Believe Media has extended its commercial representation for director Fredrik Bäckar to the U.S. market. Bäckar joined Believe Media’s U.K roster in 2020 for representation; there the accomplished cinematographer made his directorial debut, teaming with U.K. executive producer James Covill to create a series of spots for Amazon Prime. .
“Fred and I worked together many years before and when this Amazon project came along, he was the perfect fit,” noted Covill. “He tethered the story together with beautiful imagery and these wonderfully clever vignettes of all the luxuries Prime puts at our fingertips.”
Bäckar shared, “I enjoy the full artistic journey working as a director. When we’re venturing into the scripts and treatment process, we’re focused on every detail to make the story work best. How it looks doesn’t matter if the story doesn’t matter.”
Bäckar is perhaps best known for his iconic frozen moment technique and his landmark spot as director of photography for Philips’ “Carousel,” directed by Adam Berg. Through the years, Bäckar has enjoyed close collaborations on commercial projects with directors Fredrik Bond, Andreas Nilsson, Jeff Lowe, Traktor, and the Pelorian Brothers to name a few.
“Undeniably Fred’s frozen moment techniques have been his calling card across the industry,” said Marc Benardout, Believe Media executive producer for U.S. territories. “The intricacies and precision of his technical methods have nurtured Fred’s craft for many years and has positioned him resolutely as one of the best visually compelling storytellers in the business. We’re honored to represent him in both territories and continue to grow his influence across the advertising landscape.”
Native to Sweden, Bäckar first worked at the start-up of a local television station which opened many opportunities for him to shoot. He then made the move to Los Angeles where he attended film classes and watched every film released in the cinema for the next two years. Returning to Sweden, Bäckar worked as a photography assistant and eventually back to London where he completed his filmmaking degree at London International Film School. There, he crossed paths with Max Jacoby, whom gave Bäckar his first feature film (Dust) as director of photography.
While his feature credits as DP include work alongside director David Fincher on The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (for additional cinematogaphy; Jeff Cronenweth earned an Oscar nomination as the film’s DP) and actor Anthony Hopkins on Kidnapping Mr. Heineken, Bäckar has also enjoyed a breadth of acclaimed work in the commercial world as a cinematographer for Coca-Cola’s 2019 Clio shortlisted “Take it Lightly,” and ‘Dadsong’ from Old Spice’s “Smellcome to Manhood” campaign. Bäckar has cultivated work with agencies Grey London, Ingo, Publicis UK, and Wieden+Kennedy and spots with global brands Gillette, Jeep, Old Spice, Pepsi, and Sony, among others.
“My partnership with Believe thus far has been an exciting creative endeavor,” concludes Bäckar. “We have a fantastic shorthand, and I look forward to recreating that with the team in North America.”
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