Industry veteran Steve Johnson has opened Socket Films, a new commercial production company based in New York, Santa Monica and Dallas. Socket Films' directorial roster includes an incredibly diverse line-up of talents including: Directors Buddy Cone, Bobby Sheehan and Alexander von David. The company has also added Director Michael Grasso, as well as Director Shaun Conrad – both formerly of Snug.
"With Socket, we are very concerned with the development of our directors' careers," explains Steve Johnson. "We're willing to take chances in order to give our directors the opportunities they need to move their careers in positive directions. I've known many of these directors for years, and I trust them and their talent. They have chosen me and Socket, as much as we have chosen them."

Another key decision to join Socket Films came from Director Michael Grasso, formerly of Snug. According to Grasso, it was the right opportunity at just the right time. Not only does this change enable Grasso to return his entire focus to his directorial career, it also will provide him the chance to provide the type of service they want to clients. "Steve has been there as a Director, so he really understands how we approach a project, as well as what the needs of the clients' are." For Grasso, turning over company management responsibilities has enabled him to focus on developing long-form projects including television shows and feature films with his brother Joe Grasso.

"The old model of the production company is not going to work anymore" adds Director Bobby Sheehan. "Steve knows that it is a great advantage to have directors who work in different formats, as this business continues to change and evolve, and he is very supportive of that. I consider myself a filmmaker, because I work in commercials, as well as television and feature films."

For Director Buddy Cone, it was Steve Johnson's reputation and work history in the commercial industry that persuaded him to join Socket Films' directorial roster. "Steve is one of the most upstanding, truly honorable people I've ever worked with," comments Cone. "Not only is he honest and straightforward, he has a great deal of integrity and is one of the hardest working people in the business – approaching each project, whether it is big or small, in the most creative way in order to get the job done to the best ability."

According to Johnson, the goals for Socket Films within the first year are simple: to build a stellar directorial roster; he will most likely add three more directors to the Socket Films line-up. He will also complete his proactive national sales team, which is already bringing in an impressive number of projects. "We have carefully put together a great group at Socket," concludes Johnson. "With the board flow we already have here, I know this is going to be the year that we prove just what we can do."

Socket Films/Director Bios
Buddy Cone
After a successful career as a Production Designer on films, television shows and commercials, Buddy began his directing career at Coppos Films. His design sensibility is influenced by an odd mix of modern design and architecture, as well as by some of his favorite, classic illustrators such as N.C. Wyeth and Maxfield Parrish. Buddy is passionate about storytelling and directs with an emphasis on narrative, character, and imaginative environments. When appropriate, he skillfully combines special effects with live action as a toll for realizing impossible images that exist only in our imagination. Buddy's expertise allows him to create effects that are seamless, hidden and textural.

Shaun Conrad
Having grown-up in rural Minnesota, Director/Cameraman Shaun Conrad left for the big city and earned a Bachelor's Degree with honors at the University of Illinois-Chicago. While in school, he explored the world of filmmaking beyond the classroom by shooting live rock concerts and music videos. He soon met up with Backyard Co-Founder Roy Skillicorn, who got him some local Chicago market spot jobs for hair salon Vidal Sassoon. These projects led him to do promos and spots for American Crew, Mop and other clients. With enough commercials under his belt, Conrad joined Backyard's directorial roster in 1998. While with Backyard, Shaun shot and directed an Adweek Spot of the Month, as well as won the 2000 Cannes Short list award. He also directed national spots for Vidal Sassoon, Ameritech, Nintendo 64, Kraft, Mervyn's, Sears and others. Three years later, in 2002, Conrad left Backyard and headed for the West Coast, where he linked up with Tate USA. He worked consistently in the fashion, design arena, helming national campaigns for K-Swiss, Reebok, Earthlink, Lady Footlocker, Burger King, Hasbro, and many more. He then made a conscious decision to diversify in August 2003, when David Racculglia asked him to co-direct the feature documentary, "Purvis of Overtown," which chronicles the life and observations of Purvis Young, a self-taught painter and icon of African-American culture and history. This effectively took Shaun out of the commercial scene until 2006. Then, with the movie earning rave reviews and multiple awards at Film Festivals around the world, he signed with SNUG, joining Director/Owner Michael Grasso and Executive Producer, Fran Wall. Shaun is now part of the Directorial roster of Socket Films.

Michael Grasso
Michael Grasso is the consummate storyteller. His film is beautiful: his casting "one of a kind." His work with real people always rings with a sincere note of truth. He consistently finds the special moments in everyday situations. Michael started directing in Sacramento in the seventies at Wade, a small agency. Wade was so small, Michael functioned both as the Creative Director and in-house Director on projects. He went on to open his own shop, and moved to New York in the late 1980s. He soon signed with former production house Dennis Guy & Hirsch. He proceeded to work through Lovinger/Grasso/Cohn for four years, followed by a stint at Gartner/Grasson (now Bicoastal Gartner). Grasso went on to form Omaha Pictures in 1996. Shortly before closing in 2005, it was named one of the top production companies in the U.S. Since then, Michael launched SNUG, a small boutique company he founded with Executive Producer, Fran Wall. The duo are now part of Socket Films. Grasso's credits include spots for Fannie Mae, Land Rover, Bank of America, Dr. Pepper, American Airlines, US Army, Ford, General Motors, Home Depot and Ohio Lottery. He has won numerous awards over the years, including "The Golden Lion" at Cannes for his Jeep "Gates" Spot. In addition, the Director's Guild of America (DGA) has nominated him twice for Best Director.

Alexander von David
Known for his comedic timing and sensibilities, Alexander von David launched his directing career right out of college on the strength of a spec reel that included an award-winning spot for Listerine. Among his many commercial projects, he directed a spot for California Map & Travel, which won several awards including a Belding, an Addy, and a Silver Clio.

Bobby Sheehan
Sheehan began his eclectic career in the late 1970s, designing visual presentations for the New York fashion emporium Parachute. While still a teenager, he quickly moved on to photographing New York's punk rock scene and musicians such as the Clash, Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson, Ultravox and many New York based bands for the "Village Voice," "Cream," and "Circus" magazines. His fashion photography also appeared regularly in "GQ" and "New York Magazine." Today, his Fine Art photography is exhibited in galleries in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

While attending New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, Sheehan opened his own production company where he directed and produced commercials and fashion videos. To date, Sheehan has directed over 500 commercials, which have been shot in locations spanning the globe.

Most recently, Sheehan has written, produced, and directed "My Name is Nigel Cook," a hilarious satire on the film industry. Playing opposite actor Daniel Raymont's Nigel Cook, Sheehan plays the legally blind cameraman, Markus Orlander. "Nigel" is Sheehan's second feature film following the critically acclaimed "Seed," acquired by IFC Films for distribution. Sheehan is currently at work writing and developing his next film project entitled "Bitter," a dramatic and hardcore look at the melting pot of crime in New York.

Sheehan has also produced "The Talent Collector" for AMC and the reality series "Repo Men" starring, Vincent Pastore, aka Big Pussy from the Sopranos, for TLC and Discovery Networks. Sheehan's short film "Customs of the Country," based on a short story by writer Madison Smartt Bell, was another film success, winning more than one first prize awards. His television career also includes directing the Viacom series "Johnny Time," starring comedian John Kassir. Sheehan has acted off-Broadway, taught acting workshops and starred as David Conover, the photographer who first photographed Norma Jean Dougherty in a television docudrama about Marilyn Monroe called "Discovering Norma Jean."

Sheehan and his wife, Executive Producer Sara Feldmann Sheehan founded Working Pictures in 1990 and Grenade Editorial in 1995. They live in New York with their three children.

www.socketfilms.com