Commercial director Malcolm Murray has signed with bicoastal/international production company Savage. Murray, whose most recent prior affiliation was Biscuit Filmworks, has directorial credits spanning such clients as Toyota via MMB, Boston, Comcast through Barrett, San Francisco, Walmart from The Martin Agency, Richmond, Va., and Stella Artois for Mother NY.
For the latter, Murray directed and shot the branded short Up There, introducing us to generations of artists who continue to keep alive the dying craft of large-scale hand painted advertising. Up There was shortlisted at Cannes in 2010 for Directing Craft and Best Web Film in addition to being a One Show: Documentary Merit winner.
Murray made his first mark at hybrid production house/agency Mekanism, focusing on editing, cinematography and visual effects work before branching out to direct full time. Up There was done during his tenure at Mekanism. He later moved over to Biscuit.
Pavla Burgetova, founder of Savage, said of Murray, “Like every talented director, Malcolm successfully turns anything he touches into a great piece of work – no matter the budget or initial concept, he clearly elevates the concept. The fact that he’s also a cinematographer means that each project is infused with even more of his personal style. Malcolm is a hard worker with the right amount of talent and attention to detail, and he understands the importance of surrounding himself with the right team.”
Murray has also diversified into feature films, including directing his first documentary, Camera, Camera, along with his narrative filmmaking debut, Bad Posture. Murray’s latest film, Natureland, is set for festival release this year.
“After finishing Natureland my craft was severely tested but now I have a whole breadth of new experiences under my belt and I’m eager to bring those new techniques to my advertising work,” Murray explained. “There are so many brands that need help humanizing products and tapping into people’s emotions.”
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