995, and has since successfully balanced a dual career in both still photography and live action direction. His repertoire of national campaigns across multi-media includes those for such clients as Greyhound, Petco, Fifth Third Bank, Carnation, A&W, Pepsi, 24-Hour Fitness, and Rent-A-Center. He's also directed countless on-air promotional spots for virtually all of the major television networks, including those for the original launches of the smash hit TV series "American Idol" and "Desperate Housewives."
While staying true to his roots, Jay continues to further his creative passions by actively integrating original TV programming and feature films into his long list of projects. Jay was the executive producer of the critically acclaimed A&E scripted drama series "The Cleaner," starring Benjamin Bratt, and based, in part, on personal experiences from Jay's life. The show enjoyed a successful run from 2007-09. Other TV projects that Jay has produced and directed include 38 episodes of the noted, one-hour TV series "One On One with Cathy Hughes," that aired exclusively on the TV One Network. Celebrated notables appearing on that series included Sen. Hillary Clinton, Denzel Washington, Aretha Franklin, Chris Rock, Jamie Foxx, Will Smith, Queen Latifah, and Usher, to name a few. Jay also produced and directed the special, award winning series "Cool Factor," starring comedian/ actress Kim Coles, again for the TV One Network.
Today, Jay is actively developing other television and feature film projects across various genres. Details on these will be announced soon.
Regarding his 30 years in the advertising industry, Jay says, "All of my dreams couldn't have been more vivid than during the week I was shooting the amazing Ray Charles on one stage for a multi-state branding campaign for the 'Powerball Lottery,' prepping a huge moonscape on behalf of Radio Shack for Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin on another, and then following that up with a shoot for the great Michael Jordan, on behalf of our client, Gatorade. Working with these legends—all within one week—truly made me feel like I'd been given a wonderful gift."
In addition to his ever in-demand work as a photographer and director, Jay is also a loving husband and devoted father to three wonderful girls. |
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