Giovanni Messner has come aboard the directorial roster of brother, the bicoastal production company headed by EP Rich Carter and director Ted Melfi (whose new feature Hidden Figures is generating considerable Oscar buzz).
Messner’s background includes serving for five-plus years as creative director at The Zizo Group, a new media agency and production company where he created digital content for major brands. His notable work there included following soldiers as they returned to their families after a 15-month tour of duty (Walmart/USO), documenting the neo-natal intensive care unit with the parents of a baby born four months early (Pampers), and making over 40 short films in 17 countries for the 2012 and 2014 Olympic Games (Procter & Gamble).
Messner has directed commercials for Levi’s, Gerber, eBay, Dupont, Comcast, Hallmark, Pampers, Merck, Electrolux and a series of Tide ads starring Jeremy Maguire (Modern Family) that premiered during the 2016 Oscar telecast and generated millions of views online.
Messner’s mesh of authentic storytelling and cinematic imagery has won awards ranging from Clios to multiple Tellys and a Catalyst, in addition to being shortlisted for the YouTube Young Lions at the Cannes Advertising Festival. His series Raising an Olympian was nominated for Best Documentary Series at the International Academy of Web Television Awards.
Messner had earlier been handled by The Famous Group for spots and branded content. He said that among the factors drawing him to brother was the opportunity to work with Carter and Melfi who “bring a tremendous amount of experience in the commercial and film worlds that I expect I’ll learn a great deal from."
