Swedish director Patrik Bergh has joined Superlounge for exclusive U.S. spot representation. His work ranges from lifestyle fare to suspense, drama and emotional storytelling for clients such as Google, VW, Nissan, Honda, and the BBC. Prior to joining Superlounge, Bergh was repped by B-Reel and, previously, by Partizan. He is represented in the U.K. by 76 Ltd.
Based in London, Bergh’s body of work spans commercials, short films and branded content projects. His dark and innovative 20-minute road movie, Exit, commissioned by Nissan and created via TBWA, was shot in the U.S. and was featured on the Box Set Series 4 of the popular TV series 24. “It was an amazing experience,” Bergh said of the 10-day shoot. “Being from Europe, I have a fascination with American road movies and this was my nod to that. I remember being on a low-loader out in the Nevada desert, freezing my ass off and thinking there is absolutely no other place I’d rather be right now.” Bergh’s nontraditional work also includes several four-minute internal “Google Vision” films; shot throughout 2013-’14 in Los Angeles and New York, the performance-based pieces showcase “future” offerings from the brand.
A graduate of The London International Film School, where he won the Kodak Student Commercial Award, Bergh went on to score industry honors including Gold at the London Craft Awards and The Black Pearl Awards, as well as Silver at the Creative Circle Awards and the Midsummer Advertising Awards. His short film work includes Film Four/Orange Film Competition winner Véronique, starring a hitherto-unknown James Buckley (In Betweeners).
“Patrik is the consummate artist. Every frame entertains and moves the story along,” said partner/EP David Farrell who heads the L.A.-based Superlounge along with partner/director Jordan Brady. Bergh said that among the factors drawing him to the company were his affinity for Farrell and Brady and their track record of helping to advance directors’ careers. Bergh joins a Superlounge directorial roster that includes Brady, Daniel Sheppard, Brett Wagner, Dane Hanson, Jeff Aron Lable, and the Jacob/Slade duo.
Google Opens Its Defense In Antitrust Case Alleging Monopoly Over Online Ad Technology
Google opened its defense against allegations that it holds an illegal monopoly on online advertising technology Friday with witness testimony saying the industry is vastly more complex and competitive than portrayed by the federal government.
"The industry has been exceptionally fluid over the last 18 years," said Scott Sheffer, a vice president for global partnerships at Google, the company's first witness at its antitrust trial in federal court in Alexandria.
The Justice Department and a coalition of states contend that Google built and maintained an illegal monopoly over the technology that facilitates the buying and selling of online ads seen by consumers.
Google counters that the government's case improperly focuses on a narrow type of online ads — essentially the rectangular ones that appear on the top and on the right-hand side of a webpage. In its opening statement, Google's lawyers said the Supreme Court has warned judges against taking action when dealing with rapidly emerging technology like what Sheffer described because of the risk of error or unintended consequences.
Google says defining the market so narrowly ignores the competition it faces from social media companies, Amazon, streaming TV providers and others who offer advertisers the means to reach online consumers.
Justice Department lawyers called witnesses to testify for two weeks before resting their case Friday afternoon, detailing the ways that automated ad exchanges conduct auctions in a matter of milliseconds to determine which ads are placed in front of which consumers and how much they cost.
The department contends the auctions are finessed in subtle ways that benefit Google to the exclusion of would-be competitors and in ways that prevent... Read More