International production and new media company The Devil You Know has signed director NAN for U.S. representation. Currently repped in France by 75 (Soixante Quinze), NAN in joining The Devil You Know lands his first U.S. production company home in his 12-year directorial career which spans numerous spots for Nike, Ikea, Orange, KFC and Adidas, among others.
Among NAN’s documentary projects are Dream, a feature length film about the St. Louis Rams, and Unclaimed, the odd story about the travels of a suitcase which belonged to Marilyn Monroe. His recent short film The Oracle is being developed as a TV series, which he will write and direct. He also has several feature films and TV series projects in development.
Drawing from his background in narrative/long form documentary filmmaking, NAN has directed commercials marked by powerful, authentic lifestyle imagery that strives to capture true human emotion and feelings. The truthfulness of a look, the singularity of a gesture or the rarity of a moment are consistent elements throughout his work. NAN’s experience as a DP has had a profound effect on his consistent visual style.
“I didn’t want to join a traditional production company. It seems essential to me to choose executive producers who have a global vision,” said NAN, alluding to EPs Simion Wallon and Don Block who in early June launched The Devil You Know, which is a sister shop to long-standing production house GARTNER.
“The technical aspect of commercials,” continued NAN, “is something I use for documentaries. The instinctive approach to documentaries can help for narrative content. Narrative sensitivity is something I use for commercials…The process as a whole informs every aspect of my filmmaking. It is a modern approach that touches every format, every support. This industry is made of encounters. I love how this company and its executive producers think. The Devil You Know was an obvious choice to me. We have the same vision.”
In addition to their duties at The Devil You Know, Wallon is founder/EP of Kiss & Kill which is active in commercials, shorts and music videos while Block is owner/EP of GARTNER.
NAN, who’s splitting his time between L.A. and Paris, is already engaged in his first projects at The Devil You Know, joining a company directorial roster which also includes Ben Younger, Bo Mirosseni, Bret Easton Ellis and Alex Hanson.
The Devil You Know is represented by Oritte Bendory and Kelly Flint on the East Coast, Jen Giles/Scout Creative Representation in the Midwest and John Buckley on the West Coast.
