Director Nathini Van Der Meer has come aboard the directorial roster of L.A.-based Mutt Film, marking her first production house roost in the U.S. A Berlin native, Van Der Meer studied design and began her career in film in front of the camera as a model and actress in commercials. This experience aided her in transitioning behind the camera, first working on photo productions and fashion editorials, eventually moving into directing. Her work has been featured in magazines including Elle, Vogue, WWD and Harpers Bazaar.
Her cinematic focus on fashion and personal experience as a designer in the field scored Van Der Meer her first spot directing gig–for the launch of adidas’ Tubular sneaker. In the online commercial, Van Der Meer parallels the Tubular’s design inspiration of Berlin’s brutalist modern architecture with close-up details of the shoe’s shapes and textures. She has done several more pieces for adidas since then. In her latest work for adidas’ Prophere line, released in December 2017, she juxtaposes the atmosphere of a gritty Berlin warehouse with the sportswear brand’s latest futuristic AR experience. Van Der Meer has also directed music videos, fashion films and campaigns for clients including China Weekly and the travel apps Moovon, and Here.
Van Der Meer’s fashion film The Last Frontier was launched by Vogue Germany and brings all of her energy and talent to bear. The eclectic cast and vignette-like storytelling reflect the kind of work Mutt will pursue for her.
Mutt director/partner Jonathan Hyde described Van Der Meer as “a fierce talent. We met in Berlin a few years ago and I have always wanted to collaborate here in the U.S. She is going to do some really cool and innovative work for us. “
Mutt EP Beth George added, “Nathini brings a very natural but edgy look to her projects. She sees everything through a designer’s lens and shapes her approach from there.”
Van Der Meer sees advertising as being “a significant part of pop culture.” She observed, “What we see on television and on the internet subconsciously shapes our future opinions, dreams and desires. We stand on the verge of a huge paradigm shift; the internet has made it possible for the formerly passive viewer to communicate back to us and give the people behind the camera a better idea of what moves them. I see my work in film as a chance to communicate with my audience and address exciting new ideas and subject matters.“
Van Der Meer is not signed exclusively with a production company in Europe. She independently directs fashion fare there, frequently through production houses Aboutkokomo in Berlin and Rosco Production in London.
Nikki Baker Becomes CEO At Fallon
Fallon has appointed Nikki Baker as its new CEO. Baker, who joined the creative agency in 2018 and has served as co-chief creative officer with Leslie Shaffer since 2021, succeeds Rocky Novak, who has been in the role since 2019.
Baker’s promotion to CEO comes at a time of significant momentum for the agency, including six consecutive years of growth and award-winning work.
Baker’s recent career highlights include creatively leading the Walmart partnership with the Publicis Groupe team and spearheading innovative campaigns such as the award-winning “RomCommerce” 23-episodic series and the internet-breaking Mean Girls campaign, among hundreds of other campaigns together with the brand over the past few years. Together with Shaffer, Baker has also been instrumental in elevating Fallon’s creative output for longstanding clients like Arby’s, Mattress Firm, and Front Door/American Home Shield.
“I’ve always been an admirer of Fallon, even before I joined. The chance to lead the agency is an absolute honor. Fallon is a place like no other with amazing talent and a legacy of building big, innovative, creative ideas,” said Baker. “Rocky has represented the best of Fallon. He’s been a great leader, and I couldn’t be more excited to take the reins and lead the agency through to the next chapter. With creativity at our core, we’re going to be as ambitious as ever, push boundaries, and continue embracing emerging platforms to deliver work that truly resonates in culture.”
Prior to joining Fallon six years ago, Baker held positions as creative director and art director at agencies including DDB and GSD&M, working with major brands such as McDonald’s, Southwest Airlines, and Wrigley. Her work has been recognized by... Read More