Director Declan Whitebloom has joined the roster of Concrete + Clay for commercials and music videos. He comes over from RSA/Black Dog Films, his roost for the past seven years.
Whitebloom’s body of work includes campaigns for Target, Fiat, Nissan, Carl’s Jr., Lipton, Big Lots, Toyota and Spotify. Among his longer-format projects are the Sci-Fi Channel’s hit eight-part documentary series Prophets of Science Fiction, produced and hosted by Ridley Scott, along with the short film Blackbird, a modern day psychological thriller which made waves on the 2015 film festival circuit.
Whitebloom combines cinematic imagery with the ability to capture authentic performances from his subjects. This skill has led him to become a trusted collaborator with high-profile celebrity talent, most notably Taylor Swift. Throughout their ongoing creative relationship, Whitebloom has helmed three of Swift’s videos, including the smash hit “We Are Never Getting Back Together” and a Toyota campaign in which she starred for the Chinese market. Recently, Whitebloom journeyed to Havana, Cuba to shoot the clip for Jess Glynne’s “Ain’t Got Far To Go.” Whitebloom’s clip credits span such artists as One Direction, Leona Lewis, Hilary Duff, Demi Lovato, Carly Rae Jepsen, and The Fray.
A native of London, Whitebloom grew up in a family obsessed with film. Before he was even a teenager, he spent an incredible amount of time watching his older brother Monty Whitebloom (half of the duo that is BIG TV) direct music videos. After graduating from university, Declan Whitebloom moved straight to LA where he knocked off countless hours on sets, working in nearly every capacity including behind the camera, and from PA to the art department. Then he began a long tenure as an editor, where he fine-tuned his craft as a storyteller.
Last year he was involved in the creation of Banksy’s Dismaland installation, acting under the “cover” of a director filming a fake movie, thereby allowing the elusive street artist to build a massive, sinister twist on Disneyland under the guise that it was Whitebloom and his crew building a set.
Concrete + Clay was founded by director Dewey Nicks. Company EPs are Carrie McLaren and Mike Brady.
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