Backyard has added Swedish director Jesper Ohlsson to its roster, marking his first U.S. commercial representation. Already he has wrapped the first worldwide TV endeavor for TripAdvisor out of Boston agency The Fantastical and is currently shooting a Hershey’s spot for Arnold NYC. Ohlsson continues to be repped in Sweden by Social Club and in Germany by Cobblestone.
Ohlsson’s knack for both visual and character-driven campaigns are showcased in spots for Nokia, Carlsberg, and Hyundai.
“I enjoy creating offbeat characters and visuals that express a specific mood,” said Ohlsson. “Sometimes all it takes is one carefully delivered image or performance. Backyard’s directors, including my Swedish friend and mentor Jesper Ericstam, all do this beautifully and efficiently. Backyard has felt like my home away from home since day one.”
Ohlsson grew up and went to film school in Sweden, where his musings on film were published locally. After directing a handful of shorts, he quickly transitioned to spots. In 2006, his KPA “Landmines” work produced by Social Club was shortlisted for the Young Director’s Award at the Cannes Lions. Outside of film, Ohlsson finds inspiration in music and through his love of photography, for which he recently held a gallery exhibition in Stockholm.
Cutter Entertainment Signs Comedy Directing Duo Andrea & Jenny
Cutter Entertainment, a full-service production house, has signed comedy directing duo Andrea & Jenny (Andrea Rosen and Jennifer Morris) for U.S. representation spanning commercials and branded content. This marks their first representation as a directing team.
Hailing from New York City, Rosen and Morris first crossed paths at the University of Wisconsin-Madison before launching successful careers as comedy actors. With extensive experience on commercial and television sets—including over 150 commercials for major brands like Verizon, Apple, and Xfinity—they bring a wealth of industry insight. Their seamless transition to directing reflects their deep understanding of comedy and storytelling.
Rosen has built a multifaceted career, writing, producing, acting, and directing numerous award-winning short films and commercials. She has also produced stand-up shows in New York and Los Angeles while serving as the executive producer and star of a comedy documentary series on Nickelodeon for two seasons. Currently, she stars as Lucy, the inept boss, in all seasons of Greg Daniels’ Upload on Amazon.
Morris is a founding member of the award-winning theater company The Civilians, known for its critically acclaimed productions at venues such as BAM in New York City, Théâtre de la Ville in Paris, the Soho Theatre in London, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art. She recently completed a yearlong directing mentorship with Shondaland in Los Angeles and was honored as Best Female Creator by AMC Networks at Stareable for her web series If I’m Alive Next Week, which Vulture recently named one of the best comedy shorts of 2024.
As for what drew them to their new roost, Andrea & Jenny noted that they’ve known Hillary... Read More