Director Gavin Bowden, whose filmography spans commercials, music videos and long-form fare, has come aboard Culver City-based Bandito Brothers for exclusive U.S. spot representation. His ad credits include Chevrolet, Toyota, Subaru, Ford, Fanta, VH-1 and Nike.
Bowden got his start filming music videos in the 1990s, when, as he described it, “Bands were open to having experimental and challenging ideas in their videos and MTV was playing them based upon their creative merits.” His work includes videos for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rage Against The Machine, Henry Rollins, and Matchbox 20, as well as the 1992 documentary Funky Monks, which is a revealing look at the recording of the Chili Peppers’ landmark album, “Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magik.”
Bowden made the jump into advertising with Original Film when his video “Pepper” for the Butthole Surfers caught the attention of Wieden + Kennedy, Portland, Ore., which recruited him to apply a similar style to spots for Nike. Bowden also directed spots through A Band Apart, Plum Pictures, Uncle and most recently Safehouse Pictures before joining Bandito Brothers.
His latest and best-known commercial work has been for car makers. For Saatchi & Saatchi LA, Bowden directed a campaign for Toyota’s launch of its redesigned RAV-4, and employed his trademark style of animation using stills. He wanted to explore and develop more unique ways of showcasing the cars in the spots rather than relying solely on running footage. Bowden has a track record in this regard, spanning such approaches as a CG rendering of the Chevrolet Sonic’s engine and a single-shot motion control exploration of the Nissan Rogue. His atypical automotive spot endeavors include Subaru’s “Peel Out” which entailed an animated rendition of the Subaru Impreza as it emerges from magazine pages. SWAY Studio was visual effects house on the job, which Bowden directed during his Plum Productions tenure. Bowden teamed with a graphic designer to personally create the scores of magazine pages featured in the commercial.
At Bandito, Bowden will be able to tap into the VFX talent and resources of Cantina Creative. Bandito partnered in Cantina’s launch, bringing VFX capabilities in-house.
Bowden rounds out a Bandito roster comprised of partners/directors Mike “Mouse” McCoy and Scott Waugh, directors Stewart Hendler, Sinuhe Xavier and Jacob Rosenberg, the helming duos of Gentlemen, and The Polish Brothers, and directors/cinematographers Shane Hurlbut, Mitchell Amundsen, Peter Rodger, Matt Goodman and Vic Huber. Hispanic division Los Banditos includes directors Igor Jadue, Flavio Labiano, Robert Maya, and Leonardo Ricagni.
Park Pictures Signs Director Rachel Morrison
Park Pictures now represents director Rachel Morrison for commercial filmmaking. Morrison first came into prominence as a cinematographer, working on indie features, television, and blockbuster hits, which put her on the path toward her directing career. Her feature film directorial debut, “The Fire Inside,” is set for wide theatrical release by MGM on Christmas Day 2024.
Morrison has a background in photojournalism and a master’s degree from the American Film Institute. She made history as the first woman nominated for an Academy Award for Best Cinematography for her work on “Mudbound,” directed by Dee Rees. Morrison was also the first woman to lens a Marvel film, “Black Panther.” She also served as cinematographer for hit movies like “Dope,” “Fruitvale Station,” and the Emmy-nominated Netflix documentary “What Happened Miss Simone?”
As a director, Morrison has helmed many campaigns for brands like IKEA, Netflix, Gap, Michelob Ultra, Ford, a spot for Nissan starring Brie Larson, and a Coach ad starring Michael B. Jordan. She also directed many episodes of television for shows like “The Mandalorian,” “The Morning Show,” “American Crime Story: Impeachment,” “Hightown,” and “American Crime.”
“I believe in humanity above all else,” remarked Morrison. “Park Pictures similarly puts emotional and relatable storytelling first. Everyone I’ve met there is driven to push the envelope forward and create memorable and visual films. I’m excited to sign with Park and look forward to furthering my commercial career with them.”
Jackie Kelman Bisbee, founding partner of Park Pictures, added, “Her work is at once grounded and elegant. She deeply understands everyone’s process both behind the... Read More