Flying Fish Bolsters Their Roster with the Additions of Comedy Directors Jesse James McElroy and Sam Kristofski
Apparently, creative bios should be interesting, and highlight and identify our best qualities.
One way would be to engage with our good friends at ChatGPT to spurt out some quick fire, funny, witty, charming, off the cuff, short, rapid intel on these two. Instead we thought we would go the old fashioned route and put pen to paper.
Jesse James wanted us to share that he would chance to shoot everything in the back lot of a Clint Eastwood film set, but can be flexible. And yes we did ask to see his driver’s license to prove his self acclaimed moniker. Apparently it’s legit and he really is Clint Eastwood’s adopted son. Clint doesn't know this yet, and is not long for this world so Jesse would prefer to keep it under wraps.
Starting his career out as an editor at an ad agency which ignited his real passion, so he decided to throw in the Apple C, Apple V for some Action and Cut.
Since leaving it all on the cutting room floor, Jesse has since put his comedic directing stamp on multiple big brand campaigns and donning the steps of many award shows. Go where you're lookin' and look where you're goin'.
Jesse's comedy spot for Combantrin was celebrated with a Cannes Lion and handpicked by Vice Magazine as one of the “Best Commercials” for the year. He has directed commercials all over the world for international clients including Kellogg's, Volkswagen, MasterCard, and Unilever, Great Southern Bank, Philo, Catch, Dabble, and Bankwest.
Sam Kristofski, which means energy, stimulator, claims he inspired the ‘bone scene’ from Space Odyssey, where the camera follows the bone as it spins through the air, then the cuts to a satellite in space. It’s quite possibly cinema’s most iconic match cut. Of course, we were massively impressed by this accolade. Drawing inspiration from elements of periodic sci-fi, meshed with his own style and contemporary fictional hues to complete the art of his work he really is rather unique of a Moon Watcher. There’s contrast and impeccable details in everything he does.
Something that's actually true though, is that when Sam was 12 he did shoot 'Aliens Vs Cowboys' 11 years before 'Aliens Vs Cowboys' (2011) dropped. The exact same plot, only his was stop-motion Lego mini figures and went for an excruciating 30 mins. It took him a whole month and he honestly could have sworn he invented stop motion.
Sam will bring his interpretation of an idea to the forefront of stylised, heightened, and considered filmmaking with every project.
Sam is otherwise represented by Iconoclast for further global representation and has won an Emmy for his LA Kings spot in 2019. Having directed commercials for Coca-Cola, Maison Margiela, Uniqlo, Visa, Pepsi, Parrotdog Beer, Skinny, Mentos, Allbirds, The Louvre, and Global Work Japan.
But look, instead of asking Chat GPT what they think, why don’t you check it out for yourselves here:
“As well as tapping into the physical space between galaxies, Sam fills a unique space within the Fish roster as he appears both as a director and also photographer on Fanclub. Being able to offer up his distinctive and visual aesthetic is pretty ace," said Sam Attenborough, Flying Fish executive producer.
“We have admired this notorious chap’s work for a while and we are stoked to represent Jesse James in the comedy and performance space. He is so much more than a bank robbing outlaw. His background and experience in editing has certainly helped shape and define his superlative comedy chops," said James Moore, Fish Group managing director.
