Director Gavin Bowden, whose filmography spans commercials, music videos and long-form fare, has come aboard Culver City-based Bandito Brothers for exclusive U.S. spot representation. His ad credits include Chevrolet, Toyota, Subaru, Ford, Fanta, VH-1 and Nike.
Bowden got his start filming music videos in the 1990s, when, as he described it, “Bands were open to having experimental and challenging ideas in their videos and MTV was playing them based upon their creative merits.” His work includes videos for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rage Against The Machine, Henry Rollins, and Matchbox 20, as well as the 1992 documentary Funky Monks, which is a revealing look at the recording of the Chili Peppers’ landmark album, “Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magik.”
Bowden made the jump into advertising with Original Film when his video “Pepper” for the Butthole Surfers caught the attention of Wieden + Kennedy, Portland, Ore., which recruited him to apply a similar style to spots for Nike. Bowden also directed spots through A Band Apart, Plum Pictures, Uncle and most recently Safehouse Pictures before joining Bandito Brothers.
His latest and best-known commercial work has been for car makers. For Saatchi & Saatchi LA, Bowden directed a campaign for Toyota’s launch of its redesigned RAV-4, and employed his trademark style of animation using stills. He wanted to explore and develop more unique ways of showcasing the cars in the spots rather than relying solely on running footage. Bowden has a track record in this regard, spanning such approaches as a CG rendering of the Chevrolet Sonic’s engine and a single-shot motion control exploration of the Nissan Rogue. His atypical automotive spot endeavors include Subaru’s “Peel Out” which entailed an animated rendition of the Subaru Impreza as it emerges from magazine pages. SWAY Studio was visual effects house on the job, which Bowden directed during his Plum Productions tenure. Bowden teamed with a graphic designer to personally create the scores of magazine pages featured in the commercial.
At Bandito, Bowden will be able to tap into the VFX talent and resources of Cantina Creative. Bandito partnered in Cantina’s launch, bringing VFX capabilities in-house.
Bowden rounds out a Bandito roster comprised of partners/directors Mike “Mouse” McCoy and Scott Waugh, directors Stewart Hendler, Sinuhe Xavier and Jacob Rosenberg, the helming duos of Gentlemen, and The Polish Brothers, and directors/cinematographers Shane Hurlbut, Mitchell Amundsen, Peter Rodger, Matt Goodman and Vic Huber. Hispanic division Los Banditos includes directors Igor Jadue, Flavio Labiano, Robert Maya, and Leonardo Ricagni.
Brand New School Extends Reach Internationally Via Partnership With Animation Studio BRUT
Brand New School (BNS) has entered into a strategic partnership with BRUT, a Barcelona-based animation studio. This collaboration represents a significant milestone in BNS’s expansion strategy, with BRUT serving as its inaugural global outpost.
Under the leadership of executive creative director Martin Allais, who will now be represented by BNS for directorial ventures, BRUT joins BNS as part of its collective roster. This partnership combines BNS’s established reputation for innovative creative work with BRUT’s expertise in diverse artistic techniques, including 2D cel animation, stop-motion, 3D animation, and seamless integration of live action.
With Allais leading BNS Spain, Brand New School is expanding its reach to serve a growing network of global clients. This partnership incorporates BRUT’s fresh methodology of working and diverse pool of talent to create content that resonates across cultures. Located in the heart of the European market, the new BNS location will further support and enhance its work with international clients, broadening its ability to meet their unique needs. This partnership represents a thoughtful blend of creativity and expertise, designed to strengthen and grow Brand New School’s global presence.
BRUT was founded by director Allais as an experimental incubator for innovative ideas and techniques. He is also a multidisciplinary artist of Latinx heritage who brings a wealth of creative experience to the partnership. His portfolio spans commercials for global brands like Oreo, Facebook, Samsung, and Dr. Pepper, earning accolades including Cannes Lions for his work on the Samsung Holiday campaign. Recently, Allais’ animated VR experience capturing New York City’s punk scene in the ‘70s, narrated by... Read More