Focus Creeps–the directorial team of Aaron Brown and Ben Chappell who earned inclusion into last year’s SHOOT New Directors Showcase on the strength of such work as Cass McCombs’ music video “Dreams Come True”–has picked up the music pace via its roost Foundation Content, the hybrid production/post/creative house headed by president Samantha Hart.
The helming duo has amassed such credits since its Showcase splash as music videos for Arctic Monkeys, kd lang, Wavves, Girls and Delorean. Furthermore Focus Creeps and Joseph Patel co-directed Scion A/V and Vice Broadcasting Systems’ New Garage Explosion!!, a feature documentary about the bands and culture surrounding the international garage rock community.
With studios in Chicago and Culver City, Foundation Content is a full service production and post company with a focus on innovation, collaboration, and efficient execution designed to maximize creative potential across multiple platforms. The company houses directors, editors, graphic artists, writers, producers, sound design, a top colorist, and stage under one roof. Clients have included Target, United Airlines, Progressive Insurance, Hampton Inn, and AT&T.
The Culver City facility recently opened a stage, a dedicated pre-rigged, pre-calibrated production environment with the necessary amenities for full-scale commercials, television, features, and video games.
“It’s exciting to see the new division in L.A. really taking off, collaborating so well and seamlessly with our Chicago team,” said Evan Cohen, VP of production. “We’re looking forward to the continued growth this inspired space offers.” The stage has already been the backdrop for projects as diverse as the online game Rift, a Focus Creeps shoot for the U.K. based band Arctic Monkeys and a series of online ads for Progressive Insurance directed by Foundation’s James Lipetzky.
Blaise Cepis Signs With Institute For Commercial and Artist Representation
Production company Institute has added director and photographer Blaise Cepis to its roster. Cepis marks Institute’s fourth dual signing to both its commercial directing and photography rosters, alongside Lauren Greenfield, Ray Neutron, and Thandiwe Muriu, cementing Institute’s multi-platform production expertise in delivering creative collaboration for clients.
Cepis is known for creating bright, absurd, subtly opulent, and surreal visuals in his work, which celebrates the exaggerated human condition and the unique traits that make people unforgettable. A graduate of the Parsons School of Design, he built his career as an art director at ad agencies including JWT, Mother, Sid Lee, and Orchard Creative, working on campaigns for brands such as Cadillac, Red Bull, PepsiCo, Absolut, and Smirnoff. He then spent nearly a decade making a name for himself as a freelance director and photographer, blending his advertising experience and background in fine art and design to create wholly original work. As a director/photographer, he has worked with brand clients including Calvin Klein, Adidas, Puma, Velveeta, Bombas, Chevrolet, Remy Martin, Impossible Foods, The New Yorker, NBC, and Vice. Prior to joining Institute, Cepis had been repped by artist management firm agency/production company DMB.
“Institute’s roster is brimming with exceptional, heavy-hitting talent, and I’m honored to join the ranks,” said Cepis. “As a director, being able to rally the team around an idea while earning the trust of our collaborators is my ultimate goal. Having the support of such an amazing team, with all of their experience and presence, feels great. I’m excited to get started.”
“Blaise is deeply, naturally talented,” said Tori Palmatier, managing... Read More