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James Shani is an Iranian-American film producer, executive producer and talent manager. He began managing filmmakers while in college through his company Everdream. Shani has produced or executive produced music videos and commercials for artists such as Lady Gaga, Tyler, the Creator, John Legend, and H.E.R, that have been nominated for MTV Video Music Awards and Clio Awards, respectively, as well as award-winning films that have premiered at festivals including Sundance, Tribeca and South by Southwest.[1] He has built a reputation for “cultivating lasting creative collaborations with new and established filmmakers," and is currently an executive producer and talent manager at ColorCreative.[2]
Career
editEarly career & Everdream (2012-2015)
editShani attended Marshall School of Business at University of Southern California, where he co-founded digital content studio Everdream.[3][4] In his final semester Shani met music executive Troy Carter and previewed a spec Tesla ad he was working on for him, which inspired Carter to hire Everdream to create a music video for John Legend's "You & I (Nobody in the World),” which went on to win an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Music Video.[5][3][6]
In 2015, Everdream became Atom Factory's studio of record, by which point Shani managed a dozen in-house directors and producers to create music videos, web series, and film and TV content.[3][4] The company went on to collaborate with artists including Lady Gaga, John Mayer, and John Legend, as well as brands like Vizio, producing their short documentary "Growth" which premiered at South by Southwest.[7][8] The same year Shani also launched a filmmaker-in-residence program to support recent college grads from film schools including USC, Chapman University, and NYU.[4]
Madison + Vine (2015-2019)
editIn 2015 Shani founded SAV Studios, a company which produced film, television, 360 and VR content.[9] SAV collaborated with brands including Pepsi, Samsung, and Gatorade, for which it produced a Clio Award-winning docuseries "Win from Within" in collaboration with TBWA\Chiat\Day.[10][11]
In December 2016 the company rebranded to become Madison + Vine.[9] Notable Madison + Vine brand campaigns include Taco Bell's "Taco Tales" series and marketing for AT&T's Loveloud Festival.[12]
In 2017 Shani was named to Forbes' 30 Under 30 list, as well as Los Angeles Business Journal's "20 in their 20s".[9][13] That same year Shani worked with Lady Gaga to produce her on-stage content for her Coachella performance, and created a PSA in collaboration with Staples to launch a fundraising campaign for her Born This Way Foundation.[12][14]
Asylum Films & ColorCreative (2020-Present)
editIn 2021 Shani executive produced the film Gully, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and was released theatrically by Paramount Pictures.[2] That November Shani created and executive produced Lady Gaga's "The Power of Kindness" for World Kindness Day, which highlights the relationship between kindness and mental health.[15] Under Asylum Films Shani has also produced music videos for H.E.R., Tyler the, Creator, and Janelle Monáe among others, and has been nominated for two MTV Video Music Awards.[2][16][17]
Shani executive produced Mama Bears, which debuted in the documentary feature competition at SXSW in March 2022.[18][19] In November Shani joined the leadership team at ColorCreative, part of Issa Rae’s Hoorae Media, as an executive producer and talent manager.[2]
References
edit- ^ "2022 Awards - Sun Vally Film Festival". Sun Valley Film Festival. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
- ^ a b c d Jackson, Angelique (10 November 2022). "ColorCreative Adds Veteran Managers Danielle Robinson and James Shani to Leadership Team (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
- ^ a b c Brown, Harley (25 March 2015). "Troy Carter's Atom Factory Appoints Everdream as Studio of Record". Billboard. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
- ^ a b c Jarvey, Natalie (21 April 2015). "Digital Studio Everdream Formalizes Filmmaker-in-Residence Program (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
- ^ Hu, John (25 March 2014). "USC alumnus creates Tesla commercial". Daily Trojan. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
- ^ Washington, Arlene (6 February 2015). "NAACP Image Awards: The Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
- ^ Dimartino, Mediha (15 March 2015). "Vizio Claims New Territory at SXSW". Orange County Business Journal. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
- ^ "SHOOT Announces Speakers, Panels and Sponsors For Directors / Producers Forum and New Directors Showcase Event At The DGA, NYC, on May 25th, 2017". SHOOT. 17 May 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
- ^ a b c Rooney, Jennifer; Knoepp, Lilly (2017). "Forbes 30 Under 30 Marketing & Advertising". Forbes. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
- ^ Monllos, Kristina (5 April 2016). "SAV Studios' Founder Thinks Brands Should Have Content Studios of Record". Adweek. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
- ^ "Win From Within: Ben Jackson". Clio Awards. 2015. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
- ^ a b Alcántara, Ann-Marie (4 December 2018). "This Creative Head Is Bridging the Gap Between Hollywood and Madison Avenue". Adweek. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
- ^ Haithman, Diane (1 June 2017). "20 in their 20s: James Shani". Los Angeles Business Journal. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
- ^ Stanley, T.L. (28 June 2017). "Lady Gaga Surprised Middle School Students for This Staples Ad Supporting Teachers". Adweek. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
- ^ Tangcay, Jazz. "Lady Gaga, Born This Way Foundation Release 'Power of Kindness' Short for World Kindness Day". Variety. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
- ^ @Panavision (19 September 2020). "Director: child⠀Executive Producer: James Shani...⠀" (Tweet). Retrieved 27 December 2022 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Snoh Aalegra - NEON PEACH ft. Tyler, The Creator" (Music video). 25 October 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
- ^ "Mama Bears". SXSW Schedule. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
- ^ Vlessing, Etan (27 June 2022). "Director Daresha Kyi Signs With WME (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 27 December 2022.