Bicoastal/international Station Film has signed director Mark Gilbert for worldwide representation except in Canada where he continues to be handled by Toronto-based Untitled Films. His directing credits span such clients as Ikea, DirecTV, Marmite, Pepsi, Mentos, 7-Up, Nicorette and KIA. Gilbert’s work has garnered recognition at Cannes, D&ADs, Clios and the ANDY Awards. He gained inclusion into the 2004 Saatchi & Saatchi New Directors Showcase in Cannes.
Prior to joining Station, Gilbert had been handled stateside by production house Hello!
Recent work for Kia through Publicis, Toronto exemplifies Gilbert’s wry rendering of the ridiculous. The campaign features disastrous situations swiftly soothed by the presence of a new Kia Soul:
“Cabin” features four adorable girls ruminating alone in a remote cabin. A masked psychopath arrives, peeks in with deadly intent. He’s ready to strike – until he spots a Kia Soul parked outside. Peering into its irresistible interior he become oblivious to his slasher desires, lulled to sleep by the car’s impressive decor.
Gilbert graduated with a BFA from the University of Western Ontario before a photography career beckoned, winning awards at The One Show and Communication Arts – plus the cover of Photo District News magazine. A year sabbatical came next, traveling through Morocco, Cuba, Nepal and Thailand where Gilbert captured compelling portraits of people, images that won travel assignments from National Geographic, Travel and Leisure, GQ and Elle.
Gilbert parlayed that success into directing commercials, signing with Reginald Pike and Biscuit Filmworks where he shaped spots with a natural affinity toward comedy. UK work followed through London agencies BBH, Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO, Mother and DDB, all integrating his vision with quirky creative on ads that became a hit with the Brit crowd.
Gilbert said he was drawn to Station’s directorial talent and its affinity for compelling visual comedy. “My observational eye segues nicely into the roster. I feel that ads using clever comedy are underutilized, so see a lot of potential in the road ahead.”
Director Angie Bird Joins Scheme Engine For U.S. Representation
Scheme Engine has added director/photographer Angie Bird to its roster for U.S. representation spanning commercials and original content.
Bird crafts deeply human and charismatic portrayals of community, empowerment and the rituals of celebration across commercials, elevated documentary and short film. A former agency creative, Bird has a body of brand work consisting of cinematic lifestyle campaigns for Nike, Dove, Allstate, Procter & Gamble and the YMCA, among others. Prior to joining Scheme Engine, Bird was most recently represented in the U.S. for commercials by production house Curfew.
Two years into her career, Bird back in 2016 won a Cannes Young Director Award for “Mean Tweets,” a provocative campaign for Raising the Roof, that challenged stereotypes of unhoused individuals with striking humanizing portraits. The project earned honors at the Clios, and Webbys and was shortlisted at Cannes.
Her Gillette campaign, “First Shave”--a heartfelt examination of masculinity in the trans community--earned three Cannes prizes and won honors at the Clios and The One Show.
As a director invested in films that ignite conversation, and inspire action, Bird embraces challenging, overlooked stories, bringing to light complex, authentically heroic characters faced with cultural stigmatization and gender-based discrimination. She co-wrote and directed "Short Life Stories" for White Ribbon and Canadian agency Bensimon Byrne--a shattering call to dismantle transphobia, following the journey of a transgender woman as she steps into her authentic life. The campaign won six awards at One SCREEN 2024, including Best in Region: North America and Best in Show
“I’m inspired,” affirmed Bird, “to create stories that champion the... Read More