Craig Melone

As founder/President of Hands On Productions and Hands On PR & Marketing and a twenty year veteran of the television, film, music and entertainment business, Craig Melone's experience within the industry is as vast as it is varied. Melone entered the University of Miami's prestigious school of music on scholarship where he majored in music and business. While at Miami, Capitol Records recruited Melone and placed him in their regional office located first in Miami, Florida and later in Dallas, Texas. At Capitol Records in Dallas, Melone had the opportunity to work within the company's sales and promotion force. Melone was promoted to a marketing and publicity position for Capitol/EMI's International Division based at the company's headquarters at the famed Capitol Records Tower in Los Angeles, California. The International Division was the launching ground for the company's efforts to break acts worldwide and an opportunity Craig to work with the various licensing companies in various countries throughout the world. Artists Melone worked with during this period included The Red Hot Chili Peppers, David Bowie and Tina Turner. He later joined Wilkinson/Lipsman Associates, whose talented staff handled a client roster that included Robin Williams, Billy Crystal and a host of other projects including Michael Jackson's "The Making of Moonwalker." Melone's production arm, Hands On Productions was launched in 1997. The company's debut project, "And Then There was One," was a documentary covering the life of Mark Koenig, the last living member of the New York Yankees 1927 Murderer's Row baseball club. It was featured several times on ESPN. On the film side, Melone's "Soul Survivors" screen play was optioned by Universal at this time. As a director, Melone has had success in various genre's including short form videos in the genres of pop, new age, hip hop and country music. His "Midnight Rider" music video starring country star Rick Monroe was voted a fan favorite at CMT and CMT.com. The company currently has several reality based series in various stages of development including the country themed Honky Tonk Road Trip and Combustione! as an old-school Italian father and family get into it with each other as they cater to a celebrity clientele at their high-end exotic sports car repair and sales shop in Los Angeles. Hands On PR and Marketing is a vital and synergistic part of the Hands On Marketing and Production group. As a company that represents Oscar nominated and Golden Globe winning feature films, unique Corporations, Grammy Award-winning artists, hilarious comedians, destination resorts, restaurants as well as talented thespians and companies who thrive on cutting-edge technology, Hands On Public Relations & Marketing prides itself on a unique ability to deliver on all fronts. A full-service PR & Marketing agency, Hands On Public Relations & Marketing was launched by Melone whose vision was to consistently deliver at a high level for a diverse array of film projects, corporate, celebrity, music and production oriented clientele. On the corporate side, the talented staffers at Hands On have enjoyed success representing numerous high profile corporations and motion picture properties. Past and present work includes efforts for Hollywood Studios International/Artist International film, The Kids Are All Right. The highly acclaimed project received two Golden Globe Awards and was also nominated for multiple Oscar Awards. Icon Productions' The Singing Detective (Paramount Classics), Avenue Six Studios, Warner/Chappell Music, BMI, ASCAP and recording companies including Domo Music Group, Epic, Sony, UMG and Capitol Records all keep the company in a state of perpetual motion. Hands On has also enjoyed corporate success with several automotive companies such as Cadillac, Porsche Cars of North America(including an event hosted by Jay Leno) and the home of the Cars to the Stars, Picture Car Warehouse. On the music and personality side, Glee Heartthrob Darren Criss has exploded onto the scene with a hit television series three #1 Singles. Comedian turned actor turned Grammy nominee, George Lopez, nine time Grammy winner and Gospel great Shirley Caesar, Grammy and Golden Globe winner/New Age guru Kitaro, the Winans Family, Brian Wilson and country music breakout stars Rick Monroe and Chase Yaklin are notable past and present music/comedic clients. In addition to many other record labels and independent projects, Hands On handles publicity duties for many music/film producers including Grammy Producer of the Year nominee, Johnny K (Plain White T's, Staind) and Neal Avron (Linkin Park, Disturbed), who in addition to having produced or mixed three CONSECUTIVE #1, also received a Grammy nomination for his work with Sara Bareilles. The company has had the pleasure of working with the Jagermeister brand, representing the Jagermeister Country Tour for three years as country hit-maker Rick Monroe has acted as emcee and/or opening act for the tour. Artists appearing on the Jagermeister Country Tour over the past several years include Monroe, Dierks Bentley, Josh Thompson and Pat Green. Other actors & actresses repped by Hands On include individuals from smash films and hit television shows including Glee, CSI: Miami, Entourage, How I Met Your Mother and The Office to name just a few.