Thomas E. van Dell
- Producer
- Actor
- Executive
Van Dell served as Vice President of International at Universal/Motown
Records Group, a division of Universal Music Group, the world's largest
music company with wholly owned record operations or licensees in 63
countries. His achievements include engineering the breakthrough
international success of such artists as
98 Degrees,
Brian McKnight,
Boyz II Men,
Erykah Badu,
Nelly, Godsmack,
3 Doors Down,
Sonique and 702. Moreover, by taking advantage
of the multicultural appeal of Universal/Motown's roster of talent, van
Dell enabled the company to remain at the forefront of the
globalization of the music business, while its much larger competitors
continue to lag behind.
Prior to joining Universal/Motown, van Dell served in a number of capacities overseas, developing his career over a period of 25 years. He spent several years working for logistics management giant Hellmann International in Hong Kong, before making the transition into the entertainment business. In 1991, sensing a real need for music, merchandising and live entertainment in the region, van Dell founded Pacific Entertainment International, which went on to become one of the most successful marketing and concert promotion companies in the Far East. As a true entrepreneur, van Dell not only introduced James Taylor, Michael Bolton, Suede, UB40, Tom Jones and INXS to millions of fans living in the Pacific Rim, but introduced alternative music to the region for the first time ever - with the likes of Beck and Radiohead. Moreover, van Dell set up the widely successful MTV Alternative Nation Tour, which featured the Foo Fighters, Sonic Youth and the Beastie Boys, among others.
Seeking a new challenge, van Dell later joined Universal Music Asia Pacific as its Regional Vice President, where he worked with such multi-platinum selling artists as Bush, Aqua, No Doubt, K-Ci & Jo Jo, Kitarô and Trisha Yearwood, among many others. While overseeing the Pacific Rim, van Dell negotiated a number of innovative cross-licensing agreements with competitors BMG, WEA, Sony and EMI, which went on to set a precedent by generating substantial income and additional repertoire sources for strategic marketing projects.
Van Dell then launched IN2N Entertainment Group (pronounced "In Tune"); a multi-faceted media company consisting of a publishing division and an independent record label (IN2N Recording Company). Signings included A+, Kate Bradshaw, Ruckas, Fedi, Will Guice, Dante Barton ("Bad Girl", from Usher's multi-platinum album "Confessions"), I Born, Kliclak and Academy Award-nominated actor Danny Aiello (#4 Billboard Traditional Jazz chart entry). In 2003 van Dell co-produced the Danny Aiello starring Robert Cappelli Jr. film Mail Order Bride. The film, partially shot in Moscow also features Ivana Milicevic, Artie Lange and Vincent Pastore. Van Dell also founded GO 2 SHO Inc., an independent film and television production company. GO 2 SHO released a sequel to the cult classic Massacre au camp d'été (1983), entitled _Return to Sleepaway Camp (2006)_ as well as investing in a feature entitled Destination Fame (2012) starring Cuba Gooding, American Idol: The Search for a Superstar (2002)'s A.J. Gil, Joe Jackson and J Records star Mario released in 2006.
Van Dell helped produce the romantic comedy _Waltzing Anna (2005)_ starring Pat Hingle, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Grant Shaud and Artie Lange and Bob Capelli as well as Brooklyn Lobster starring Danny Aiello and Jane Curtin. A co-production Last Hour (2008), starring DMX, Michael Madsen, David Carradine, Paul Sorvino, Mónica Cruz and Pascal Caubet, was filmed in Beijing and Shanghai, China and Paris, France. Van Dell also co-produced the Drake Bell music video for "I Know" seen on MTV and other music channels around the world.
Van Dell was a Partner and served as COO at Radar Pictures LLC until 2016. Radar, a leading independent film studio and multi media company, which produced such classic films as The Last Samurai, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Revenge of The Nerds, Twelve, Cocktail, The Hand That Rocks The Cradle, Three Men And A Baby, The Box, The Invention Of Lying and The Chronicles Of Riddick. Recent Radar production credits include Spring Breakers, Riddick, Jumanji:Welcome To The Jungle and Jumanji:The Next Level. Van Dell is a producer on Under The Bed, a Dan Myrick directed thriller starring Hannah New. The film is a Radar co-production with Leonardo DiCaprio's Appian Way. Van Dell also served as Producer on Kickboxer Vengeance starring Dave Bautista, Jean Claude Van Damme. Alain Moussi and George St. Pierre. Van Dell served as Producer on Winter Dragon which became the Amazon Prime series Wheel of Time. Van Dell is developing and producing his own slate of features and television series including 60'6", Tango Down, Washington, Genghis Khan, Heroes, Leftraro, Skin In The Game, Rome By Night, a yet to be titled Grant Nieporte romantic comedy, a re-imagining of the cult classic genre film Sleepaway Camp, Patrick of Ireland (with Ciaran Donnelly directing and Bruce McKenna writing) and others through his Iconic Media One production banner.
Iconic Media One recently wrapped on its co production of We Summon The Darkness, a thriller starring Alexandra Daddario, Maddie Hasson, Keean Johnson, Johnny Knoxville, Logan Miller, Amy Forsyth and Austin Swift. The feature film directed by Marc Meyers was released in 2020.
In 2021 van Dell began producing highly successful commercials and webisodes for Nissan. The first, entitled Blackbird starred Giancarlo Esposito of Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul and The Mandalorian fame. The campaign has garnered over 30 Million impressions and won multiple advertising awards, including a Golden Effie, three Golden ACHAP Awards and two Grand Prix ACHAP Awards, including film.
He is a voting member of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (NARAS), the organization that determines and distributes the Grammy Awards annually and the voting panel for the Daytime Emmys on behalf of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. He has also been recognized with numerous awards, including Leaders Conference Awards and the United States Bronze Medal of Citizenship. Van Dell is also an accomplished private aviator.
Prior to joining Universal/Motown, van Dell served in a number of capacities overseas, developing his career over a period of 25 years. He spent several years working for logistics management giant Hellmann International in Hong Kong, before making the transition into the entertainment business. In 1991, sensing a real need for music, merchandising and live entertainment in the region, van Dell founded Pacific Entertainment International, which went on to become one of the most successful marketing and concert promotion companies in the Far East. As a true entrepreneur, van Dell not only introduced James Taylor, Michael Bolton, Suede, UB40, Tom Jones and INXS to millions of fans living in the Pacific Rim, but introduced alternative music to the region for the first time ever - with the likes of Beck and Radiohead. Moreover, van Dell set up the widely successful MTV Alternative Nation Tour, which featured the Foo Fighters, Sonic Youth and the Beastie Boys, among others.
Seeking a new challenge, van Dell later joined Universal Music Asia Pacific as its Regional Vice President, where he worked with such multi-platinum selling artists as Bush, Aqua, No Doubt, K-Ci & Jo Jo, Kitarô and Trisha Yearwood, among many others. While overseeing the Pacific Rim, van Dell negotiated a number of innovative cross-licensing agreements with competitors BMG, WEA, Sony and EMI, which went on to set a precedent by generating substantial income and additional repertoire sources for strategic marketing projects.
Van Dell then launched IN2N Entertainment Group (pronounced "In Tune"); a multi-faceted media company consisting of a publishing division and an independent record label (IN2N Recording Company). Signings included A+, Kate Bradshaw, Ruckas, Fedi, Will Guice, Dante Barton ("Bad Girl", from Usher's multi-platinum album "Confessions"), I Born, Kliclak and Academy Award-nominated actor Danny Aiello (#4 Billboard Traditional Jazz chart entry). In 2003 van Dell co-produced the Danny Aiello starring Robert Cappelli Jr. film Mail Order Bride. The film, partially shot in Moscow also features Ivana Milicevic, Artie Lange and Vincent Pastore. Van Dell also founded GO 2 SHO Inc., an independent film and television production company. GO 2 SHO released a sequel to the cult classic Massacre au camp d'été (1983), entitled _Return to Sleepaway Camp (2006)_ as well as investing in a feature entitled Destination Fame (2012) starring Cuba Gooding, American Idol: The Search for a Superstar (2002)'s A.J. Gil, Joe Jackson and J Records star Mario released in 2006.
Van Dell helped produce the romantic comedy _Waltzing Anna (2005)_ starring Pat Hingle, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Grant Shaud and Artie Lange and Bob Capelli as well as Brooklyn Lobster starring Danny Aiello and Jane Curtin. A co-production Last Hour (2008), starring DMX, Michael Madsen, David Carradine, Paul Sorvino, Mónica Cruz and Pascal Caubet, was filmed in Beijing and Shanghai, China and Paris, France. Van Dell also co-produced the Drake Bell music video for "I Know" seen on MTV and other music channels around the world.
Van Dell was a Partner and served as COO at Radar Pictures LLC until 2016. Radar, a leading independent film studio and multi media company, which produced such classic films as The Last Samurai, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Revenge of The Nerds, Twelve, Cocktail, The Hand That Rocks The Cradle, Three Men And A Baby, The Box, The Invention Of Lying and The Chronicles Of Riddick. Recent Radar production credits include Spring Breakers, Riddick, Jumanji:Welcome To The Jungle and Jumanji:The Next Level. Van Dell is a producer on Under The Bed, a Dan Myrick directed thriller starring Hannah New. The film is a Radar co-production with Leonardo DiCaprio's Appian Way. Van Dell also served as Producer on Kickboxer Vengeance starring Dave Bautista, Jean Claude Van Damme. Alain Moussi and George St. Pierre. Van Dell served as Producer on Winter Dragon which became the Amazon Prime series Wheel of Time. Van Dell is developing and producing his own slate of features and television series including 60'6", Tango Down, Washington, Genghis Khan, Heroes, Leftraro, Skin In The Game, Rome By Night, a yet to be titled Grant Nieporte romantic comedy, a re-imagining of the cult classic genre film Sleepaway Camp, Patrick of Ireland (with Ciaran Donnelly directing and Bruce McKenna writing) and others through his Iconic Media One production banner.
Iconic Media One recently wrapped on its co production of We Summon The Darkness, a thriller starring Alexandra Daddario, Maddie Hasson, Keean Johnson, Johnny Knoxville, Logan Miller, Amy Forsyth and Austin Swift. The feature film directed by Marc Meyers was released in 2020.
In 2021 van Dell began producing highly successful commercials and webisodes for Nissan. The first, entitled Blackbird starred Giancarlo Esposito of Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul and The Mandalorian fame. The campaign has garnered over 30 Million impressions and won multiple advertising awards, including a Golden Effie, three Golden ACHAP Awards and two Grand Prix ACHAP Awards, including film.
He is a voting member of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (NARAS), the organization that determines and distributes the Grammy Awards annually and the voting panel for the Daytime Emmys on behalf of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. He has also been recognized with numerous awards, including Leaders Conference Awards and the United States Bronze Medal of Citizenship. Van Dell is also an accomplished private aviator.
