Production company Bullitt–founded by Joe and Anthony Russo, the filmmakers behind Captain America: Civil War which goes wide this weekend–has added directors Larry Charles, Scot Armstrong and Tristram Shapeero to its roster for advertising content and brand-integrated entertainment, including VR and experiential fare.
Charles is a three-time DGA Award nominee (in 2003, 2006 and 2010) for episodes of Larry David’s HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm. A noted writer, director and producer, Charles has a feature filmography which includes Borat, Religulous, Bruno, and The Dictator. As a writer on Seinfeld, Charles became known for many of the show’s most absurd storylines. He then went on to again team with Seinfeld’s David on the aforementioned Curb Your Enthusiasm. On the ad industry front, Charles has directed commercial campaigns for such clients as Corona and Pringles. Prior to joining Bullitt, he was represented by production house Bandito Brothers for spots and branded content. Charles’ latest feature, Army of One–based on the true story of an American construction worker who travels to Pakistan with only a sword to hunt down Osama bin Laden, releases later this year and stars Nicolas Cage, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Rainn Wilson, and Russell Brand.
Meanwhile Armstrong, a former creative at Wieden+Kennedy in Portland, Ore., is the director of the upcoming feature film Search Party. He’s also the creator, show runner and director of Showtime’s half-hour comedy DICE. As a screenwriter, Armstrong is credited on Old School, The Hangover Part II, Road Trip, Starsky & Hutch, Heartbreak Kid and Semi Pro, among others. Armstrong studied improvisational comedy under Del Close, and has been performing as part of the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in both New York and Los Angeles since the theater’s inception. Next up Scot is slated to direct the Sony comedy Fired & Expelled and produce the independent films The All American, The Coward and Finding My Father Sylvester Stallone.
And Shapeero is currently executive producing his second season of Starz’ Blunt Talk after having directed the pilot. Additionally, he directed the pilot and subsequent episodes for both seasons of Netflix’s Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
Shapeero burst onto the U.S. scene in 2010 after establishing himself as a comedy director in the U.K. with BAFTA TV nominations for such shows as Gimme Gimme Gimme, Brass Eye, Bremner, Bird and Fortune, Green Wing, Pulling and Peep Show. Shapeero’s first American show out of the gate was Parks and Recreation. His credits since have included multiple episodes of Bored to Death, Nurse Jackie, Veep, Children’s Hospital, New Girl, Workaholics, Happy Endings, and Community. He directed more episodes of Community than anyone else and became an executive producer of the series during season four. Shapeero’s rapport with Community star Joel McHale extended to the ad arena with the branded web series The Klondike Celebrity Challenge. Emceed by McHale, the 2013 summer contest thrust several celebs and contestants into situations to determine “What would you do for a Klondike bar.” Production house harvest (which earlier handled Shapeero for spots and branded content) worked in concert with GolinHarris on the Klondike show.
Bullitt’s Anthony Russo said, “We believe the development of branded projects is enhanced by directors who work across all media and genres. Every project is seen as the opportunity to make something exciting to experience, something people want to engage in. “Larry, Scot and Tristram all share this passion and perspective.”
Joe Russo described the new trio of Bullitt directors as “masters of the craft” who “infuse each project with an intense dedication to entertainment.”
