Hey Baby Signs Director Whitey McConnaughy

Los Angeles-based production studio Hey Baby adds to its growing roster of talent with the signing of director Rob “Whitey” McConnaughy. Previously repped by humble, Whitey’s creative output spans mediums and genres high and low; he is both a Cannes Lion winner and a former creator of the MTV pranking phenomenon Jackass.

Whitey’s many-sided skillset and always flexible approach to both commercial and content production perfectly dovetails with the vision of Hey Baby, explains Executive Producer/Partner Johnny Parker. “Whitey can helm these massive, robust comedy campaigns, but he’s also not afraid to roll up his sleeves and do things lean and mean. He shoots, he edits, he can take a project from soup-to-nuts. In today’s commercial landscape, where budgets are tight yet there’s more creative opportunities than ever before, having that agility is a huge asset.”

Whitey first made a name for himself as a photographer and director on the snow and skateboarding scene, with over a dozen of the best-selling films in the genre to his credit. He also served as photo editor for the leading snow publication Blunt, while also filming the videos for the influential skate mag Big Brother.

After writing for and shooting the first two Jackass movies, Whitey moved into advertising in the mid-2000s when Nike approached him to helm a series of skateboarding spots and short films directly for the brand. Since then, he’s cast his net far and wide across the worlds of action, sports and comedy and found a certain edge for work involving hidden cameras and real people.

Whitey’s ability to communicate clever concepts with flawless execution has led him to direct content for brands including Honda, Coors, Burger King, Progressive, Chrysler, Coca-Cola, EA Sports, Activision, Sprint, Dodge, Samsung and Verizon, to name a few. His style consistently strikes a chord with juries and web audiences alike; Whitey’s Diageo’s Jeremiah Weed spot featuring ZZ Top nabbed the Cannes Bronze Lion for Branded Content, while his Nike "Hyperdunks" campaign featuring Kobe Bryant jumping over a speeding Aston Martin was one of the first true viral video hits.

Whitey’s fluency for DIY guerilla-style filmmaking has also found a perfect home in the music world, leading him to direct videos for artists such as The Gossip, Band of Horses, Superchunk, and Red Fang, along with a particularly memorable clip for OFF! starring a blood-soaked Jack Black.

“I’m about as excited as a Trump supporter at a Maury Povich show to join the Hey Baby team,” says Whitey. “I’ve been looking for a boutique production company that has forward momentum and understands how to get it done. I love how the owners and staff have great relationships with all their directors, both business-wise and personally. A place that feels like a family, but without the brother that refuses to give you back your Dirty Dancing lunchbox. I can’t wait to start making some memorable and funny-as-hell work with the Hey Baby squad.”