San Francisco, CA (1888PressRelease)
December 31, 2008 - For Silicon Valley production company, JuneBug Films, 2008 will end with a bang, as opposed to the whimper most businesses are experiencing. In a year of corporate closures, nationwide layoffs and banking and auto industry bailouts, JuneBug has sustained and grown its production business significantly, producing cutting-edge features, documentaries and corporate videos that have wowed clients and critics alike. In doing so, JuneBug has continued to employ local actors and crew, bucking the trend of national production centers like Los Angeles and New York.
“There’s no need to go all the way to L.A. or New York to find quality actors and film crews, because we have some of the most talented people right here in Silicon Valley,” said Kari Nevil, CEO of JuneBug. “And thanks to this great local talent, we have been able to attract some of the region’s most prestigious clientele, something in which we take great pride since a service organization is only as good as its clients.”
Launched in 1990, JuneBug began with a flourish and continues to grow dramatically, having now completed two feature films, documentary, an award-winning short and a myriad of corporate videos since 2000.
Most recently, Nevil directed a video tribute to Silicon Valley business woman and Atherton resident Heidi Roizen for the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs and Executives (FEW&E) 2008 Annual Dinner and Achievement Award. Ms. Roizen, currently the founder and CEO of SkinnySongs, was honored for her success as an entrepreneur, corporate executive and venture capitalist. For the video, Nevil interviewed Microsoft chairman Bill Gates, Sun Microsystems CEO Scott McNealy, former Symantec president Gordon Eubanks, Ask Group founder Sandy Kurtzig, financier Warren Buffet, venture capitalist Anne Winblad and former State Controller Steve Westly. The piece was shot on location in Atherton and the all-local crew included Director of Photography Eli Adler, Michael Primmer (Sound), and was edited by Jennifer Steinman.
Nevil also recently directed a narrative film for Oracle Corporation of Redwood Shores entitled “FLU.” Shot in the style of hit television series “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” to highlight the benefits of Oracle software, the action of the film took place at the San Mateo Court House Museum, once again keeping production right in the South Bay area.
“The Museum is where the Patty Hearst trial was held and now that it’s been completely renovated, it is a stunning location for shooting.” The Oracle film was shot on the cutting-edge RED camera and was Executive Produced by Oracle’s Cameron O’Rourke and produced by Brian Benson (Full Grown Men, Haiku Tunnel). Director of Photography is Tom Harding (Three Needles) and Grammy-winning music producer Keith Olsen provided the score, with casting by Nancy Hayes and wardrobe by Academy-Award nominated (for “The Color Purple”) designer Aggie Rodgers.
Nevil collaborated with Symantec to create a “how to” video for parents to use in discussing Online safety with their children and teenagers. Parent Teacher Organizations and Parent Teacher Associations across the nation are being offered the video for their use. The video features Marian Merritt, Online Safety Advocate for Symantec Corporation. Produced and Directed by Ms. Nevil, the video was shot in San Rafael by Thomas Spingola, with sound by Michael Primmer. Jennifer Steinman edited for JuneBug Films, Inc.
A native of the South Bay and a San Francisco’s Academy of Art University Merit Scholar, Nevil maintains that she will always fight to shoot and hire locally. “The Bay Area film community is so rich and supportive that it seems unnecessary to go anyplace else.” JuneBug’s next feature, JONATHAN’S WEDDING, is currently in pre-production, and the next documentary, INFIDELITY: THE MOVIE, is now shooting. Ms. Nevil recently completed a short film, CRICKETS, her fourth film as writer-director-producer, following two successful narrative features, YOUR GUARDIAN (2002) and PLANTING MELVIN (2005), and the award-winning feature documentary CAR STORIES (2006).
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