Park Pictures has signed directing duo The Mercadantes–consisting of Daniel Mercadante and Katina Mercadante–for U.S. commercial and worldwide representation. The helming team has turned out spots and branded films for the likes of Apple, VW, Levi’s, Netflix and Chevrolet, and has collaborated with creatives at such agencies as Droga5, Anomaly, Wieden+Kennedy and R/GA.
Before joining The Mercadantes, Katina directed and produced documentaries in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas, working on international film projects for the UN. Educated at Amherst, the Mill Valley native met Daniel while making a series of documentaries. The duo has been collaborating on films and award-winning commercials ever since.
Daniel’s work has earned accolades such as a Gold Lion at Cannes, a Young Director’s Award at Cannes, a Clio and recognition at The Guggenheim Museum in New York City. The Prudential campaign, “Day One Stories,” which Daniel co-directed as founder/member of the directing collective Everynone, was awarded a Gold Lion in 2012 and was featured on TED Ads Worth Spreading. Everynone earned inclusion into SHOOT’s 2012 New Directors Showcase. Daniel, who studied film at Emerson College, first entered the directing spotlight with the Everynone films Symmetry and Words, commissioned by the popular NPR show/podcast, Radiolab. The episodes garnered millions of views online.
The Mercadantes co-directed spots and content for several years, winning a Grand Clio award for the real people “Sports Matter” campaign for Dick’s Sporting Goods. Other recent projects include the “Find Your Fitbit” campaign and the recent “Watch Together” campaign for Netflix.
The Mercadantes have worked primarily with non-actors to capture, rather than construct, their subjects and their stories. The duo’s shorts and spots reveal the beauty in the everyday, playing with the lines between documentary, fiction and experimental cinema. Along with broadcast and online commercials, the directors’ films have screened at art galleries including the Guggenheim’s YouTube Play Biennial.
The Mercadantes come over to Park Pictures from Epoch Films.
“The Mercadantes have developed a very personal form of filmmaking,” noted Jackie Kelman Bisbee, Park Pictures’ executive producer. “Their work has astonishing intimacy and a breathtaking visual style. Their process, respect and commitment for their subjects’ lives and stories raises the bar for all of us.”
“Park Pictures feels like a really good fit, and that stems from Jackie [Bisbee] and Lance [Acord],” said Daniel. “Their sensibility matches what we want to do not just in advertising but in filmmaking in general. They’re looking for the next important, powerful, beautiful story to tell.”
Katina added, “Park Pictures has a family thing going, with directors we have looked up to and respected for years.”
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