Saville Productions has signed Michael Bernard for commercials and branded entertainment representation in the U.S. The director and cinematographer has lent his creative eye to spots for brands such as Land Rover, Victoria’s Secret, TRESemmé, Benjamin Moore and Aveeno. He honed his craft in the prime era of music videos as a cinematographer shooting iconic artists including Missy Elliot, Shakira, Madonna, Tom Petty and The Rolling Stones.
Los Angeles born and London raised, Bernard nurtured an early love for music while in the U.K., playing in a band and owning a record store. This passion led him to adopt a lyrical approach to camera later in his career. He returned to LA for his first film set job as an electrician, where he cultivated a strong sensitivity to proper framing and lighting and its impact on creative work, rising through the ranks to gaffer and ultimately DP. After serving as DP on music videos and commercials for top-tier directors and clients, directing came as a natural progression.
His original series Finding Bespoke celebrates the masterwork of craftsmen and makers often overlooked by the public. The short films’ unique cinematic choices and direction caught the attention of Land Rover, leading to lauded spots “The Reel Life” and “The Night Club” for the Well Storied campaign.
Prior to joining Saville, Bernard was handled by The Bigger Picture for commercials in the U.S.
Rupert Maconick, EP/founder of Saville Productions, said of Bernard, “His unique skill set not only captures beautiful cinematic footage but also illustrates compelling character interaction. His diverse experience with global brands and major artists makes him a great asset for this new era of branded entertainment.”
Bernard shared, “Rupert has a fascinating vision for how the advertising industry is transforming and I’m excited to be joining Saville’s roster and fully embrace this evolution.”
Nikki Baker Becomes CEO At Fallon
Fallon has appointed Nikki Baker as its new CEO. Baker, who joined the creative agency in 2018 and has served as co-chief creative officer with Leslie Shaffer since 2021, succeeds Rocky Novak, who has been in the role since 2019.
Baker’s promotion to CEO comes at a time of significant momentum for the agency, including six consecutive years of growth and award-winning work.
Baker’s recent career highlights include creatively leading the Walmart partnership with the Publicis Groupe team and spearheading innovative campaigns such as the award-winning “RomCommerce” 23-episodic series and the internet-breaking Mean Girls campaign, among hundreds of other campaigns together with the brand over the past few years. Together with Shaffer, Baker has also been instrumental in elevating Fallon’s creative output for longstanding clients like Arby’s, Mattress Firm, and Front Door/American Home Shield.
“I’ve always been an admirer of Fallon, even before I joined. The chance to lead the agency is an absolute honor. Fallon is a place like no other with amazing talent and a legacy of building big, innovative, creative ideas,” said Baker. “Rocky has represented the best of Fallon. He’s been a great leader, and I couldn’t be more excited to take the reins and lead the agency through to the next chapter. With creativity at our core, we’re going to be as ambitious as ever, push boundaries, and continue embracing emerging platforms to deliver work that truly resonates in culture.”
Prior to joining Fallon six years ago, Baker held positions as creative director and art director at agencies including DDB and GSD&M, working with major brands such as McDonald’s, Southwest Airlines, and Wrigley. Her work has been recognized by... Read More