Director/cinematographer Peter Rodger has joined Bandito Brothers for exclusive U.S. spot representation. Among his credits is having served as director, cinematographer and producer of the documentary feature Oh My God, which explores people’s diverse opinions and perceptions of God. The film entailed two-and-a-half years of filming across 23 countries and featured Hugh Jackman, Seal, Ringo Starr, Sir Bob Geldof, Princess Michael of Kent, David Copperfield and Jack Thompson.
The docu-feature had its world premiere in July, 2009 at the Jerusalem International Film Festival, and is being distributed on DVD Hay House, and will be available as a Video-on-Demand release via Lionsgate in early 2011. That release will coincide with the release of a book by the director based on his experiences making the film.
“We all have a responsibility to live our lives with tolerance and understanding for our fellow man,” Rodger said of his life lessons. “I also learned that hostility is manufactured by power-seeking humans and has nothing to do with God. The world is way more united than divided, even though most of us are conditioned to believe otherwise. You only have to look into children’s eyes to see the spark of this ‘thing’ that is common to all of us. It is the glue that binds us all together.”
Rodger grew up looking through a camera lens. As a teenager, the British director honed his skills by assisting his father, George Rodger, a renowned photojournalist and co-founder of Magnum Photos. “My dad taught me not to shoot, but to see,” he recalled. After completing his education at England’s Maidstone College of Art, his skill with the lens made him a sought-after talent in the European and American advertising industry, shooting numerous car, clothing and cosmetics companies’ print and commercial campaigns in over 40 different countries. His directorial credits include Natural Resources Defense Council’s “The Earth’s Best Defense,” University of Houston’s “Dr. Paul Chu” and “Dr. Bowen Loftin,” and Mark McGwire Foundation for Children’s “Help.” Rodger’s previous production house roosts over the years have included Limelight UK, Fletcher Sanderson, Redback Films, and Cucoloris.
“Peter’s world-class photography and ability to canvass the globe are more arrows in our quiver,” said Bandito Brothers exec producer Jeff Rohrer. “Quite frankly, we are tired of shooting ‘in the zone’ and are designing teams that can deliver production in any location in the world for the same cost. Peter is one of the few directors who can do just that.”
Rodger said several factors drew him to Bandito Brothers, including the association forged between the company and recently launched VFX house Cantina Creative. “Much of my work involves visual effects, and it’s great to have this resource so close at hand,” related Rodger.
Rodger rounds out a Bandito Brothers roster comprised of partners/directors Mouse McCoy and Scott Waugh, directors Stewart Hendler and Sinuhe Xavier, directing duos Gentlemen and The Polish Brothers, and director/cinematographers Shane Hurlbut, Mitchell Amundsen, Matt Goodman, and Vic Huber.
SUPERLATIVE Signs Director Claudia Abend For Spots and Branded Content
Latin American director/editor and documentary filmmaker Claudia Abend has joined SUPERLATIVE for her first U.S. representation spanning commercials and branded content.
Abend's empathetic docu-style POV has garnered several international awards for the documentary films Hit (2008) and The Flower of Life (2018). Her spotmaking credits include such brands as Procter & Gamble, Nestle and Blue Cross/Blue Shield. SUPERLATIVE has already worked with Abend, together producing a new ad campaign for digital agency Tinuiti and The Honest Company, a consumer goods corporation featuring eco-minded products.
“We found Claudia through her poignant documentaries on the festival circuit,” said SUPERLATIVE creative manager Stefan Dezil. “We are excited about her textured narratives, emotional storytelling, and her powerhouse long-form storytelling abilities, currently on her third feature film. As SUPERLATIVE continues to build our brand after premiering our latest films at Sundance and SXSW, Claudia is the kind of multidimensional artist we are excited to partner with on branded content and beyond. Fluent in English and Spanish, her reel shows real prowess with infants, food and skin products, families both young and old. Great visual storytelling and inspirational doc work.”
Abend began her career in her native Uruguay, studying film and editing in college. “My dad would show me films like Citizen Kane,” she said. “I love cinema and became an editor. It was here that I learned all about communicating human emotion.”
From the get-go, Abend hit it big as a documentary director, teaming with Adrianna Loeff on Hit, a movie chronicling pop artists of Uruguayan music. Abend took home a Best Editing... Read More