Tony Petrossian
Encyclopedia
Tony Petrossian is an acclaimed director of commercials and music videos. Today, he is best known for his work in television advertisements and music videos. He has directed spots for brands including McDonald's, Nike, Subway, Zoo York, Beeline, Sony Ericsson, the Environmental Defense Fund and others. Petrossian has directed music videos for such artists as Rise Against
, DMX
, Slipknot
, Avenged Sevenfold
, Bullet for My Valentine
, Serj Tankian
, and many others.
, Iran to Armenian
parents and moved to Europe during the unstable years of the Iranian Revolution. Young Tony grew up in Los Angeles and quickly garnered an affinity for film making. At the age of twelve his father brought home a video camera. And he's known to have spent the entire night locked in his room fiddling with the camera’s ‘single frame recording’ function emerging with a 30-second stop motion animation piece in which his G.I. Joe figures beat the hell out of each other.
At age thirteen, Tony Petrossian jumped into full blown 3D animation with the ‘Lightwave 1.0.’ software. At 18, he attended university at UCLA - majoring in English Literature. Petrossian then attended Law School at USC. After passing the California Bar Exam, he pursued directing music videos full time, ultimately transitioning into television commercials and short films.
Rise Against
Rise Against is an American punk rock band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1999. The band currently consists of Tim McIlrath , Zach Blair , Joe Principe and Brandon Barnes .Rise Against spent its first five years signed to the independent record label Fat Wreck Chords, on which it...
, DMX
DMX (rapper)
Earl Simmons , better known by his stage name DMX, is a multiplatinum American rapper and actor who rose to fame in the late 1990s. His stage name pays tribute to the Oberheim DMX drum machine, an instrument he used when he made his own rap beats in the 80's...
, Slipknot
Slipknot (band)
Slipknot is an American heavy metal band from Des Moines, Iowa. Formed in 1995, the group was founded by percussionist Shawn Crahan and bassist Paul Gray...
, Avenged Sevenfold
Avenged Sevenfold
Avenged Sevenfold is an American heavy metal band from Huntington Beach, California. Formed in 1999, the group consists of vocalist M. Shadows, lead guitarist Synyster Gates, rhythm guitarist Zacky Vengeance, bassist Johnny Christ....
, Bullet for My Valentine
Bullet for My Valentine
Bullet for My Valentine are a Welsh heavy metal band from Bridgend, formed in 1998. The band is composed of Matt Tuck , Michael Paget , Jason James , and Michael Thomas . They were formed under the name Jeff Killed John and started their music career by covering songs by Metallica and Nirvana...
, Serj Tankian
Serj Tankian
Serj Tankian is a Lebanese-born Armenian-American singer–songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, playwright, record producer, poet, and political activist...
, and many others.
Early and personal life
Tony Petrossian was born in 1975 in TehranTehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
, Iran to Armenian
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
parents and moved to Europe during the unstable years of the Iranian Revolution. Young Tony grew up in Los Angeles and quickly garnered an affinity for film making. At the age of twelve his father brought home a video camera. And he's known to have spent the entire night locked in his room fiddling with the camera’s ‘single frame recording’ function emerging with a 30-second stop motion animation piece in which his G.I. Joe figures beat the hell out of each other.
At age thirteen, Tony Petrossian jumped into full blown 3D animation with the ‘Lightwave 1.0.’ software. At 18, he attended university at UCLA - majoring in English Literature. Petrossian then attended Law School at USC. After passing the California Bar Exam, he pursued directing music videos full time, ultimately transitioning into television commercials and short films.
Petrossian's music video & commercial directing career
Petrossian signed with Rockhard in 2002. Since then, he has created groundbreaking music videos for many artists. The music video for Kenna's "Freetime," co-directed & edited by Petrossian, garnered MTV VMA nominations for Best Director & Best Editor. Petrossian's Three Days Grace video "Never Too Late" was nominated for Video of the Year at the 2007 Much Music Video Awards. His Slipknot video for "Vermillion" won the Audience Award at the SXSW Film Festival in 2006. And his video for "Before I Forget" won Slipknot their first and only Grammy for "Best Metal Performance." In 2008, Petrossian's music video for Serj Tankian's "Empty Walls" won Rock Video Of The Year at the 17th Annual MVPA Awards. In 2010, Roadrunner Records counted down their top 10 videos of all time and Petrossian's "Duality" music video for Slipknot topped the chart at #1. Petrossian's "Through Glass" music video for Stone Sour followed close behind that at #4. Back in 2005, having found success in music videos, Petrossian began creating innovative TV commercials for some of the world's most well known brands. Today, Petrossian spends most of his professional time directing television commercials in Los Angeles and around the world.Videos
- DualityDuality (song)"Duality" is a song by the American heavy metal band Slipknot, the song was released as the first single from their third album Vol. 3: , released in 2004...
-- SlipknotSlipknot (band)Slipknot is an American heavy metal band from Des Moines, Iowa. Formed in 1995, the group was founded by percussionist Shawn Crahan and bassist Paul Gray...
(2004) - Firestarter -- Gene SimmonsGene SimmonsGene Simmons is an Israeli-American entrepreneur, singer-songwriter, actor, and rock bassist. Known as "The Demon", he is the bassist/vocalist of Kiss, a hard rock band he co-founded in the early 1970s.-Early life:...
(2004) - VermilionVermilion (song)"Vermilion" is a song by American metal band Slipknot. The song is released as the second single from their third album, Vol. 3: ....
-- Slipknot (2004) - The End of HeartacheThe End of HeartacheThe End of Heartache is the third studio album by American metalcore band Killswitch Engage. It was released on May 11, 2004 through Roadrunner Records. It is the first album to feature lead vocalist Howard Jones from the mathcore band Blood Has Been Shed after Jesse Leach's departure from the band...
-- Killswitch EngageKillswitch EngageKillswitch Engage is an American metalcore band from Westfield, Massachusetts, formed in 1999 after the disbandment of Overcast and Aftershock. Killswitch Engage's current lineup consists of vocalist Howard Jones, bassist Mike D'Antonio, guitarists Joel Stroetzel and Adam Dutkiewicz, and drummer...
(2004) - S.A.N.T.A.N.A. -- The DiplomatsThe DiplomatsThe Diplomats, also popularly known as Dipset, are a Harlem-based hip hop group founded by Cam'ron and Jim Jones in 1997. The original members of the group were Cam'ron, Freekey Zekey, and Jim Jones ; who all grew up together in Harlem...
(2004) - Before I Forget -- Slipknot (2005)
- I'm On A High -- MillionaireMillionaire (band)Millionaire is a Belgian indie rock band led by Tim Vanhamel, drawing on influences from stoner rock, indie and industrial rock music.-History:Millionaire was formed in 1999 by former Evil Superstars and dEUS guitarist Tim Vanhamel...
(2005) - No TomorrowNo Tomorrow"No Tomorrow" is the debut single by American pop rock band Orson. It was released on 27 February 2006, eventually climbing to the top of the UK Singles Chart three weeks after its release. "No Tomorrow" is the lead single from Orson's 2006 debut album, Bright Idea...
-- OrsonOrson-Places:*Orson, Pennsylvania, a very small town in Preston Township, Pennsylvania in Wayne County, Pennsylvania.*Orson, Indiana, a small fictional town in the TV series The Middle.-People:*Orson Scott Card, science fiction author...
(2006) - Beast and the HarlotBeast and the Harlot"Beast and the Harlot" is a song by American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold, the song was released as a single taken from their third album City of Evil. The song peaked at #19 on the U.S...
-- Avenged SevenfoldAvenged SevenfoldAvenged Sevenfold is an American heavy metal band from Huntington Beach, California. Formed in 1999, the group consists of vocalist M. Shadows, lead guitarist Synyster Gates, rhythm guitarist Zacky Vengeance, bassist Johnny Christ....
(2006) - Bright IdeaBright IdeaBright Idea is the debut album by the Hollywood band Orson. Originally self-released in 2005, it was released commercially on May 29, 2006 in the UK and was released internationally on June 13, 2006....
-- Orson (2006) - Graduation Day -- Head AutomaticaHead AutomaticaHead Automatica is a Dance Rock band, formed by Glassjaw frontman Daryl Palumbo with Jarvis Holden, formerly of Give Up the Ghost or American Nightmare, Jim Greer, and Brandon Arnovick.-History:...
(2006) - Tears Don't FallTears Don't Fall"Tears Don't Fall" is a song by Bullet for My Valentine. It is the band's fourth single from their first full-length studio album, The Poison. The single was released on June 23, 2006 through Trustkill Records in the US.- Track listings :...
-- Bullet for My ValentineBullet for My ValentineBullet for My Valentine are a Welsh heavy metal band from Bridgend, formed in 1998. The band is composed of Matt Tuck , Michael Paget , Jason James , and Michael Thomas . They were formed under the name Jeff Killed John and started their music career by covering songs by Metallica and Nirvana...
(2006) - Through GlassThrough Glass"Through Glass" is the second single from the rock band Stone Sour's second album Come What May. It reached the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in the US, where it remained for 7 weeks, and #2 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. The song also peaked at #39 on the Billboard...
-- Stone SourStone SourStone Sour is an American rock band from Des Moines, Iowa. Since 2006, the group has been composed of Corey Taylor , Jim Root , Josh Rand, , Shawn Economaki and Roy Mayorga . Original drummer Joel Ekman left the group in 2006...
(2006) - PainPain (Three Days Grace song)"Pain" is the second single from rock band Three Days Grace's 2006 album, One-X.According to vocalist Adam Gontier, "It's a song about feeling like you're constantly numb to things around you, thanks to your own actions, and it's about being sick of that feeling."-Chart performance:"Pain" has...
-- Three Days GraceThree Days GraceThree Days Grace is a Canadian rock band, formed in Norwood, Ontario, Canada in 1992, originally under the name Groundswell. After a breakup in late 1997, the band regrouped in the same year under its current name and with a line-up consisting of guitarist and lead vocalist Adam Gontier, drummer...
(2006) - Liar (It Takes One to Know One)Liar (It Takes One to Know One)"Liar " is the second single in the U.S. from the rock band, Taking Back Sunday's third album. The song is featured on the band's album Louder Now, and was released in the U.S., while their second single in the UK, Twenty-Twenty Surgery was released. The music video was released on September 28,...
-- Taking Back SundayTaking Back SundayTaking Back Sunday is a rock band from Long Island, NY, formed in 1999 by guitarist Eddie Reyes. Current members of the band are Adam Lazzara , John Nolan , Eddie Reyes , Shaun Cooper and Mark O'Connell ....
(2006) - Eyes of the InsaneEyes of the Insane"Eyes of the Insane" is a 2006 single by American thrash metal band Slayer, taken from their 2006 album Christ Illusion. The lyrics explore an American soldier's mental anguish following his return home from the second Gulf War, and is based on an article entitled "Casualty of War" which was...
-- SlayerSlayerSlayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...
(2006) - Prayer of the RefugeePrayer of the Refugee"Prayer of the Refugee" is the second single from Rise Against's album The Sufferer and The Witness, and was released worldwide in 2006. The song was originally titled "Diaspora", with advance copies of the album using that title instead of "Prayer of the Refugee".The song is featured as a...
-- Rise AgainstRise AgainstRise Against is an American punk rock band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1999. The band currently consists of Tim McIlrath , Zach Blair , Joe Principe and Brandon Barnes .Rise Against spent its first five years signed to the independent record label Fat Wreck Chords, on which it...
(2006) - Never Too LateNever Too Late (Three Days Grace song)"Never Too Late" is the third single from Three Days Grace off their second album One-X. It has received airplay at the Billy Talent tour and on several Canadian radio stations such as The Edge.-Popularity and censorship:...
-- Three Days Grace (2007) - I'm Not JesusI'm Not Jesus"I'm Not Jesus" is a song by the Finnish cello metal band Apocalyptica, featuring Corey Taylor from Slipknot and Stone Sour. The single was released on September 17, 2007 and again on March 4, 2008, off the album Worlds Collide....
-- ApocalypticaApocalypticaApocalyptica is a band from Helsinki, Finland, formed in 1993. The band is composed of classically trained cellists Eicca Toppinen, Paavo Lötjönen, and Perttu Kivilaakso and drummer Mikko Sirén...
feat. Corey TaylorCorey TaylorCorey Todd Taylor sometimes known by the number 8, is an American musician best known as the lead vocalist and lyricist of Slipknot and Stone Sour. Taylor was raised by his single mother. He developed a fond feeling toward classic rock after his grandmother introduced him to it...
(2007) - Empty WallsEmpty Walls"Empty Walls" is a song by musician Serj Tankian. The song was released as the first official single and first track off of Tankian's debut solo album Elect the Dead. The song has been described as a "traditionally pummeling rocker"....
-- Serj TankianSerj TankianSerj Tankian is a Lebanese-born Armenian-American singer–songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, playwright, record producer, poet, and political activist...
(2007) - Fake ItFake It (Seether song)"Fake It" is the first single from Seether's album Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces. The single quickly rose to number one on both the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks and Hot Modern Rock Tracks charts. It also reached number 56 on the Billboard Hot 100, the second highest of their singles...
-- SeetherSeetherSeether is a post-grunge/alternative metal band from Pretoria, South Africa, formed in 1999. The band is currently signed to Wind-up Records...
(2007) - Scream, Aim, FireScream Aim Fire (song)"Scream Aim Fire" is a song by Welsh heavy metal band Bullet for My Valentine. The first single from their second album, Scream Aim Fire, the song was released on the American iTunes store on 18 December 2007, and has also been released on the band's MySpace profile...
-- Bullet For My ValentineBullet for My ValentineBullet for My Valentine are a Welsh heavy metal band from Bridgend, formed in 1998. The band is composed of Matt Tuck , Michael Paget , Jason James , and Michael Thomas . They were formed under the name Jeff Killed John and started their music career by covering songs by Metallica and Nirvana...
(2007) - Sky Is OverSky Is Over"Sky Is Over" is a song by Serj Tankian. The song was released as the second single from Tankian's debut solo album Elect the Dead. The song has charted on both the Modern Rock Tracks and the Mainstream Rock Tracks.-Radio Edit promo single:...
-- Serj TankianSerj TankianSerj Tankian is a Lebanese-born Armenian-American singer–songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, playwright, record producer, poet, and political activist...
(2008) - Rise Above ThisRise Above This"Rise Above This" is the second single from Seether's album Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces. It is the sixth track on the album and became the band's second consecutive number-one song on the U.S. Modern Rock chart. Seether's vocalist Shaun Morgan has stated that the song is about his late...
-- Seether (2008) - BreakdownBreakdown (Seether song)"Breakdown" is the third track and the third single from Seether's third album, Finding Beauty In Negative Spaces. Shaun Morgan has stated that the song is about his former girlfriend Amy Lee, but other sources reference a more recent relationship...
-- Seether (2008) - Never Too LateNever Too Late (Three Days Grace song)"Never Too Late" is the third single from Three Days Grace off their second album One-X. It has received airplay at the Billy Talent tour and on several Canadian radio stations such as The Edge.-Popularity and censorship:...
-- Three Days Grace (2008) - How We Do It In The A -- Lloyd featuring Ludacris (2008)
- What You Look For -- Sam Beeton (2008)
- You Better Pray -- Red Jumpsuit Apparatus (2008)
- Not Meant to BeNot Meant to Be"Not Meant to Be" is the fifth overall single by Theory of a Deadman from the album Scars & Souvenirs. It has had airplay in the U.S...
-- Theory of a DeadmanTheory of a DeadmanTheory of a Deadman is a Canadian rock band from Delta, British Columbia, formed in 2001. The band is currently signed to Roadrunner Records as well as Island Records. The band also includes traits of other music styles, such as country and acoustic, as well as their post-grunge and alternative...
(2009) - Careless WhisperCareless Whisper"Careless Whisper" is a 1984 single by George Michael , released by Epic Records in the UK, Japan, and other countries; and by Columbia Records in North America. The song was George Michael's first solo single although he was still performing in Wham! at the time...
-- SeetherSeetherSeether is a post-grunge/alternative metal band from Pretoria, South Africa, formed in 1999. The band is currently signed to Wind-up Records...
(2009) - If This Is ItIf This Is It"If This Is It" is a song by American rock band Huey Lewis and the News. It was released as the fourth single from their number-one album Sports in 1984, and became their fifth top-ten and third consecutive number-six hit on the Billboard Hot 100...
-- Newton FaulknerNewton FaulknerSam Newton Battenberg Faulkner is an English singer-songwriter and musician from Reigate, Surrey. Known for his guitar playing, which involves rhythmically tapping and hitting his guitar's body, Faulkner came to prominence in 2007, with the release of his debut studio album, Hand Built by Robots...
(2009)
Commercials
- Futuroscope - "Robotic Seats" (Paris, France)
- Nike - "Beijing Ballers" (Beijing, China)
- Zoo York - "Tough" (New York, NY)
- Zoo York - "Spread The Word" (New York, NY)
- Environmental Defense Fund "Grounded" (Los Angeles, CA)
- Subway "Fence" (Charlotte, North Carolina)
- Dannon Danimals "Into Thin Air" (New York, NY)
- Beeline "Sea of Communication" (Kiev, Ukraine)
- Beeline "Wakeful" (Moscow, Russia)
- Beeline "Hockey" (Moscow, Russia)
- Beeline "Tattoo" (launch into Cambodia) (Bangkok, Thailand)
- Beeline "Baby Chickens Rave Party" (co-wrote & directed)(Los Angeles, CA)
- Beeline "Baby Chickens Rock Concert"(wrote & directed)(Los Angeles, CA)
- Sony Ericsson AINO global launch (Barcelona, Spain)
- Sony Ericsson SATIO global launch (Barcelona, Spain)
- Sony Ericsson SPACE HOPPER INVASION viral film (Barcelona, Spain)
- Beeline "Baby Chickens Skydiving"(wrote & directed)(Los Angeles, CA)
- Beeline "XRAY" Ring Back Tones (Bangkok, Thailand)
- Beeline "Magnetism" (Bangkok, Thailand)
- Beeline "Baby Chickens Skateboarding" (wrote & directed) (Los Angeles, CA)
- Nike "Change Sport" (Taipei, Taiwan & Singapore)
- Alexander Keith's Beer "Moving Walls" (Prague, Czech Republic)
- Alexander Keith's Beer "Conveyor Belt" (Prague, Czech Republic)
- Beeline "Bigger n Kooler" (co-wrote & directed)
- McDonald's "Real Fruit Smoothies / Paint Ball War" (Los Angeles, CA)
- McDonald's "Photos" (Los Angeles, CA)
- Beeline "Faces" (wrote & directed) (Los Angeles, CA)
- Minute Maid "Lion Dance" (Shanghai, China)
- Beeline "Pool Party" (Los Angeles, CA)
- Beeline "Hit The Waves" (Los Angeles, CA)