BestFriend, a bicoastal production company launched by industry vet Zak Thornborough, has added automotive/lifestyle director Nicolai Iuul to its roster. This marks Iuul’s first official U.S. commercial representation.
Iuul’s initial campaign out of BestFriend is a multiple-spot Jaguar campaign created for agency Spark44. Additionally, he just wrapped Ducati’s latest motorbike launch and the campaign debuting the new Dodge Hellcat, which he filmed at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway last month.
Iuul first cut his teeth in film working as a producer in his native Denmark and then London. He made a successful transition to directing. His instinctive eye for the cinematic naturally gravitated towards cars and the lifestyles that surround them, and he was selected to helm a branded show to launch eBay’s automotive offering. Iuul’s affinity for the genre was apparent, leading him to shoot approximately 50 films for the brand across a range of locations.
“The fact that Nicolai has years of experience as a producer gives him an added edge,” said Thornborough. “He approaches each project with an understanding of the requirements and full respect for the creative process. It’s an invaluable combination.”
Iuul has automotive ad credits spanning such clients as the Dodge Demon, along with campaigns for Mercedes, Toyota, Audi, Mitsubishi, Infiniti and Fiat. His work in the luxury market includes capturing the high-performance handling of 15 supercars across a snow-lined racetrack in his “Winter Academia” spot for Lamborghini, and showcasing the Ducati Scrambler on a full-throttle ride through Joshua Tree in the short film Desert Sled.
In recent years, Iuul has delved deeper into narrative work that lives somewhere between documentary and lifestyle. His versatility working across these worlds has led him to collaborate with clients like Levi’s, Glad and Sonos.
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