Miranda's Incite Films expands operations to Los Angeles

Monty Miranda

Monty Miranda ('90), principal director and co-owner of Incite Films in Denver, knew that when he decided to open a Los Angeles office this fall, there were bound to be some bumps along the road. But not literally.

"I actually got jumped by five guys the other night in Hollywood and had to spend some time in the hospital," he said in early November. "I will be fine, but I did get hit in the head with a crowbar and needed 15 stitches over my right eye. The scar is in the eyebrow so I should be able to do a comb-over."

Nevertheless, he remains upbeat about expanding his production company in hopes of working on more movie projects and bigger commercials. He said he currently splits his time between his home in Denver and an apartment in Los Angeles.

Miranda founded Incite Films in 1992 to produce TV commercials, music videos, documentaries and films. It has become one the leading production companies in the West, and Miranda said he has directed hundreds of national and regional commercials, documentaries and music videos, as well as the syndicated television series "Twitch," He is especially known for his quirky and humorous commercials featuring personalities such as Tony Hawk, Spike Lee, Jim Brown, Joe Sakic and many of Denver's other most popular professional athletes. His client list goes from AT&T to Zima.

Miranda recently completed "Fried," a short film selected to run opening night during the 25th Annual Denver International Film Festival in October.

His work has earned dozens of awards, including a 2002 bronze Clio for a Denver Zoo commercial. A commericial he did for Thule Rack Systems was shortlisted at a recent Cannes Film Festival.

"Filmmaking was something that I had played around with since the fourth grade, and I never grew tired of it," he said.

"So I took a few film and journalism courses at CU. My first semester, I learned that many filmmakers got their start by directing TV commercials.

In essence, a commercial is a film in its perfect form. Films sell you a story; commercials sell you a product and a story. A commercial is simply a very short film, and a commercial contains all the primary ingredients as a movie: a beginning, middle and an ending," he said.

"I knew less about commercials and advertising than I did about filmmaking. To supplement my film education I applied to the journalism school, figuring that studying advertising and commercials would only help me to become a better filmmaker, and directing commercials would be a good place to start."

Miranda regularly returns to CU to speak at the School and conduct acting workshops and classes.

Besides filmmaking, he said he's also passionate about music, an interest forged by punk rock in high school and college.

"I love the positive aspects of the punk-rock culture and thought," he said. "The do-it-yourself attitude. The anyone-can-be-a-rock-star belief.

"The idea of questioning everything and finding a way to make your own path.

"This attitude is empowering and even crossed over into the formation of Incite Films. 'Incite' is to evoke, to cause effect or to foment, and that philosophy is tantamount to my work on screen and my view of life."

Mmmincite@aol.com