New York Production Company Identity Heralds Next Evolution by Welcoming Gloria Colangelo as Managing Partner
Left to right: Molly Mitchell and Gloria Colangelo
New York-based production company Identity has reinforced its status as a visual storytelling powerhouse and set the course for its next chapter by welcoming Gloria Colangelo as Managing Partner.
Having spent decades in the production industry in senior roles, including a lengthy tenure as Executive Producer at notable companies Assembly and MacGuffin Films, Colangelo brings a wealth of experience to her new position at Identity—which marks a professional evolution of her own. “After an incredibly fulfilling career, I reached a point where I was ready to take on a new challenge and pursue a longtime goal of becoming a partner—playing a more direct role in shaping a company’s vision, fostering talent, and driving meaningful growth,” she says.
As Managing Partner at Identity, Colangelo effectively reunites with former colleague and Executive Producer Molly Mitchell, and assumes a more hands-on role in shaping the company’s vision and trajectory. “Molly and I are deeply involved in every aspect of production,” she explains, “from sales and bidding to overseeing shoots and wrapping jobs. This approach feels natural to me, as I’ve always thrived in a role where I’m engaged in all stages of the process. I’m also extremely grateful for the opportunity to be working with Owner/EP Joe Masi, someone who I’d admired from afar, and having the support of his belief in our vision.”
Along with her day-to-day operations, Colangelo is also playing a pivotal role in bolstering Identity’s already-unique, bold, and eclectic roster of directing talent. For the new Managing Partner, however, it’s important that connecting new and existing storytellers occur rather naturally. “I didn’t come to Identity with a set roster,” she explains. “Instead, as I made the decision to embark on this new journey, a few directors I’d worked closely with expressed a strong interest in joining me: Gary McKendry, Jorn Haagen, and Kellen Keene. This organic alignment has allowed us to build a uniquely diverse roster at Identity, where each director brings a distinct style and specialty to the table. We’re excited about offering clients a range of creative approaches and tailoring the right fit for every project.”
In regards to Identity’s new tabletop production and capabilities, Colangelo describes this offering as “truly exciting and still developing,” and reflects the studio’s commitment to innovation and excellence. “We’re proud to showcase a talented roster of directors who bring a wealth of expertise and unique perspectives to the table,” she says. “Each director specializes in different techniques, whether it’s meticulous food styling, dynamic product placement, or captivating visual storytelling, ensuring that we can cater to a wide range of client needs.”
From a sales and marketing perspective, Colangelo has clear six-to-12-month goals as Identity continues to expand its roster and service offerings. “Our goals are ambitious and rooted in the exciting changes we’ve made,” she explains. “With a revitalized roster and the strongest national sales team I have ever worked with is now in place, we’re poised to expand our reach like never before. Now that we have several successful projects under our belt, we’re committed to unlocking the full potential of our directors and positioning Identity as a leader in this dynamic industry.”
For Identity EP Mitchell, meanwhile, the addition of Colangelo not only forges a close partnership–one in which each person knows their strengths and weaknesses and that they can rely on each other to divide and conquer —but solidifies the foundation for the production studio’s continual evolution. “Not only do we have more bandwidth to tackle every job with full force,” Mitchell says, “but there’s great power in collaboration that comes natural in our partnership. Gloria brings a wealth of experience and contagious enthusiasm to Identity, making her the perfect addition as we embark on our growing new chapter.”