Visual effects artist Steve Scott, who spent the past four years at The Post Group, Hollywood, has joined 525 Studios, Santa Monica. His credits span short- and long-form. The latter include his having done some compositing on Titanic and Independence Day while with The Post Group. And during an earlier tour of duty at Venice, Calif.-based Digital Domain, Scott served as a lead compositor on Apollo 13 and True Lies.
In the spot arena, Scott has worked regularly with such notable directors as Bruce Dowad of Bruce Dowad Associates, Hollywood, and Zack Snyder of bicoastal HSI Productions. For Dowad, Scott composited effects on such ads as Mercedes-Benz’s "Don’t Fence Me In" for Lowe & Partners/SMS, New York, and Coca-Cola’s "World Dance" out of Edge Creative, Santa Monica. These two entries helped Dowad earn the coveted Directors Guild of America Award as Best Commercial Director of ’97.
Scott’s recent work for Dowad includes Kodak’s "Amusement Park" for Ogilvy & Mather, New York, and Samuel Adams’ "Loft" and "Office" via Carmichael Lynch, Minneapolis. For the aforementioned Snyder, among Scott’s credits are Jeep’s "North Pole" from Bozell, Southfield, Mich., and a Japanese spot for BMW via an ad agency in Germany. Additionally, Scott has handled compositing and effects for the TV series That 70’s Show and 3rd Rock From The Sun.
Scott said he was drawn to 525’s coterie of artists, tools, its management and philosophy. "525 had embraced the fact that the lines between pre and postproduction have blurred, and that the best work is accomplished when we work closely with the creatives and directors from the earliest stages of pre-production," he related.
Prior to The Post Group, Scott spent a little more than a year at Digital Domain. Previously, he was a digital artist at Digital Magic, Santa Monica, where compositing for Star Trek: The New Generation was his chief responsibility.
Headed by CEO Eric Bonniot, 525 Studios specializes in telecine, visual effects design and compositing, and finishing for spots, music videos and features. The company is wholly owned by Virgin Digital Studios (VDS), part of the U.K.-based Virgin Group.
-Millie Takaki
Director Jack Begert Joins Biscuit For His First Commercial Representation In U.S. & U.K.
Biscuit Filmworks has added filmmaker Jack Begert to its roster in the U.S. and U.K. This marks Begert’s first representation in advertising, building upon his acclaimed work in music video and film. He is best known for his striking aesthetic and surreal use of visual effects, displayed in his feature film debut Little Death, which won the NEXT Innovator Award at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. The film stars David Schwimmer, Gaby Hoffman, Dominic Fike, and Talia Ryder, and was produced by Darren Aronofsky.
Miami-born and L.A.-based, the USC Film School graduate began his career in VFX and as an editor. Begert has worked with iconic musical artists including Kendrick Lamar, SZA, Flying Lotus, Childish Gambino, and Olivia Rodrigo, and has independently directed international campaigns for brands such as Apple, Converse, New Era, and Reebok.
Shawn Lacy, founding partner of Biscuit Filmworks, said of Begert, “We are such fans of his work--and of him as a creator, thinker, collaborator, and great guy.”
“My creative approach is often about trying to discover something unexpected in the filmmaking process,” said Begert. “Biscuit is a place where I can bring my own perspective to the work and still feel supported. That philosophy is clear from the talent they represent, and I’m excited to join their roster.”
“Jack’s work blew me away the moment I first saw it,” said Rupert Reynolds-Maclean, managing director at Biscuit Filmworks UK. “He is a modern young director who clearly cares deeply about both craft and the necessity for it in his storytelling. Everything always pushes the narrative forward. We’re looking forward to making great work together.”
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