RED TRUCK FILMS ADDS JOE LEIH TO DIRECTOR ROSTER

Leih Tickles the Funny Bone with Comedic Spots for Agencies in the Southeast

RALEIGH, N.C. (Nov. 28, 2006) – Red Truck Films, one of the Southeast’s top commercial production companies, expands its roster again to offer the region nationally-recognized talent. The company has signed director Joe Leih to exclusive representation in the Southeast. 

New York-based Leih brings his comedic storytelling style to complement Red Truck Films diverse roster. His work includes spots for Lowes Foods, Sony and Monster.com.

In 2005, Leih's viral PSA for marcandtom.com won a Bronze Cyber Lion at the Cannes Advertising Festival, and SHOOT magazine featured him as one of the top up-and-coming commercial directors in their annual New Directors Showcase. His spots have also been featured in SHOOT magazine, Board’s Screening Room, BtoB magazine, Contagious magazine, Ad-Awards.com, BestAdsonTV.com and the 2005 One Show Shortlist.

“Red Truck is always looking for talented, young directors who can offer something new and different for our clients,” says Garye Costner, executive producer for Red Truck Films. “Joe has a fresh eye for comedy. He does his homework, so he knows what he wants before he ever walks onto the set. We’re looking forward to seeing the possibilities unfold as he puts his sharp wit to work in collaboration with agency creatives.”

Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, Red Truck Films is a TV commercial production company representing directors from around the country to advertising agencies in the Southeast region and reaching into the Northeast and Midwest. Its diverse roster of directors features expertise in storytelling, food and tabletop, comedy, slice-of-life, image and documentary-style spots.

Red Truck Films is a division of Trailblazer Studios. For more information about Leih and other Red Truck Films directors, please visit www.RedTruckFilms.com

ABOUT JOE LEIH
Born and raised in Texas, Leih caught his first glimpse of the film and television industry in 1995 when he ran Texas A&M University's annual film festival, featuring John Waters and Oliver Stone. After graduation, Leih packed up his car and moved to Los Angeles with the goal of becoming a director. He quickly learned every inch of production by working on numerous film and television sets including NYPD Blue and Woody Allen's Sweet and Lowdown.

Eager to write and direct his own projects, Leih switched coasts and enrolled at Columbia University’s School of the Arts in New York, graduating with a MFA in Film in 2001. He received accolades at Columbia including the 2000 Polo Ralph Lauren Audience Choice Award for Best Short Film, the Colorlab Award for Excellence in Visual Design, and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation's $10,000 Screenwriting Award.

Leih made his directorial debut with his successful short film Dead Battery, which was invited to more than 25 film festivals worldwide and was acquired and broadcast by the Sci-Fi Channel, Canal Plus (France and International), TV Tokyo, and Gaga (Japan).