The Cavalry Productions, a commercial and digital production company headed by exec producer Ross Grogan, has added Stephen Schuster to its directorial roster. Schuster first established himself in the design arena before successfully diversifying into directing.
Schuster originally went to college to study illustration and painting, but soon pursued graphic design quickly evolving into a passion for motion driven design. After seeing the title design to the movie SEVEN, Schuster helped to start a company with Kyle Cooper called Prologue. Schuster soon found himself in the role of creative director, heading up multiple projects in tandem. His early work included animation and graphic design typography for commercials, an award winning digital photography campaign, and a multitude of film titles, which include Dawn of the Dead, Spider-Man 2, Superman Returns, The New World, and Stephen King’s Nightmares and Dreamscapes, in addition to visual effects for Across The Universe. It was here that Schuster also completed typography and graphics for the lauded Hewlett-Packard (H-P) digital photography campaign through agency Goodby Silverstein & Partners.
In 2006, Schuster left Prologue to focus on directing, and was immediately sought out by the SciFi channel to direct some live action/CG bumpers. That opportunity led to other directorial work, which included teaser work, and by 2009, he gained the attention of Capitol Records, who engaged him to direct a documentary about Alice in Chains and two of their music videos, “A Looking In View” and “Your Decision.” Schuster then went on to direct a variety of videos, ranging from music videos to promos for FOX Sports, the Revolver Golden Gods Awards, and National Geographic. He expanded his skills with visual effects work for the feature films Iron Man 3 and Robocop, as well as the title sequences for FOX’s TV series, Sleepy Hollow and Enlisted.
“Schuster is at heart a director with a substantial design sense,” said Grogan. “He’s known for having a dark and beautiful vision, form, cinematic lighting, all while the subject maintains priority. Every frame of his work looks amazing, that makes him perfect for both commercial and digital work, as well as fashion, automotive and video game spots.”
Recent clients of The Cavalry include Hasbro, Saatchi & Saatchi, 72andSunny and Red Bull.
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