User:Darlenemach/David Zander

David Zander is President and Co-Founder of bicoastal/international commercial and music video production giant, Morton Jankel Zander, Inc. Since its founding in 1989, MJZ has consistently been recognized as an industry leader, earning more awards than any other commercial production company in the history of the industry, which includes an unprecedented 6-year run as the Association of Independent Commercial Producers’ (AICP’s) Most Awarded Production Company of the Year. At the prestigious Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival (IAF) MJZ received the highest prize, the Palm d’Or, in 2010, 2008, 2006, and 2005 and has been named “Production Company of the Year” by Creativity Magazine (in 2009, 2008, 2005, 2003 and 2002) and by Boards Magazine (in 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006 and 2003). In 2010, The Gunn Report, which tallies the winners of all award shows worldwide, named MJZ the most awarded production company of the year for the 7th consecutive year, establishing it as the most successful production company in the report’s 12-year history. In 2007, MJZ received the Lifetime Achievement in Advertising Excellence by the Hugo Television Awards, marking the first time in its history that the award has been given to a production company. In 2011, MJZ received two Emmy nominations, marking the company’s 11th nomination and its 7th consecutive year with at least one nod from the Academy of Television and Arts.

Under Mr. Zander’s stewardship, MJZ’s directors have garnered an impressive array of distinctions, including taking home the coveted Director’s Guild of America’s (DGA’s) “Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials” (in 2009, 2007, 2006 and 2005) as well as receiving a staggering 24 nominations for the DGA award over the past 13 years. MJZ’s directors have also swept up Emmys, Clios, One Shows, Andys awards from the AICP and the British Television Advertising Awards, and IAF prizes, including four Grand Prixs, for Tom Kuntz’s Old Spice “The Man Your Man Could Smell Like,” Rupert Sanders’ XBOX campaign (Film and Integrated), and Spike Jonze’s Ikea “Lamp”.

In 2001, Mr. Zander expanded his passion for the filmmaking process by co-founding Stimmüng, a music and sound design company, now ranked among the top two in the United States. The company, of which Mr. Zander is currently the Managing Member, produces acclaimed work that has nabbed IAF, ADC, Clio, AICP and Andy awards.

Mr. Zander is set to produce two features. The first is an untitled biopic about “Freeway” Rick Ross, the notorious early-1980’s Los Angeles drug-dealer-turned-kingpin-turned-U.S. government pawn. Ross was sentenced to life in prison but, while there, learned how to read and learned the law, too, which led to his ultimate release. In the background of Ross’ story is the engineering of the explosion of street drugs, supplied by a US liaison and then sold to the African American community, in order to finance the Iran Contra Affair. President Reagan’s involvement in this quick cash-making scheme, which triggered the epidemic of rock cocaine in America’s most vulnerable communities, was but a desperate attempt to make good on his campaign promise to free US hostages in Iran. The script is penned by Nick Cassavetes, who is set to direct, with Snoop Dogg serving as Music Supervisor. Mr. Zander’s second feature, “Spring Breakers,” which is about two beautiful, all-American, gangster rap-loving high school seniors, who spend a week in Daytona and become cold-blooded killers, will be directed by Harmony Korine.

Mr. Zander attended Bowdoin College in Maine, where he was a James Bowdoin Scholar.