Director Stewart Hendler has joined the roster of Bandito Brothers, marking his return to commercialmaking on the heels of his second studio feature, Sorority Row. The darkly comedic horror film out of Summit Entertainment hit theaters in late 2009. Hendler was previously represented for spots by Über Content.
Hendler’s credits span commercials for such clients as BMW, Motorola, Budweiser, adidas, MTV and the Partnership for a Drug-Free America.
A graduate of USC’s film program, Hendler wrote and directed the short film, One, winner of the Audience Award at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival. The short’s success connected him with theatrical agents at CAA and helped launch his ad career. He initially helmed a number of PSAs, including for literacy foundation ADoorAjar.org and for the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).
His literary foundation work and an AAD skin cancer spot gained recognition at Young & Rubicam’s Young Guns competition, the Clio Awards and at Cannes. Hendler was also included in SHOOT‘s first New Director Showcase in 2003.
Hendler later saw his Microsoft Zune spot, “Music Is Life,” gain a spec category honor at the ’08 AICP Show. Earlier in the year, the same spec piece earned inclusion in SHOOT‘s “The Best Work You May Never See” gallery. His previous feature film, the supernatural thriller Whisper, was produced by Gold Circle Films and Universal Pictures, and was released in 2007.
The director connected with Bandito Brothers via Lance Sloane, the company’s president of production and development. Hendler is attached to a web series being produced by Bryan Singer for the WB; Sloane serves as a consultant on the series.
Hendler rounds out a Bandito Brothers talent roster comprised of directors/company partners Mouse McCoy and Scott Waugh, directing duo Gentlemen, and directors/cinematographers Mitchell Amundsen and Vic Huber.
Disney Pledges $15 million In L.A. Fire Aid As More Celebs Learn They’ve Lost Their Homes
The Pacific Palisades wildfires torched the home of "This Is Us" star Milo Ventimiglia, perhaps most poignantly destroying the father-to-be's newly installed crib.
CBS cameras caught the actor walking through his charred house for the first time, standing in what was once his kitchen and looking at a neighborhood in ruin. "Your heart just breaks."
He and his pregnant wife, Jarah Mariano, evacuated Tuesday with their dog and they watched on security cameras as the flames ripped through the house, destroying everything, including a new crib.
"There's a kind of shock moment where you're going, 'Oh, this is real. This is happening.' What good is it to continue watching?' And then at a certain point we just turned it off, like 'What good is it to continue watching?'"
Firefighters sought to make gains Friday during a respite in the heavy winds that fanned the flames as numerous groups pledged aid to help victims and rebuild, including a $15 million donation pledge from the Walt Disney Co.
More stars learn their homes are gone
While seeing the remains of his home, Ventimiglia was struck by a connection to his "This Is Us" character, Jack Pearson, who died after inhaling smoke in a house fire. "It's not lost on me life imitating art."
Mandy Moore, who played Ventimiglia's wife on "This Is Us," nearly lost her home in the Eaton fire, which scorched large areas of the Altadena neighborhood. She said Thursday that part of her house is standing but is unlivable, and her husband lost his music studio and all his instruments.
Mel Gibson's home is "completely gone," his publicist Alan Nierob confirmed Friday. The Oscar winner revealed the loss of his home earlier Friday while appearing on Joe Rogan's... Read More