Production company Panoptica has signed London-based director Robbie Samuels for North American representation. An award-winning director who creates under the alias superrocketman, Samuels has directed commercials and content for clients such as Discovery, Channel 4, BBC Studios, Malaria No More, Hyundai, and Ford, to name a few.
Panoptica becomes the first company to rep Samuels in the U.S. market. Panoptica founder Hughes William Thompson became acquainted with the director through his short film, Hip Hop Café, a witty homage to the Golden Age of hip hop. Thompson said of Samuels, “He is a true cinephile whose exceptional mix of sophistication and playfulness will resonate with creatives in the States. His ability to blend humanity, humor, energy, and quirk is what sets him apart, as he will excel in a wide range of categories–from comedic and ‘hint of a smile’ work to more grounded and poignant humanist work to automotive.”
“It feels good to be part of the Panoptica family,” added Samuels. “Will and [executive producer] Roan [Bibby]’s vibe is what attracted me. They are great guys who are pushing for great things. The creative energy and acumen they bring is impressive as I look to grow my career stateside and take on more large-scale productions.”
As a published writer and globally recognized creative and director, Samuels has exhibited the talent to adapt to a wide variety of work that’s allowed him to explore a breadth of opportunities spanning advertising, film, and TV. This is evident in his efforts for clients such as Hyundai, Ford, Metlife, and Barclays, which all live in different categories ranging from comedic to humanist work.
Comic books, sci-fi novels, and illustration ignited Samuels’ personal aesthetic and passion for storytelling as a young boy growing up in London. His penchant for imagining things led him to an early art education at Central St. Martins, followed by the Edinburgh College of Art. Not long after, he screened a short film at the Tribeca Film Festival, which caught the attention of Vanity Fair, followed by another short, Zoltan the Great, which won Best International Short Film at Los Angeles’ HD Fest. Channeling his love of film and music, the aforementioned film, Hip Hop Café, screened at festivals across the globe while garnering a coveted Vimeo Staff Pick.
Samuels is currently developing his debut feature The Bronze Bull and a sci-fi mini series We Can Bring You Back for SKY UK.
“I find ideas to be energizing,” concluded Samuels. “They can come from literally anywhere–dreams or daydreams, or abstractions of things that have happened to me. I’m also a sponge for pop culture. I’m always watching a classic film and plugging the gaps of world cinema that I’ve missed.”
