Today we’d like to introduce you to Tom Alexander.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Tom. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I grew up in my family’s movie theatre business in Pennsylvania. The first half of my life was spent there. I did everything from popping corn, selling tickets and being a projectionist to booking and promoting films. When the family sold the business, I moved on to radio as producer, host and later writer and musical director.
From there I spent some time in advertising. The most enjoyable stretch during this time was the 18 months I spent being the “on-screen” piano playing companion to a talking bottle in a series of award-winning commercials for Mike’s Hard Lemonade. This campaign was filmed in May locations including South Beach, Mexico City, San Francisco, Austin and even at the Playboy Mansion in LA. From there, I graduated to writing scripts and sold my first screenplay in 2009 — a frat boy romp I co-wrote called “Stonerville,” which wound up being Leslie Nielsen’s final film.
Since then, it’s been a lot of juggling of projects including voice acting in cartoons, composing jingles and soundtracks and screenwriting.
Most recently, Alexander Productions has partnered up with a music studio based in North Miami, KETO Music Group, which underscores films, creates musical imaging for commercials and produces for film.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road is full of bumps and bruises. Beyond just the daily grind of trying to sell your product, there are people in direct competition with you and worse, those unscrupulous few who sadly take delight in seeing you fail or with the intent of taking everyone else out.
As Hyman Roth (from Godfather Part II) famously said, “This is the business we’ve chosen.” So, dwelling on it is pointless. The trick is to keep pushing, keep moving. We’ve had our downs but they make the ups more gratifying.
Additionally, the landscape keeps changing. Once you think you’ve got things figured out three things have passed you by. I find staying on top of trends is the toughest thing. The answer sometimes is to begin your own trends. We’ve done a bit of that too.
Alexander Productions – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Music and Humor.
Sounds simple, right? Well, it is. On paper at least.
The music business is always changing but one thing that’s never changed is quality. That’s why when it comes to any style we deliver high level compositions for film, television and radio. This is includes underscores for movies, TV shows, commercial jingles, music imaging for sports highlights and so much more. Our team of award-winning composers, songwriters, and producers has composed for motion pictures blue chip and iconic brands, and renowned artists.
Humor. If you work in the creative arts, you’d better have a sense of humor or you won’t last. Not only is it our philosophy, we’ve learned to monetize it. Our team has written for Addy ad Clio Award winning commercials, movies, syndicated radio shows and more.
What sets us apart is our passion and diversity. Now, that Alexander Productions has partnered with a new studio in Miami and formed KETO Music Group, the possibilities are endless. The entire team is able to bring their own unique skill set to the mix. Long days are commonplace. But it never feels like work if you’re doing what you love. And we love what we do.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
It was a giving back moment. Some might call it a vanity project, but it was really just a valentine to my youth and more importantly, the people who populated that time and place. My album, “Overbrook Avenue,” was released in December of 2016. Each piece had its own very distinct musical message — evocative of people, places, or feelings from an innocent time.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.alexanderproductions.com
- Email: tom@ketomusicgroup.com
- Other: www.ketomusicgroup.com
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