Until I have one specific manager, I’m crowdsourcing my management to everyone. You are my manager. Welcome aboard. If you get me work, I’ll give you a 10% commission. This is not a joke. Here’s some stuff for you to know about me and help sell me to the industry:
JOBS TO PITCH ME FOR
As my manager, you should know my long term goals and where I’m well positioned to win jobs. Let’s call that second category easy wins.
EASY WINS
My experience directing sketch and late night for Jimmy Kimmel Live, Funny or Die, BuzzFeed and Comedy Central as well as my 15 years experience as a sketch writer, director, performer and teacher at the Upright Citizens Brigade positions me to be a great candidate for directing late night, variety, or sketch comedy.
I’ve directed pilot presentations that have been picked up to series and developed many others that are currently in development. I love working with talent to develop and amplify ideas and figure out the best way to take a concept as a director and showrunner.
I also have a wealth of branded experience as a director AND as an agency creative director. So, I speak brand, know how to work with clients, and can deliver the hell out of a commercial treatment (and the actual commercial).
In 2023, I had three projects go viral on my own that people seem to be interested in and I think are a good example of how my brain works:
WGA Strike Banner
covered in Deadline, Variety, TMZ, NPR, The Guardian and more
Our Frasier Remake
covered in The Wrap, LA Times, Boing Boing, AV Club, Paste Magazine and more
Deepfake David Zaslav
covered in The Wrap, Cartoon Brew, and The Puck
LONG TERM GOALS
I would like to direct more narrative and episodic work as well as a feature. I’ve got two features and two pilots written that we can shop around. I’m in development on two tv pitches with different production companies, and two podcasts with other production companies. The podcast projects are at UTA and I probably wouldn’t be able to give you a slice of those. I’m also producing and developing two indie features that friends have written. I know music videos don’t pay much, but creatively they are a fun playground and I’d love to do more of them. I’ve also been working more in the documentary space and have several active projects in development, pre-production, and production in that world (which moves much slower as you — as my manager — already know).
HOW TO PITCH ME
Here are some links that might be helpful:
My directing reel
My commercial directing reel
A few commercial highlights
Late night / sketch / variety highlights
Short films
Music videos
Unlisted playlist for unscripted videos
Unlisted playlist for videos with kids + parents
Unlisted playlist for commercial parodies
Unlisted playlist for “on the street” videos
Unlisted playlist for celebrity videos
My bio
Here’s a sample letter you can send to someone you know who works at a commercial production company.
Hi [close personal friend who is a decision maker at a commercial production company],
I have a new client I think you’d love and I want to make sure he’s on your radar. Jacob Reed is a multi-hyphenate director with a background in sketch and late night, and as an agency creative director. Here’s his reel. He just did these great spots for Bud Light starring Peyton Manning, Emmitt Smith and other NFL players. I also love these bizarre Macy’s ads he directed.
He comes from sketch and improv but he hasn’t really had a chance to bring those chops to commercials yet. I know if we got him on some comedy boards he could kill it. Here’s one of his shorts, Gum, that is super funny and won a bunch of awards. Trust me, I would be recommending him even if I didn’t make 10% off of any job you hire him for — but that’s one of the perks of being his manager so I guess I’ll take it, lol, fml, rofl!
LMK if I can loop you in with him and let’s grab a drink or talk about clio awards together soon!
[Your name here]
Here’s a sample letter you can send to someone you know who works on or is going into production on a late-night, sketch, or variety show.
Hey [close personal friend who works on or is going into production on a late night, sketch, or variety show],
[I heard from our mutual friend and/or saw in ‘the trades’ that you are working on a new late night, sketch, or variety show. Congrats!] / [How’s everything going on that already existing late night, sketch, or variety show you work on. Good? Great!] I know you’re always looking for great directing talent and I wanted to make sure you knew about a client of mine, Jacob Reed.
Jacob is a seasoned improv and sketch comedian who also directs. He’s directed viral bits for Funny or Die and BuzzFeed, contributed jokes for the Emmy-nominated Night of Too Many Stars, and recently directed sketches at Kimmel. He’s the guy who did the wax figure prank and Father’s Day bits — Will Smith just reposted the Father’s Day one, it’s great.
Anyway – he’s easy to work with and super funny. So much so that I’d be recommending him even if I wasn’t about to make 10% of the $6500/wk minimum DGA weekly rate you’ll pay him. You’ll love him! LMK if I can loop you in together.
Let’s have a play date with our kids/partners/dogs/etc soon!
[Your name here]
Here’s a sample letter you can send your talented actor friends.
Hey [close personal friend and talented actor],
You know that [project of some kind] you’ve been working on? Do you have a director in mind because I have a client who you should meet. His name’s Jacob Reed and he helps lots of actors and comedians develop projects. Also, did I tell you I’m a manager now? I rep him! LOL, life right?
Oh also I still have that [book/movie/dog] you loaned me. Let’s get coffee and swap back!
xoxo,
Gossip Girl [I assume this is an inside joke you guys have]