CREATIVE TEAM
MELISSA BETH - Producer
Before founding Hostage Films in 2012, Melissa Beth served as the Executive Producer of Milk and Honey Films and atSwim, international production companies based in Prague, Buenos Aires, Los Angeles and New York. There, she oversaw all commercial production and was a second unit producer on the film Kevin Hart: Let me Explain.
Melissa started her career at Viacom and spent six years crossing the MTV Networks brands as a producer of on-air programming, promos and commercials and as a senior analyst in advertising sales planning. In 2009, Melissa took the position of Vice President of Media for Kipany Productions, a company generating over one billion dollars a year in sales revenue. Representing an international roster of established and emerging creative talent, Melissa acquired and fostered relationships with clients and brands, creating commercials and media campaigns for advertisers including Motts, Travelers Insurance, Rite Aid, and Snickers.
Since launching, Hostage Films has produced work for Samsung, Abbott Fund, Microsoft, Pfizer, Boehringer Ingelheim and Verizon. Melissa has been a member of the Women Presidents’ Organization and an East Coast Board Member of the Association of Independent Commercial Producers.
Her company, Hostage Films, can be found here: www.hostagefilms.com
RUBEN LATRE - WRITER/DIRECTOR
Ruben Latre spent almost a decade in post-production as an editor and motion graphics designer before transitioning into directing. In his first year as a commercial director, Ruben was nominated three times in the category of Best New Director, ultimately taking home the honor at APCP Madrid, for a spot paying homage to Ridley Scott’s Alien. Latre was honored at the Director’s Guild of America in Shoot’s New Director’s Showcase for a film created to promote the National Museum of Hip Hop. An image campaign he directed and shot for TMG Health in Iceland was shortlisted at the Association of Independent Commercial Producers for Cinematography.
As a commercial director, Ruben has traversed the globe shooting in Ethiopia, Turkey, the Amazon, and Vietnam for Samsung, in New Zealand for Pfizer, in South Africa for Philip Morris and in Tanzania for the Abbott Fund. He is recognized around the world for his visual style and sensibility.
Ruben Latre’s film and commercial portfolio can be found here: www.hostagefilms.com
Ruben Latre’s photography portfolio can be found here: http://rubenlatre.aminus3.com/portfolio/
