BestFriend has added writer/director Mickey Finnegan to its talent roster. Headed by EP Zak Thornborough, Best Friend–which maintains bases of operation in L.A., NYC, and Boulder, Colo.–will handle spot, branded content and music video representation for Finnegan in the U.S.
Finnegan has already made his BestFriend debut, directing a Krazy Glue commercial featuring a comedic performance from Icelandic strongman and actor Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson. The project out of agency VML tapped into Finnegan’s wit and humor to ask the sticky question of who is stronger, glue or man?
Finnegan–repped by production house London Alley prior to joining BestFriend–most enjoys working at the place where genres overlap, as seen in his Nick Jr. campaign “Girls in Charge.” The movie trailer-inspired spot blends live-action footage with Nick Jr.’s popular animated characters to assemble and empower the next generation of young girl heroes. “Girls in Charge” won an Emmy for Outstanding Daytime Promotional Announcement for a Brand Image Campaign, Network or Program.
Finnegan’s repertoire includes brand work for Beats, Dish, Pepsi, Intel, Nike, and Kia, as well as promos for TV shows like American Idol, X-Factor, Scream Queens, and Blackish, and for networks such as MTV, HGTV, FOX, and ABC. On the music side, he’s worked with LMFAO, Cee Lo Green, R.Kelly, Lil Jon, and Soulja Boy, to name just a few, with his collected works on YouTube amassing over 2 billion views. He has a track record of working with celebs, including the likes of Usher, Miley Cyrus, Emma Roberts and John Cena. Additionally, Finnegan has co-written a feature biopic about Vince McMahon and the WWE, which has been optioned and is in development by WWE Studios.
A life-long gamer, Finnegan directs Esports content with a true understanding of the medium, often by revealing the community’s more humanistic qualities, as showcased in his original narrative short film “Godlike.” Because of his expertise, Finnegan was enlisted by Riot Games to serve as a lead creative on the team behind the first-ever League of Legends campaign directed by Bryan Buckley. Finnegan’s insider knowledge of the Esports scene offers the ad industry access into a new arena that continues to grow with branding opportunities every day.
Born in San Mateo, Calif., Finnegan graduated from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts.
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