Director Nick Piper has joined the directorial roster of Spears & Arrows, the six-year-old commercial production company led by founder/managing director Jason Wolk. Piper comes aboard a directorial roster that includes Arni Thor Jonsson, Mick Wong, Don Broida, Phil Brown and Ago Panini.
Born and raised in the U.K., Piper studied applied mathematics at Oxford and worked as a VFX artist at London-based MPC, before focusing solely on directing. Today, he brings an instinctive problem-solving expertise to his work, including a recent piece for Johnson & Johnson entitled “Not Alone,” in which a hero protagonist takes us on a surreal, emotional journey through different portals and curiously interconnected spaces. Piper’s credits also span such brands as Hyundai, Lysol, Rustoleum and Toro.
“I feel lucky to have a career that’s allowed me to work on so many varied projects, everything from dramatic emotional storytelling to visual effects puzzles to high-concept auto campaigns, and even surreal comedic situations,” Piper said. “My goal is to continue adding fresh and exciting work in all those fields.”
Prior to joining Spears & Arrows, Piper was represented by Rocket Film. Before that he was with Backyard Productions where Piper and Wolk first met.
“Since Jason opened Spears & Arrows, I’ve watched closely and I’m really impressed with the way he’s built the company,” said Piper. “His background as a hands-on producer and years of experience in the industry make him a flexible and creative problem-solver for any kind of production challenge. Those fundamental qualities resonate with my own. It felt like a natural fit and a good time to join forces.”
Wolk described Piper as “a singular director–a unicorn. He has a diverse filmmaking toolkit that works for all kinds of storytelling: Emotional performance, VFX, art direction and design, and automotive. He excels in all of these genres because he brings the same unique enthusiasm, sensibility, and authenticity to every project he takes on.”
Spears & Arrows has also hired chief financial officer James Stern, formerly of Backyard Productions.
The addition of Piper and Stern continue a year of growth for Spears & Arrows, marked by business from multiple clients including The Richards Group, GSD&M, Wunderman Thompson, We Are Unlimited, McCann Health and 31000 Feet. Additionally, Wolk was recently able to secure direct-to-client work in the form of a nine-day shoot for JCPenney’s upcoming holiday campaign.
Spears & Arrows is represented by Hello Tomorrow on the East Coast; Goodrebel on the West Coast and Texas; and by Rob Mueller of The House of Representatives in the Midwest.
