Director Alain Gourrier has landed at his first production company roost, signing with Hollywood-headquartered Bruce Dowad Associates for exclusive representation. Gourrier had previously been freelancing, most recently helming a four-spot Ericsson campaign for Young & Rubicam, New York. The Ericsson package was produced via Venice, Calif.-based visual effects house Digital Domain. Gourrier directed the live action and was integrally involved in helping to mesh it with Digital Domain’s effects work.
Gourrier is adept at marrying live action and effects, dating back to his extensive experience on the post end of the business. He served as offline and online editor at 525 Studios, Hollywood (now Santa Monica), from ’90- ’98, working on commercials and music videos. During his 525 tenure, he became well versed in effects and compositing, while also getting the opportunity to collaborate with leading directors, including Peter Smillie, now of Venice-based Smillie Films, and several helmers from bicoastal/international Propaganda Films, such as David Fincher (now with bicoastal Anonymous) and Dominic Sena.
Gourrier began to diversify into directing during his spare time, while continuing to expand his visual vocabulary at 525. In ’93, he made his directorial debut with a music video shot in Paris for vocalist Veronique Jolly. Gourrier went on to freelance-direct several clips for other artists over the next few years. Upon leaving 525 in ’98, he focused on building his director’s reel, initially via spec spots for Kenzo perfume, Boeing and Chrysler. The Boeing ad, "Daydreamer," was based on a concept from veteran agency creative Dan Mountain, who at the time was with McCann-Erickson, Los Angeles. As spec pieces, both "Daydreamer" and the earlier-alluded-to Kenzo spot, "5th Element," went on to gain recognition at the ’99 Telly Awards competition.
On the strength of this spec fare, Gourrier got the chance to direct the aforementioned Ericsson assignment via Digital Domain. He gravitated towards Digital Domain because his wife, Gabby Evans Gourrier, serves as an executive producer of commercials at the studio. Alain Gourrier added that Digital Domain has worked closely over the years with Bruce Dowad Associates on assorted jobs, a relationship that led-after the Ericsson campaign was wrapped-to his being introduced to director Dowad and his colleagues, including executive producer Heidi Nolting.
Nolting said she was attracted to Gourrier’s visual sensibilities, reflected in work that has surreal and poetic qualities perhaps spawned by his background in painting and photography as well as formal training in France as an architect. Gourrier related that he decided to join the Dowad studio based on his rapport with Nolting and respect for the work of its directors, including Dowad and Robert Logevall.
Prior to 525, Gourrier was on staff at Varitel (now EDS Digital Studios), Los Angeles, breaking into the industry as a tape operator. By the end of his three-year stay there, he graduated to an editor’s position.
Bruce Dowad Associates’ directorial roster consists of Dowad, Logevall, Gourrier and Vincent Ward, who is currently in development on a feature project. The company is represented by Santa Monica-based Stacey & Annie on the West Coast, Chicago-based David Wagner in the Midwest, and New York-based Stenz & Miller on the East Coast.
