Rich Durkin
President/Executive Producer

Upon graduation from Pace University in 1982 (where he managed the campus TV station for three years), Rich began his career working in the film library at Dancer Fitzgerald Sample (now Saatchi & Saatchi). Within six months he was promoted to Assistant Producer and over the next five years produced spots for a variety of clients including Procter & Gamble, Nabisco, Toyota, General Mills, and Wendy’s (the "Where’s the Beef?" campaign). In late 1986, Rich left the agency side to join Ice Tea Productions as an Executive Producer. In January 1988, he became a partner at Ice Tea and in 1989, he bought the company.

While Ice Tea’s directors have changed some over the course of time, the firm has always specialized in representing special effects/animation directors and in mixing these mediums with live action. This concentration has given Ice Tea a solid reputation and they are often consulted for information about this type of production and about boards that are still in their developmental stages. Ice Tea believes this gives their directors an advantage.

Past directors have included: the now defunct, but talented and highly regarded, Digital Productions (merged with Abel and Omnibus, Los Angeles); Broadcast Arts of Pee Wee Herman fame (New York); Speedy Cartoons, which did the famous stock footage Hershey’s spots (London); and Lamb & Co., a computer animation company (Minneapolis).

In 1997, Ice Tea signed an exclusive contract with Vinton Studios. Rich joined Vinton as Executive Producer, New York Office/Vice President, Advertising Division. Vinton Studios creates successful advertising by revitalizing brands through the use of dimensional animation and original characters. Having worked as an agency producer, Rich understands agencies’ and clients’ concerns when developing effective advertising, and is interested in the changing relationship between clients and commercial producers.

Recently, Rich decided to go back to being an independant company. Rich continues to enjoy the close working relationship he has with Vinton. However, Ice Tea is carefully seeking out high end special effects companies to represent to help balance out its company roster.

When he is not working, Rich enjoys skiing and golf.