ABOUT US
Peter Baloff - Executive Producer/Director
Peter Baloff has written and produced movies and television shows for most of the major studios and networks. In addition, Baloff has directed hundreds of commercials and long-form shows for some of the world’s largest advertising agencies and Fortune 500 companies.
After winning the Norman Lear Award for Playwriting as well as the David Library Award for Playwriting, Baloff moved to Los Angeles to write for film and TV. Over the past 25 years he has sold over a dozen screenplays (6 produced). Baloff has also worked on numerous network shows and television specials. He is recipient of the prestigious Writers Foundation Award for Best Screenplay for Quicksand; No Escape, starring Donald Sutherland.
An award-winning Creative Director and Copywriter, Baloff has led the advertising efforts for some of America’s top corporations. He has built a reputation as someone who knows how to build brands in all marketing venues, including retail, direct, web, B2B and affiliate. He holds several records in direct market advertising and was the key player in launching six companies that realized at least 9-figure sales in their first 18 months of business.
His directing credits include: Bally Total Fitness, Sitmar Cruises, Avon, Hallmark, NBC-Universal, Capitol Records, Warner Records, Monex, Nioxin Hair Care, Apple, Columbia Pictures, Blue Cross of California, Jenny Craig, NuSkin, United Negro College Fund, TRW, Metabolife, Boston Medical Group, LifeVantage and Dreamworks Television.
Baloff received his M.F.A. in Directing from the University of Florida where he received the Presidential Recognition Award and recently was honored with the Alumni Outstanding Achievement Award.
Vince Manze - ExecutiveProducer/Entertainment Promotions & Marketing
Vince Manze’s legendary passion for innovation and excellence has set the gold-standard by which marketing, advertising and promotion is measured.
As Co-Founder and Co-President of The NBC Agency, which services all of NBC UNIVERSAL divisions – News, Sports, Olympics, Domestic and International Syndication, NBC.com and even GE itself, Mr. Manze established broadcasting’s most robust and successful marketing department.
Vince Manze was later made President of NBC Scheduling and Program Planning and, ultimately, President of Creative Services for NBC Universal, working with all the NBC Universal properties.
It should be no surprise that Mr. Manze and his creative teams are also the most honored in history, having received countless domestic and international awards and recognition from every major organization, including Emmy Awards for Best Commercial.
And for good reason.
NBC UNIVERSAL
As head of The NBC Agency, Manze was the driving creative force behind such landmark brand-building campaigns as “Must See TV”, “Save The Cheerleader, Save The World”, “If You Haven’t Seen It, It’s New To You”, as well as countless others.
Changing the Face of Prime-Time TV
Among Mr. Manze’s many accomplishments during this time was NBC 2000, the wholesale redesign and reformatting of prime-time TV, which included creation of the “credit squeeze” to link and promote “lead-out” programs.
Mr. Manze was also the only NBC executive with a concurrent development deal, allowing him to create and produce original programming, including the prime-time and nationally syndicated network series “She Spies”, “The Guys Next Door” and “TV’s Funniest Families”, as well as numerous prime-time specials.
More recently, as President of NBC Universal Television Creative Services, Manze served as the in-house Creative Director to NBC Universal’s television properties, new media and program development divisions. In this position, Manze was tasked with integrating sales and marketing initiatives, developing cross-platform opportunities, creating and implementing marketing, sales and digital concepts and providing ideas that would bridge all of NBC Universal’s content creators and suppliers.
Mr. Manze’s award-winning launch campaign for “Hellboy II” remains a textbook study in successful multi-platform marketing.
Robert Celecia has logged in over 20 years as an Emmy-award winning producer and director of television entertainment for major networks. His awards in television range from Joeys to NIMA’s top achievement awards. He has worked as a cinematographer since he was 16 years of age. In 1995 he won an EMMY for his work on the acclaimed documentary film, “Faces in the Fire.” In addition, Celecia has been awarded two EMMY awards for producing political television campaigns.
After the 9/11 tragedy, Celecia was brought in by the FAA in Washington, D.C. with funding to produce a series of TV commercials featuring actor Dennis Franz, encouraging the public to return safely to the skies.
Celecia has produced and directed over 500 television commercials, including long-form commercial shows, both domestically and internationally for Los Angeles based Script to Screen, along with other ad agencies and corporate clients. His credits include many Fortune 500 clients and notable brands such as Suzuki Motors, Adams Golf, Transamerica, Chevron, IBM, Reebok, Indy Racing League, Acura, Disneyland/McDonalds, Dunlop, Gillette, GMC, GTE, Healthrider, Honda, Icon Fitness, Jenny Craig, KFC, CoCo’s and Carrows restaurants, Mattel, Mercedes-Benz, Nikon, Nordic Track, Pacific Bell, Princess Cruises, Reebok Fitness, Sears, Sun Giant, Tegra Golf and Toyota.
Robert Celecia - Producer/Director/Cinematographer
Ernesto Melara - Director/Cinematographer
Ernesto Melara is a bi-cultural director/cinematographer based in Los Angeles and South Florida. He began his career in the camera department in feature films like “Last Action Hero”, “Mr. Jones”, “Speed”. He also worked on popular television shows, such as “Beverly Hills 90210” and “Diagnosis Murder”.
He became a successful cinematographer, traveling all over the world shooting global brand commercials. A naturally gifted storyteller, Ernesto made the transition to Directing, enjoying high regard for the seemingly effortless beautiful images that distinguish his work.
He has directed and/or photographed commercials for Mercedes-Benz, Dell Computers, Diet Coke, Footjoy, Nike, Reebok, Land’s End, Macy’s, McDonalds, Blue Cross & Blue Shield, Maidenform, Utah Tourism, Jeep, Tylenol, JC Penney, Jenny Craig, La Quinta Resort, 7-Eleven, So Cal Gas, Sears, Talbots, Feminist Majority Foundation, La Bouna Natura, Union Electric, Bally’s Fitness, Del Webb, Cigna Healthcare, Santa Anita Park, Ann Taylor, Bob Evan’s Restaurants, Yoplait, Bank of Hawaii, Columbia Sunrise Medical Center, Bally’s Casinos, Lexus, Hard Rock Casino and Resorts, Isuzu... and more.
Ernesto recently served as Director of Photography on the feature film, “Papa”, the first major American motion picture shot entirely in Cuba in over 52 years. Ernesto's screenplay “Pablo” is currently in development at The Yari Film Group, and he is scheduled to direct the feature film “Fireflies at El Mozote”, for which he also wrote the screenplay.
Hugo Pallete - Director/Producer
Hugo Pallete has achieved considerable success as a filmmaker thanks in part to his keen understanding of people and what moves them. As an award-winning commercial director with 30+ awards and over 500 commercials produced for major brands worldwide, Hugo focuses on involving the audience in the story, whether it is through live-action, comedy, drama or fantasy. His work brings the written word to life.
Hugo’s passion for the visual story has led to a diverse and extensive career that has included producing/directing live action/televised concert series, producing/directing documentaries around the globe, as well as serving as DP of special effects. Pallete has shot and directed commercials in almost every country in South America. He continues to expand his career with current projects in development, including feature films, television series, web and mobile content.
His directing credits include: Porsche, McDonalds, Reebok, Honda, KFC, Energizer, Saturn, IHOP, Gillette, Nissan, Hansen’s, Seiko, Miller Brewing, Hawaiian Tropic, Qwest, Coors, Adidas, Disney, Tecate, California State Lottery, Oakley, Del Taco, One Legacy and American Express
Born in Peru and based in Los Angeles and Miami, Hugo is also a world-ranked international motocross pro and one of Peru’s top ranked surfers.