Clay Weiner
Encyclopedia
Clay Weiner is an American director and writer
of commercials, film and television. Clay is a known pioneer of viral videos. He was featured in the 2008 Saatchi & Saatchi
New Directors’ Showcase in Cannes, was the winner of the People’s Choice Award at the 2008 First Boards Awards and has had feature articles written about him, and his work, in Shots, Creativity (magazine)
, Boards (magazine)
and The New York Times
. His debut film, FRED: The Movie
, was the number one TV cable movie of 2010 across all networks according to TV By the Numbers
. His last name is pronounced like “whiner.”
. During college, Clay began working with Robert Smigel
(writer: Conan O'Brien, SNL) on The Dana Carvey Show. Weiner has now written for The Conan O'Brien Show
, The Onion
and is a contributor to Dazed & Confused (magazine)
, Vice (magazine)
, Flaunt
and BlackBook (magazine).
Many know Clay as MTV's "Intro Guy." The campaign, which he wrote, directed and starred in, is rumored to be the inspiration for Napoleon's nerdy dance routine in the film Napoleon Dynamite
. The vignettes developed a cult following and won top honors at The One Show
. Weiner began his official advertising career as a writer at Cliff Freeman & Partners. He then went to work at Publicis
New York, Bartle Bogle Hegarty
New York and Wieden+Kennedy
Portland. As a creative, he won numerous awards from D&ad
and One Show Pencils, to Cannes Gold Lions and Clio Awards
, to something vaguely resembling a pair of gilded athletic shorts. He has worked with agencies such as Wieden+Kennedy
, DDB Worldwide
, Cutwater, Ground Zero and Goodby, Silverstein & Partners. Clay later launched an animated campaign for MTV called "Puberty," which he also wrote, designed and directed. In addition to MTV
, Clay has directed commercial films for Ray-Ban, Bud Light, ESPN, Axe, Xbox and Snickers. His Bud Light "Dude" campaign has had over 100 million views. Clay is now represented by Biscuit Filmworks in Los Angeles for commercial directing: www.biscuitfilmworks.com.
Clay's television directing credits include FRED: The Movie
and Blue Mountain State
. In his leisure, Clay creates short films such as the Emmy-nominated "The Christmas Tree," "Dad’s New Girlfriend" and "Happy Father’s Gay." The latter two were co-created with Gemini Award
nominee, Jenna Wright. The shorts can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/user/mittymoo.
Clay has written and produced two pilots for F/X and one for Adult Swim. He currently resides in Los Angeles, California.
was released by Nickelodeon
. FRED is the first Hollywood feature to star a YouTube
character Fred Figglehorn. The character was created by Lucas Cruikshank
and the screenplay was written by David A. Goodman
, head writer of Family Guy
. FRED was cast and shot in under two months at the end of 2009. The film went on to be the highest watched TV movie of the year with a debut of 7.6 million views. The film was well received in theaters in the UK. It opened in the #8 spot, taking in £257,133 in the first week, despite being shown in over 243 cinemas.
Award for Photography for Design. TRY-ONs is available at small bookstores in Los Angeles and New York City.
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
of commercials, film and television. Clay is a known pioneer of viral videos. He was featured in the 2008 Saatchi & Saatchi
Saatchi & Saatchi
Saatchi & Saatchi is a global advertising agency network with 140 offices in 80 countries and over 6,500 staff. It was founded in London in 1970 but now headquartered in New York. The parent company of the agency group was known as Saatchi & Saatchi PLC from 1976 to 1994, was listed on the London...
New Directors’ Showcase in Cannes, was the winner of the People’s Choice Award at the 2008 First Boards Awards and has had feature articles written about him, and his work, in Shots, Creativity (magazine)
Creativity (magazine)
Creativity is a website, formerly a monthly magazine, covering all things creative in advertising and design. The magazine, launched in 1986, provides a showcase of the best ideas across all areas of consumer culture, an exploration of the talent and techniques behind the work and insight on the...
, Boards (magazine)
Boards (magazine)
Boards is a former international trade publication catering to the advertising community. Launched in August 1999, the magazine was published monthly until May 2010, when a corporate restructuring of its Canadian publisher, Brunico Communications Ltd., led to the brand's shelving...
and The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
. His debut film, FRED: The Movie
Fred: The Movie
Fred: The Movie is a 2010 independent comedy film written by David A. Goodman, directed by Clay Weiner, and produced by Brian Robbins. The film is based on the adventures of Fred Figglehorn, a character created and played by Lucas Cruikshank for Cruikshank's YouTube channel...
, was the number one TV cable movie of 2010 across all networks according to TV By the Numbers
TV by the Numbers
TV by the Numbers is a website devoted to collecting and analyzing television ratings data in the United States. It is run by Bill Gorman and Robert Seidman, both of whom founded the website in 2007.-History:...
. His last name is pronounced like “whiner.”
Life & Career
Clay Weiner grew up in Shaker Heights, Ohio. He passed the summer before his senior year of high school in New York's East Village working as a bike messenger. Clay later returned to the city to study philosophy at Columbia UniversityColumbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. During college, Clay began working with Robert Smigel
Robert Smigel
Robert Smigel is an American actor, humorist, comedian and writer known for his Saturday Night Live "TV Funhouse" cartoon shorts and as the puppeteer and voice behind Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog.-Early life:...
(writer: Conan O'Brien, SNL) on The Dana Carvey Show. Weiner has now written for The Conan O'Brien Show
The Conan O'Brien Show
Conan is an American late-night talk show airing each Monday through Thursday on TBS in the United States. The hour-long show premiered on November 8, 2010, and is hosted by writer, comedian and performer Conan O'Brien...
, The Onion
The Onion
The Onion is an American news satire organization. It is an entertainment newspaper and a website featuring satirical articles reporting on international, national, and local news, in addition to a non-satirical entertainment section known as The A.V. Club...
and is a contributor to Dazed & Confused (magazine)
Dazed & Confused (magazine)
Dazed & Confused is a British style magazine, that was set up in 1992 and published monthly. Its founding editors were Jefferson Hack and Rankin...
, Vice (magazine)
Vice (magazine)
VICE is a free magazine and media conglomerate founded in Montreal, Quebec and currently based in New York City.Vice is available in 27 countries...
, Flaunt
Flaunt
Flaunt is a monthly American fashion culture magazine founded by the current editor-in-chief, Luis Barajas, and creative director, Jim Turner, also the founders of Detour magazine. Long Nguyen, a third founder and style director, also was working on Detour for four years...
and BlackBook (magazine).
Many know Clay as MTV's "Intro Guy." The campaign, which he wrote, directed and starred in, is rumored to be the inspiration for Napoleon's nerdy dance routine in the film Napoleon Dynamite
Napoleon Dynamite
Napoleon Dynamite is a 2004 comedy film co-written and directed by Jared Hess and Jerusha Hess and stars Jon Heder as Napoleon Dynamite. The film was Jared Hess' first full-length feature and is partially adapted from his earlier short film, Peluca....
. The vignettes developed a cult following and won top honors at The One Show
The One Show
The One Show is a topical magazine-style daily television programme broadcast live on BBC One and BBC One HD, hosted by Alex Jones and Matt Baker. Chris Evans joins Jones to present the programme on Friday...
. Weiner began his official advertising career as a writer at Cliff Freeman & Partners. He then went to work at Publicis
Publicis
Publicis Groupe is a French multinational advertising and communications company, headquartered in Paris, France. It is one of the world's three largest advertising holding companies . Its current president is Maurice Lévy. Publicis Groupe S.A...
New York, Bartle Bogle Hegarty
Bartle Bogle Hegarty
Bartle Bogle Hegarty is a British advertising agency, responsible for some notable advertising campaigns of the last 30 years. The company was founded by John Bartle, Nigel Bogle & Sir John Hegarty in 1982. Sir John Hegarty and Nigel Bogle still lead it today, together with worldwide CEO Simon...
New York and Wieden+Kennedy
Wieden+Kennedy
Wieden+Kennedy is an independently owned American advertising agency best known for its work for Nike...
Portland. As a creative, he won numerous awards from D&ad
D&AD
Design and Art Direction is a British educational charity which exists to promote excellence in design and advertising...
and One Show Pencils, to Cannes Gold Lions and Clio Awards
Clio Awards
The Clio Awards are annual awards bestowed to reward innovation and creative excellence in advertising, design and communication. The categories include work in nearly all types of media, and the judges are advertising professionals from around the world....
, to something vaguely resembling a pair of gilded athletic shorts. He has worked with agencies such as Wieden+Kennedy
Wieden+Kennedy
Wieden+Kennedy is an independently owned American advertising agency best known for its work for Nike...
, DDB Worldwide
DDB Worldwide
DDB Worldwide Communications Group Inc., known internationally as DDB, is a worldwide marketing communications network. It is owned by Omnicom Group Inc, one of the world's largest advertising holding companies...
, Cutwater, Ground Zero and Goodby, Silverstein & Partners. Clay later launched an animated campaign for MTV called "Puberty," which he also wrote, designed and directed. In addition to MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
, Clay has directed commercial films for Ray-Ban, Bud Light, ESPN, Axe, Xbox and Snickers. His Bud Light "Dude" campaign has had over 100 million views. Clay is now represented by Biscuit Filmworks in Los Angeles for commercial directing: www.biscuitfilmworks.com.
Clay's television directing credits include FRED: The Movie
Fred: The Movie
Fred: The Movie is a 2010 independent comedy film written by David A. Goodman, directed by Clay Weiner, and produced by Brian Robbins. The film is based on the adventures of Fred Figglehorn, a character created and played by Lucas Cruikshank for Cruikshank's YouTube channel...
and Blue Mountain State
Blue Mountain State
Blue Mountain State is an American comedy series that premiered on Spike on January 11, 2010. The series producers include Chris Romano and Eric Falconer and is produced by Lionsgate Television...
. In his leisure, Clay creates short films such as the Emmy-nominated "The Christmas Tree," "Dad’s New Girlfriend" and "Happy Father’s Gay." The latter two were co-created with Gemini Award
Gemini Award
The Gemini Awards are annual television broadcasting industry awards in Canada.First awarded in 1986, the Geminis celebrate the achievements of TV members of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Essentially, it presents awards for the best television productions in Canada. Awards are...
nominee, Jenna Wright. The shorts can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/user/mittymoo.
Clay has written and produced two pilots for F/X and one for Adult Swim. He currently resides in Los Angeles, California.
FRED: The Movie
In 2010 Clay’s first feature FRED: The MovieFred: The Movie
Fred: The Movie is a 2010 independent comedy film written by David A. Goodman, directed by Clay Weiner, and produced by Brian Robbins. The film is based on the adventures of Fred Figglehorn, a character created and played by Lucas Cruikshank for Cruikshank's YouTube channel...
was released by Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon is a US cable TV channel.Nickelodeon may also refer to:-In television:*Spinoffs of the Nickelodeon channel:** Nickelodeon Magazine, a children's magazine.** Nickelodeon Universe, an amusement park....
. FRED is the first Hollywood feature to star a YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
character Fred Figglehorn. The character was created by Lucas Cruikshank
Lucas Cruikshank
Lucas Cruikshank is an American comedic actor. Living in Columbus, Nebraska, he created the character Fred Figglehorn for his channel, named "Fred", on the video-sharing website YouTube...
and the screenplay was written by David A. Goodman
David A. Goodman
David A. Goodman is an American writer and producer and a graduate of the University of Chicago, earning an BA in 1984. He was one of the executive producers of Family Guy, beginning its fourth season, joining the show as a co-executive producer in season three...
, head writer of Family Guy
Family Guy
Family Guy is an American animated television series created by Seth MacFarlane for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series centers on the Griffins, a dysfunctional family consisting of parents Peter and Lois; their children Meg, Chris, and Stewie; and their anthropomorphic pet dog Brian...
. FRED was cast and shot in under two months at the end of 2009. The film went on to be the highest watched TV movie of the year with a debut of 7.6 million views. The film was well received in theaters in the UK. It opened in the #8 spot, taking in £257,133 in the first week, despite being shown in over 243 cinemas.
"TRY-ONs"
Weiner's photography book, TRY-ONs, was published in 2010. The book chronicles Weiner’s exploration of identity as he personifies an eccentric array of real and imaginary characters. Designer and stylist Jenna Wright helped transform Clay into over 140 different people. The book won the 2011 D&ADD&AD
Design and Art Direction is a British educational charity which exists to promote excellence in design and advertising...
Award for Photography for Design. TRY-ONs is available at small bookstores in Los Angeles and New York City.