Comedy writer and director Natalie Prisco has signed with Arts & Sciences for commercial representation. Canadian-born, Los Angeles-based, and Brooklyn-spiritually speaking, Prisco brings to Arts & Sciences her sharp sense of humor and a propensity for crafting comedy from the awkward, uncomfortable, in-between moments her characters inhabit.
Prisco’s director origin story begins with dropping out of NYU to pursue a career in advertising as a copywriter at McCann. She soon fell in love with filmmaking and set her sights on directing, taking a job at MTV with the hope of directing everything she wrote. There she met writers-directors Armand Prisco and Eric Eckelman, teaming with them to form a directing collective called JEAN. Her directorial work included award-winning campaigns for The VMAs and the MTV Movie Awards. Among other accolades garnered by her commercial work were several Grand Clios and Webby Awards.
As a solo director, Prisco has turned out assorted projects, including multiple campaigns with celebrity talents like Reese Witherspoon, Amy Schumer, Elizabeth Banks and J.B. Smoove. Among Prisco’s credits as part of JEAN was a mini-movie, Recipe For Seduction, for KFC starring Mario Lopez as a libidinous Colonel Sanders. Prisco also individually collaborated with many other brands including White Claw, AT&T, Lifetime, BJ’s, and Big Lots. Prisco’s experience in branded filmmaking came into play for the award-winning web series COMMERCIALS, which she wrote and directed, lambasting the commercialmaking business (except for anyone reading this).
Prior to joining Arts & Sciences, Prisco was repped as a solo director via Community Films, a shop which continues to handle her former group, JEAN.
Mal Ward, managing director and partner at Arts & Sciences, said of Prisco, “Nat keys into these fully realized idiosyncratic, odd characters and lets them take the wheel. The result is something so funny and uncomfortably true to life. She’s an incredible filmmaker, and we’re very pleased to have her on board with us.”
Prisco’s short films have premiered at the Austin Film Festival, Chicago International Film Festival, and LA Film Festival, where her latest short, The Hostage, starring Annie Mumolo, won Best Comedy. She recently sold a half-hour comedy to HBO and a feature screenplay to Speck + Gordon. She is currently in development on her feature directorial debut with an action-comedy produced by Paul Feig.
“I’m so happy to find a home at Arts & Sciences, whose great taste and values are so harmonious with my own,” said Prisco. “I’m extremely collaborative and just want the funniest idea to win. They totally get that and champion that. I look forward to making great work together.”
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Oscar and Emmy-Winning Composer Kris Bowers Joins Barking Owl For Advertising, Branded Content
Music, audio post and sonic branding house Barking Owl has taken on exclusive representation of Oscar and Emmy-winning composer Kris Bowers for advertising and branded content.
Bowers’ recent film scores include The Wild Robot and Bob Marley: One Love, alongside acclaimed past works such as The Color Purple (2023), King Richard and Green Book. His contributions to television are equally impressive, with scores for hit series like Bridgerton, When They See Us, Dear White People, and his Daytime Emmy Award-winning score for The Snowy Day.
In addition to his work as a composer, Bowers is a visionary director. He recently took home the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject for his directorial work on The Last Repair Shop. The emotionally touching short film spotlights four of the people responsible for repairing the musical instruments used by students in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). The Last Repair Shop reflects the positive influence that musical instruments have on the youngsters who play them, and the adults in the LAUSD free repair service who keep them working and in tune.
Barking Owl CEO Kirkland Alexander Lynch said of Bowers, “His artistry, diversity of style and depth of storytelling bring an unparalleled edge to the work we create for global brands. His presence on our roster reflects our continued commitment to pushing the boundaries of sound and music in advertising.”
Johanna Cranitch, creative director, Barking Owl, added, “Kris first caught my attention when he released his record ‘Heroes + Misfits’ where he fused together his jazz sensibility with a deeply ingrained aptitude for melody, so beautifully.... Read More