Mover and Shaker James Grant, Ex-Golden Globes Publicist, former Life Magazine Bureau Chief & Orion Pictures Publicity Director to open new agency based in NYC Departs P.R. job as Vice President of MRG after two years to set up own P.R. Company. Whom You Know Congratulates Jamesy and He Already Sat Down with Peachy Deegan for an Exclusive Interview!

James Grant, Vice President of MRG – The Michael Russell Group announced this morning that he is departing his job as Vice President of MRG after heading up its New York office for the past two years to establish his own New York based public relations company to be called James Grant Public Relations.  We have been telling you he is a Mover and Shaker for ages:
http://www.whomyouknow.com/2010/05/movers-and-shakers-james-grant-vice.html

Grant, a former West Coast Bureau Chief of Life Magazine, Fox Television Producer and West Coast Publicity Director of Orion Pictures, said that the new agency will be based in New York. It will handle marketing, publicity and Celebrity Outreach for non-profit organizations, films and documentaries.

“As a publicist who is also a former journalist and television producer, I have a unique background for Marketing and Media,” Grant said. “My chief objective is to apply the contacts I have built over the years in publicity, media, celebrity outreach, movies, television, corporate, charity, fashion and non-profit worlds into a boutique agency which can fully synergize and market all of these areas to a very select list of clients.”

Grant’s new agency will continue to retain all clients he signed and serviced exclusively including two of America’s most prestigious non-profit organizations -- United Cerebral Palsy of New York City and The Loreen Arbus Foundation, based in both New York and Los Angeles. In addition, this past week, he signed a deal to represent HOK, a global architectural firm that specializes in planning, design which has offices globally and is considered to be one of the top three architectural firms in the world. Grant will focus its marketing efforts on HOK New York.

In addition to retaining his clients, Grant will also take to the new agency his entire p.r. team – Publicists Matt Flynn and David Tomassi. Both publicists have worked for Grant for most of his two years at MRG.

Grant worked for four Time/Warner publications – “People,” “In Style,” “Entertainment Weekly” and as West Coast Bureau Chief of “Life” magazine.

Grant is currently overseeing Media & Celebrity Outreach for several upcoming A-List Charity events in New York including the 10^th Annual “Women Who Care” Awards Luncheon to take place at Cipriani 42^nd Street in New York on May 5, 2011 and United Cerebral Palsy of New York City’s 10^th Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament in July.

“I have had the incredible opportunity to work on a large cross section of A-List projects these past two years at MRG on both coasts including the last two Golden Globe Awards, independent films, an Oscar® short-listed documentary, several A-List Charity Events in both New York and Los Angeles, a major Broadway Show, and even an event at the United Nations,” Grant said. “I can’t think of another major agency that could have given me that sort of hands on experience.”

In the last two years while VP of MRG, in addition to being part of the publicity team overseeing press for The Hollywood Foreign Press Association including both 66^th (2009)  & 67^th (2010) Annual Golden Globe Awards, Grant handled East Coast publicity for Oscar® Short-list “Under Our Skin” and oversaw East Cast Publicity for the independent film “Iron Cross.”

Six months ago, he worked on the successful launch of The Loreen Arbus Focus on Disability Scholarship, a major joint partnership between The Loreen Arbus Foundation, The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation & The Alliance for Women In Media. As part of that launch, he worked on both The 31^st Annual College Television Awards and The 35^th Annual Gracie Awards both shows in Los Angeles.

This past May, Grant oversaw Media & Celebrity Outreach for The 9^th Annual “Women Who Care” Awards Luncheon at Cipriani 42^nd Street in New York wrangling Cynthia Nixon, Robin Givens, Alan Rickman, Meredith Viera, Paula Zahn, Dr. Mehmet Oz and several other major stars as Celebrity Presenters. He generated worldwide publicity for the charity event.

Grant will once again oversee Media & Celebrity Outreach for the 10^th Annual “Women Who Care” Awards Luncheon to take place at Cipriani 42^nd Street in New York in May, 2011 as well as United Cerebral Palsy of New York City’s 10^th Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament in the summer and several other prestigious upcoming  NYC charity events. He also heads up Media & Celebrity Outreach for the UCP/NYC “Great Gatsby Gambling Gala” upcoming on March 25.

Grant also worked on “Variety”s 2009 fundraiser celebrating “The Power of Women” in Los Angeles. Hosted by “Glee” star Jane Lynch, Honorees (all attending) were Sigourney Weaver (introduced by director James Cameron), Christina Aguilera, Anne Hathaway, Christina Applegate, Sherry Lansing, Maria Bello and January Jones. He also worked on The Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s Installation Charity luncheon with Celebrity Presenters Chris Pine, Eva Longoria, Hugh Dancy, Warren Beatty and other stars.

Last summer, Grant publicized writer/director Dan Gordon’s Broadway debut as a playwright for “Irena’s Vow.”

In 2009, Grant served as the account executive handling publicity and promotion for The One Club’s first ever “Creative Week NYC” collaborating with New York Mayor Bloomberg’s promotional department to produce a week which garnered international attention for events including the 34^th Annual One Show at Jazz at Lincoln Center as well as a special screening of the organization’s acclaimed documentary, “Art & Copy.”

Grant previously worked as West Coast Publicity Director of Orion Pictures (reporting to then Orion Pictures V.P. Michael Russell) implementing publicity campaigns for several films and major A-List stars including Brad Pitt (“The Favor”), Kiefer Sutherland (“Article 99”), Madonna (Woody Allen’s “Shadows & Fog”), Michelle Pfeiffer (“Love Field” which garnered a Best Actress Oscar® nomination for Pfeiffer), Keanu Reeves (“Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey”) and the directorial debut of Jodie Foster in “Little Man Tate.” He also worked on the successful Oscar® campaign for The Silence of the Lambs which won five Oscars for Best Picture, Best Actress (Jodie Foster), Best Actor (Anthony Hopkins), Best Director (Jonathan Demme) and Best Screenplay (Ted Tally). He also was part of the publicity team which worked on the successful Best Actress Oscar® campaign for Jessica Lange for “Blue Sky.” He also worked on publicity for Miramax’s “A Rage in Harlem.” 

Grant subsequently worked with heiress Aileen Getty overseeing her philanthropic work to bring increased awareness to women living with HIV. In that capacity, Grant generated international media attention for Getty by orchestrating several key media gets including major features in “Vanity Fair," “People” and appearances on Oprah and CNN among other shows.

He has discussed the entertainment industry as a featured guest on “Entertainment Tonight,” “Larry King Live,” “CNN Showbiz Today,” “The E! Network,” “The John McLaughlin Report,” “A.M. Los Angeles,” in “The New York Times,” “USA Today” and other publications.

Grant also worked as segment producer for Fox Television’s “Late Show Starring Joan Rivers.” When Rivers was fired, Grant was promoted to co-producer of “The Late Show” show and produced shows for guest hosts including Suzanne Somers, Louie Anderson, Mel Brooks, Richard Belzer, Diane Von Furstenberg and others.

He began his career at Davidson & Choy publicizing "Dreamgirls," "Little Shop of Horrors", "Extremities," "Private Lives," and the Royal Opera, Covent Garden. He subsequently worked in marketing for the Ambassador International Cultural Foundation.

For more information, contact Matt Flynn or David Tomassi at jsgny@nyc.rr.com or (917) 626-1300 or visit the website at: www.jamesgrantpr.com  We are absolutely thrilled to kick off Red Carpet Regulars with this exclusive interview with James Grant on his new firm.  Peachy Deegan interviewed James Grant for Whom You Know.

Peachy Deegan: We think you're worth your weight in gold, as in Golden Globes gold...just kidding!  Seriously, what makes you one of the best in PR around?

James Grant: I have so many friends and colleages who do public relations who are just as good as I am -- in fact I consult them and ask advice all the time. People consider publicity such a competitive field but my colleagues have helped me tremendously over the years -- and I am there for them in return. I think what we all have in common is the ability to take a client -- whether it is a corporation's identity, key initiatives for a major non-profit organization, a major charity Gala or a film or documentary publicity campaign -- and analyze and strategize specifically what their needs are and how best to get real results. My colleagues and I work very hard at implementing the marketing plan once it is established.

I am also a big believer in what I call "Media Long Shots." It's a term I coined around the office for the Big Media Gets which may or may not be in the minds of the client. It could be recommending to a client who wants Fortune Magazine that they should also be doing People Magazine -- which for a conservative company could shock them. Or it could be devising a special angle that will get a major movie a big story in The Wall Street Journal -- in addition to the logical choices like Entertertainment Tonight that we are already pitching. I like to get creative -- and when called for pretty aggressive in terms of getting media attention.

What led you to launch your own firm?

Well, first of all, Michael Russell and Stephen LoCascio at MRG have been incredibly supportive of the move. They hired me over two years ago and I learned so much from them. During that time, I was able to work on an independent film campaign (Iron Cross), a Oscar Documentary campaign (The Oscar Shortlisted Under Our Skin) two consecutive Golden Globe Awards (2010 and 2009), extensive work with major non-profit organizations, several A-List Celebrity Events in both New York and Los Angeles and even a major event at The United Nations. I don't think any other agency could have given me this eclectic sort of experience and I am forever grateful for that. After two years, it just became a question of timing -- we usually had bi-coastal accounts that we worked on together and at this particular time, we did not so I thought to myself, if I'm going to ever have my own agency, this would be the perfect time because they have all their west coast clients and I have all my east coast clients -- whereas quite often we were working on bi-coastal accounts simulaneously. So I just thought the time was right. I am sure we will all work together again on future projects.

Why did you not launch your own firm sooner?

I always get a kick out of announcements such as "I truly value the four months I spent at...." and I think to myself: "Four months?" Not a very long time. I thought that two years was a respectable period and everything then just fell into place.

What films should we be looking forward to seeing through you?

Well, of course, people consider me a "Movie Publicist" because I was West Coast Publicity Director of Orion Pictures and worked back to back on a dozen films. When the time is right and the circumstances merit it, I would like to handle publicity on a film. I actually just turned down working on publicity for an independent film two weeks ago. I just felt that the timing was wrong -- I need to make sure that my existing clients are happy and focus on them -- but a little further down the line, absolutely. My PR team is marvelous at film campaigns -- Publicist Matt Flynn who is my associate is a young go-getter. Publicity Associate David Tomassi is equally incredible. I feel like we're all three on the top of our games -- plus I have three other great people I work regularly with on our events.

Do you miss your days in journalism and what aspects of journalism will be helpful to you in your new venture?

Great question. I do not miss it at all. In fact, I wake up in the morning happy that I can work in public relations. I had nothing more to say with regard to celebrity journalism. I was very spoiled and look back and I am staggered by the access I had to A-List talent. When I was Bureau Chief of "Life" Magazine, I would spend several days with the cover interview subject. Today, access is much more limited to the press. I think my background as a journalist has helped me tremendously in my public relations work. I still brainstorm like a journalist so when I write a pitch, it is specifically geared to what I know for a fact the editor is looking for. There have also been many times when my media connections have helped make a major Media Get happen because of my past affiliation with them.  

Mover and Shaker Rita Cosby, whom we saw last night at a cocktail party, also sends her congratulations.  What have been some of the reactions others have given you as they've heard your big news?

Please thank Rita for me. Now THERE is a true Mover & Shaker! I have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of positive energy I have received. I was not expecting it at all. Over 100 regular emails and I've lost count of all the wonderful Facebook postings and messages all of which I truly treasure. I have heard from some major people --Senior VP's at film and television studios, a major manager, Senior Editors at magazines, several Supermodels, photographers, a television star, a television producer, an acclaimed director, many fellow publicists -- some of whom head up their own agencies and are hugely successful and respected.

What does Farfel (Jamesy's dog) have to say about all of this and what campaigns will he/she be working on?

Farfel will not deign to work on any accounts as he is too busy monitoring my every move which can be a fulltime job unto itself. Farfel is firecely intelligent, wildly amusing, extremely fiesty and very bossy if things don't go his way. I simply do not know who he inherited these traits from!

What should the world know about your new firm?

That I intend to build slowly and conservatively. I am not a sprinter -- I'm a long distance runner.

Any other comments?

No. Thank you for your time and incredibly loyalty over the years. It means a great deal to me. You are, after all, MEGA yourself Peachy!