Director Mike Warzin has joined the roster of Cap Gun Collective for U.S representation.
A film graduate from Columbia College Chicago, Warzin began his career as a commercial editor in Chicago. In 2008, he landed a position as art director and writer for Wieden+Kennedy in Portland, Ore., a post he held until joining Anomaly New York in 2012 as a senior creative. There, his contributions to campaigns for Budweiser, Carhartt and Dick’s Sporting Goods often involved directing–and one Dick’s Sporting Goods spot, “Focus/Explode,” was awarded the Gold Cannes Lion in the highly competitive Film Craft category.
“Working in advertising on the agency side has been the perfect second film school for me,” Warzin said. “It essentially allowed me to collaborate with and learn from A-list directors, DPs and editors on projects huge and small, domestic and global.”
“When Mike was with W+K, we did a Nike music video together with Andreas Nilsson, starring NBA stars Kevin Durant, Mo Williams and Andre Iguodala,” recalled Cap Gun exec producer Jason Botkin. “I was really impressed with the concept and his understanding of the directing process. I’ve continued to follow his work and feel that ‘Focus/Explode’ for Dick’s Sporting Goods is one of the best sports spots I’ve ever seen. I’m thrilled to begin this new relationship with him.”
Warzin related that Cap Gun will pursue opportunities for him not only in ads but also long form, music videos and other disciplines. He joins a Cap Gun Collective directorial lineup which includes Abteen Bagheri, Daniel Benmayor, Alex Fendrich, Ivan Grbovic, Tom Haines, Tomas Mankovsky, Matt Miller, Jeppe Rønde and Spooner/Bonde. For commercial and branded content assignments, Cap Gun, which maintains offices in L.A., Chicago and London, is represented on the East Coast by The Family, on the West Coast by Novick & Associates, and in the Midwest by Them Reps. Lark Creative represents the roster for music videos.
Cultivate.Media Signs Director Stefan Pflug For U.S. Spot Representation
Danish director Stefan Pflug has signed for exclusive U.S. spot representation with bicoastal Cultivate.Media, the commercial and content production company overseen by managing director/executive producer Mark Thomas and executive producer Stuart Wilson. Cultivate.Media is the first U.S. spot roost for Pflug, who is represented in France by Frenzy Paris, Le Berg Berlin in Germany, Holy Ravioli in Denmark, and Thirsty Film in Finland and Sweden. Pflug's filmography includes memorable work for major brands and lesser known alike, including Arla, Danske Spil, Adidas, AXA, the PlayStation game trailer for PayDay 3, Danone, Pfizer, Puma, Santander, and Vivo. “When I first screened Stefan’s work, I came away with this impression: his film can give you a warm smile or even cause you to shed a tear, but it always compels you to think,” said Thomas. “Rare is the filmmaker who possesses those attributes. It’s the visceral reaction followed by the contemplation of what you experienced when you screen Stefan’s reel that I can only describe as total engagement with his film.” “I feel that my reel is now in a place where the timing is right for an expansion in the U.S. market,” said Pflug. “My conversations with Mark and Stu have been really substantial and comfortable and I trust their evaluation of the work that I have done, because they took the time to dig in and analyze it. Further, I like them as individuals, and we share a very clear ambition for the kind of work I want to do, and the journey I am on as a director.” Pflug’s love of professional sports--the immediacy of the event, the focus, and yes, the emotion--led, unexpectedly, to his career in advertising: after earning a Master’s in Business, he worked in sports sponsorships and... Read More