Production company friends & family has added director Michael Koerbel to its roster for U.S. representation spanning commercials, branded content and music videos.
Among his notable directing credits are the Chrysler social campaign with Kathryn Hahn, the GE “C’ing is Believing” campaign with John Slattery, and the AXE “Nothing Beats An Astronaut” campaign, which won Gold and Silver Cannes Lions. And since joining friends & family in August, Koerbel has directed a soon to be released spot for agency Erich & Kallman.
A prolific director over the past 10 years, Koerbel helped bring to life campaigns for brands such as GE, Coca-Cola, ESPN, Royal Caribbean, and TD Ameritrade, to name a few. His work has also been featured in media channels such as The New York Times, PBS and NPR.
Before becoming a director, Koerbel sunk his teeth into editing and opened post-house countryboy, which greatly influenced his directorial style as well as his ability to step into director/editor roles seamlessly. As a director, he captures the core of what is needed, letting the actors play, having a moment to breathe, and allowing unexpected ideas to rise to the top.
Koerbel–who prior to joining friends & family was most recently with production house Rodeo Show–draws his biggest influences from the comedic inspiration of Office Space to the early films of Christopher Nolan and the Coen Brothers and even his eight-year-old daughter. “The comedic beats and timing of Office Space are perfect–it’s a good reminder that letting a great script play out straight and genuine is always a winner. I’m a single dad, and my daughter Lucy Leigh is a force to be reckoned with and provides inspiration daily. She has made me a better director, especially when it comes to directing young talent.”
Koerbel’s decision to join friends & family was simple. “We have the same mindset. Let’s make cool work that tells a story, gives a laugh, and brings a smile to the viewer. They reached out and knew I was looking for my ‘forever home.’ The timing was perfect, and it was a no-brainer.”
Scott Kaplan, founder and EP at L.A.-based friends & family, added, “We’ve admired and have been inspired by Michael’s work over the last several years. His keen eye for talent and story make him the perfect addition to our roster.”
Eleanor Adds Director Candice Vernon To Its Roster For Spots and Branded Content
Director Candice Vernon has joined production house Eleanor for U.S. representation spanning commercials and branded content. She has already wrapped several jobs at Eleanor, which waited to announce her until they had a body of work together.
Via Eleanor, Vernon made history as the first Black director on a Febreze commercial. The “Small Spaces” campaign marks a major departure from Febreze’s typical blue-and-white world. The home of the “Revolving Door” commercial is a beautiful array of bold sunset hues, African prints, and African art.
Vernon said, “I asked myself, what feels right to me? What feels new? I wanted to bring an essence of not just Black Americans but the full diaspora. I wanted to make a statement that we’re not a monolith.”
Following the success of the “Small Spaces” campaign, Febreze brought Vernon back for a comedy-infused trifecta exploring the hilarious situations that call for an air freshening hero.
Febreze Brand VP Angelica Matthews said, “About two years ago, we realized the consumers that were the most loyal to Febreze were the African American consumers. And the more we learned, the more we realized the richness that we were really missing. So we said we have to go beyond just Black casting, we need to get Black directors that truly understand the culture that truly understand how to bring authentic performances out on screen. We really looked around the industry and noticed there’s actually a shortage of African American directors who have experience doing commercials. When we all saw Candice’s reel, we could all tell the passion for the craft, passion for really trying to help us from where we are to where we’re trying to go.”
Vernon brings a unique lens to... Read More