Honor Society has signed director and writer Jazeel Gayle for U.S. commercial representation. Gayle, who is passionate about telling thought-provoking, unnerving, and inspiring stories, has turned out work that is a mix of human rights messaging with stylized visuals that blur the line between graphic design and cinematography. He has brought his vision to projects for brands such as Nissan, Eastern Bank, Alfa Romeo, and Men’s Health.
Lifelong film lover Gayle was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and immigrated to Brooklyn, NY, where he was raised. As a child, he enjoyed drawing but found himself creating vivid backstories for all of his illustrations, which inspired him to try writing. As a writer, Gayle was able to create great stories but yearned for a visual element to elevate his work. Fusing both of his passions, he pivoted to film and attended the School of Visual Arts. After graduating with a degree in Film with a concentration in directing, he got his feet wet as a production intern under Megan Kelly, who’s exec producer at Honor Society, and got his start directing professionally on Nissan’s “Nissan GTR Dream” spot in 2019. His “soup to nuts” approach to filmmaking allows him to fit his touch of creativity within any production limit. Gayle, who was unaffiliated with a production company at the time, earned a slot in SHOOT’s 2020 New Directors Showcase.
Gayle is currently developing two film projects and a series pilot that he will pen and direct. The pilot, Pink and Purple, hearkens back to his roots growing up in Jamaica and follows a young gay boy struggling to come of age in a country plagued with LGBTQ+ discrimination and violence.
Kelly stated, “I’ve been so impressed with how the caliber of Jazeel’s directing work has continued to grow in the short time that he’s had behind the camera. He has such a natural ability for telling powerful stories cast against beautiful visuals.”
“Joining Honor Society is like coming home for me,” added Gayle. “Ever since I was an intern for Megan early on in my career, she has been a tremendous mentor for me in my directing path. She has done a wonderful job curating a roster made up of a wide cross-section of unique perspectives and aesthetics and I’m excited to add my voice to that lineup.”
Gayle is also signed to V A G R A N T S for projects out of Boston.
The Many Hires Jeremiah Wassom As Group Creative Director
Independent agency The Many has added Jeremiah Wassom as group creative director.
Wassom most recently worked a decade at Deutsch LA where, as SVP/creative director, he led the Taco Bell account and won new business for the agency. His agency past also includes AKQA and TBWAChiatDay. His creative work has touched the QSR, video games, automotive, fashion, and culture brand sectors. He also served eight years with the United States Marine Corps.
“Throughout his career, Jeremiah has helmed work that has not only made me personally jealous but has consistently pushed brands to show up in memorable and innovative ways,” said Josh Paialii, head of creative at The Many. “One look at his body of work and you will see his passion for storytelling and craft has raised the bar for entire categories, driving participation with many brands’ most loyal fans. Beyond being a world-class creative director and maker, Wassom is a proven team player and strategic thought leader. He’ll be a great addition to the leadership team at The Many working across all accounts. His role will be immediately felt as he guides and supports each of the creative leads in the department.”
A 20-year creative with agency, brand, and freelance experience, Wassom has forged a creative approach which focuses on crafting engaging connections rather than simply make ads. He sees the need for advertising to mean more, not simply do more.
The Many believes that true business growth is made possible by harnessing the power of participation and partners with brands to forge deeper connections with consumers, cultivate trust and loyalty, and maximize marketing spend and execution. The agency is built around a flexible model that offers a suite of capabilities, including... Read More