Los Angeles, CA, October 07, 2024 — ArtClass is thrilled to welcome directing duo Black Coffee to its esteemed roster of talent. Comprised of Josh Rimmey and Zach Williams, Black Coffee has emerged as one of the most dynamic directing teams in both music and advertising, celebrated for their captivating production design, imaginative camera work, and unfiltered fun across music videos, concerts, and commercial projects.
Zach and Josh met at Ithaca College, where they directed and acted in short films. They instantly recognized shared tastes, sources of inspiration, and an innate ability to work well together in a sibling-like symbiosis, trusting each other’s creative vision and individual sensibilities. They launched their advertising career as the internal production team for music management company Philymack, crafting behind-the-scenes campaigns and social media promotions for its artists. Black Coffee’s shared background in acting allows them to communicate with talent in a way that mines nuance and depth out of their performers, whether they’re directing comedy A-listers, famous musicians, or non-actors.
Blending their expertise in the music industry and incredible directing skills, Black Coffee has been tapped to direct promo films for upcoming tours for artists like Ed Sheeran, Jonas Brothers, Blink 182, and Kendrick Lamar. Additional work in the music industry includes directing popular music videos for DNCE, Tate McRae, Sandy Hawkins, Isaiah Rashad, Nick Jonas, and Demi Lovato, among many others.
Commercially, Black Coffee has directed films for brands like Apple, Tidal, Gatorade, Facebook, Kia, Post-it, Puma, Unreal Mobile, Body Armor, and Ember. Black Coffee has worked with SNL comedian Chloe Fineman on a spot for Tropical Smoothie Cafe and with Joe Jonas and Ethan Hawke on the anti-pollution campaign “Don’t Mess With Texas” for the Texas Department of Transportation. Their fresh takes on what’s culturally compelling have made them a natural fit toalso create vertical film assets oriented for social media for drink brands Cann and Coca-Cola.
Black Coffee remarks on signing with ArtClass, saying, “After meeting the team and getting to know the people who make ArtClass what it is, we’re most attracted to the familial style through which the company operates and the quality of work they put out. It feels like everyone has everyone else’s back—and we’re all just trying to champion each other’s work and build together. We’re looking forward to adding our own voices to that vibe.”
Kirsten Arongino, Managing Director at ArtClass, adds, “I’ve been following Josh and Zach’s careers for a few years now, and I’m consistently impressed by their ability to collaborate effectively between themselves and their cast and crew. They set the stage for everyone to do what they do best and rally everyone to get behind their filmic vision, which elevates every project they’re on. I’m thrilled they’ve chosen ArtClass as their first commercial production home, and I can’t wait to see what’s next for them!”
ArtClass About:
Adaptive next-gen production & post studio ArtClass joins directors, editors, writers, and designers to create bold & imaginative work with a wide array of agencies and brands. From commercials, music videos, and branded content, to documentaries and film, ArtClass delivers creativity in motion.
Our dream has been big from our founding: a commitment to craft and experimentation, pushing boundaries and respecting creative partners. Five years later, we have matured in scope and scale, and welcomed a myriad of new team members who add to our vision and experience. ArtClass is more than we imagined, thanks to our community of talent, each playing a huge role in its success. Effective advertising is an ever-changing chameleon that will only survive if it adapts to its surroundings. We are excited for a future that holds smarter, funnier, more engaging advertising that meets the audience wherever they coalesce.
