Andrew Tucci

How did you get into directing?
I’ve always wanted to be a director. Maybe I’m just bossy. I moved to New York after college and got involved with the improv community in town heavily. Performing in live weekly shows, we started adding video pieces into the productions that I would direct. This was before YouTube. By day I was working for various ad agencies in town as a producer, and whenever possible I would try to direct anything I could for the agency. Eventually my bosses noticed, and let me take the reigns of the Bounty music video. Also my inner ego told me it would be good for me to get out of my shell, and take control of everything.

What is your most recent project?
Other than the Bounty video, I also work with a groups of guys on a web series called Gut Punch. It’s a unique look at the inner workings of a boutique ad agency. Please check it out at gutpunchnyc.com.

What is the best part of being a director?
It’s a great feeling to have some idea in your head that’s crazy, and somehow you assemble a team of people together to bring that idea to life. People may question you, people may doubt, but as the director you know that your idea is good and right. Eventually they get on board, and even say, “I can’t believe how good that turned out. I thought you were crazy.”

Have you a mentor and if so, who is that person (or persons)
and what has been the lesson learned from that mentoring which resonates most with you?
Dr. James “Parkie” Parker from Catawba College had a serious impact on me. His motto, if you read you can succeed, was the answer to so many questions. Most people just want to rush through everything, and get to the end so fast. Parkie taught us that the answers were there to be learned, if you only took the time to look. Also John Marias and Jeff Venditti, without their help the Bounty video would not exist.

Who is your favorite director and why?
I love too many. From Chaplin, Hithcock, Brooks, Jonze, Fincher, Gilliam, Spielberg, even Michael Bay can rock a picture now and then. I could go on and on. They have all influenced my style.

What is your favorite movie? Your favorite commercial?
If I was forced to watch one movie for the rest of my life it would have to be Empire Strikes Back. As a kid I always loved the Wendy’s “Where’s the beef?” spots. Seriously where was the beef?

Tell use about your background (i.e. Where did you grow up? Past jobs?)
Born in Ocala, Florida. Studied theater at Catawba College in North Carolina. I’ve done over three hundred performances of My Fair Lady, and numerous other shows as a performer. I worked for Disney in Orlando. Also the Rainforest Cafe & Planet Hollywood were some real bright spots of my career. The past ten years I’ve spent working in advertising at about a dozen agencies. Most recently of Publicis NYC.

Contact

http://www.publicis.com/