Gifted Youth, the creative commercial production division of Funny or Die, has added director Trevor Clarence to its U.S. roster, marking the South African’s introduction to the American ad market.
Clarence has garnered international acclaim for his work with KFC, KitKat and Volkswagen, among other brands, while headlining his own production boutique in Johannesburg. On the awards front, he has won multiple Loeries (South Africa’s mainstay award show), including Gold for his SABC Audience Services ad “Education English” out of TBWAHuntLascaris, Cape Town.
Clarence launched into directing commercials following a successful stint with MTV Europe where he created “Crazy Monkey,” a series of spots that quickly amassed an enthusiastic cult following as well as industry recognition, including a YoungGuns Award in 2003, Many of Clarence’s projects have found their way to Cannes, earning him widespread attention and accolades.
Dal Wolf, managing director of Gifted Youth, describes Clarence as being “a fiercely talented, impeccably skilled, and vastly knowledgeable visual storyteller steeped in comedy.” Wolf expressed confidence that Clarence’s talent will translate well in the U.S. market.
Clarence joins a Gifted Youth directorial lineup which includes Zoe Lister-Jones, Peter Atencio, the Fatal Farm collective, multiple Emmy nominee Alice Mathias, SNL slum Jake Szymanski, Jason Winer, who won a DGA Award for the Modern Family pilot, and Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar winner and Best Director nominee (both for The Big Short) Adam McKay.
