Production company Interrogate has signed director Rhett Wade-Ferrell, known under his alias of Uncle Friendly. Marking the Aussie creator’s official debut in the U.S. market, Interrogate will represent Wade-Ferrell for commercials, branded content and music videos.
Uncle Friendly is widely recognized for his work with Flight Facilities, including their iconic video for “Down to Earth” featuring Sam Rockwell. Uncle Friendly has been a longtime collaborator with the electronic duo since directing their original video for “Crave You” in 2010, reuniting with them to make the reprise video with Kylie Minogue, as well as their “Sunshine” video with Reggie Watts. Since early on, Uncle Friendly’s unapologetically whimsical productions have become synonymous with Flight Facilities’ signature style.
Carrying that creativity over into the advertising space, Uncle Friendly has worked with major clients such as Netflix, Optus, Apple Music, Southern Comfort, Tiger Airways, Sunbeam, IBM, AGL, Google, Nescafe and DBS Bank. His “Play NZ” campaign for New Zealand Tourism won Gold, Silver, Bronze, and the coveted Grand Prix at the Spikes Awards in Asia, as well as taking home the Gold, Bronze, and the Grand Prix Awards at ADFEST. “Play NZ” was an innovative tourism campaign tailored to the transformed pandemic atmosphere, wherein New Zealand was marketed to the world as a video game walkthrough, entirely broadcasted through gaming channels. Uncle Friendly’s playful eye was a perfect match for the “Play NZ” concept, as real-life actors and locations were transformed into video game adventures.
While he has worked in America previously, signing with Interrogate marks Uncle Friendly’s official splash into the U.S. market. Both parties speak of the union as if it were a predestined love affair. “I’ve never been someone who likes to date,” said Wade-Ferrell, “I like to commit, fall in love and build something special together as a team. Since our first meeting, Interrogate has been as excited to work with me as I am with them.”
Uncle Friendly’s treatments are always expected to include a spark of mischief and a deep literacy of aural-temporal rhythm. Growing up on a goat farm in Tasmania, Wade-Ferrell made his initial venture into storytelling came by playing music in a band, which later translated into his current dexterity in directing.
Interrogate executive producer and partner George Meeker said of Wade-Ferrell, “Not only is he fluent in performance and comedy direction, but also in choreography, movement and production design. What we dig about him is his versatility–he’s got a beautiful rhythm and pace to his work. It’s uplifting and fits beautifully into what is on-trend in advertising right now. That’s just who he is and how he makes his films–quirky, positive, fun-to-watch commercials.”
The Sydney-based Wade-Ferrell is also internationally represented by Gang Films in France, MindsEye in the U.K. and Airbag in Australia.
Sinners and Saints Adds Apple Pie To Its Branded Menu
Bicoastal Sinners and Saints--the multidisciplinary studio overseen by managing director/executive producer Heather Heller, and partners/EPs Yann Henric and Thomas Carroll--has added Apple Pie Tabletop to its roster for branded content. Known for its food and beverage content creation, Apple Pie comprises the husband-and-wife team of director/DP Gene Dubin and director/art director Alisa Volodina. In addition to representation, the move expands Apple Pie’s production capabilities through the combination of its centrally located full-service studio in New York and a newly established mobile studio in Los Angeles. Apple Pie recently teamed with Sinners and Saints on a Wienerschnitzel project created by Innocean.
“We believe that our dual studio strategy positions us uniquely in the competitive landscape of food and beverage storytelling,” said Heller. “By blending the artistry of the New York studio with the flexibility of our Los Angeles location, we can tailor our productions to meet the unique demands of each project, regardless of geography.”
“Working with Sinners and Saints in the demanding field of tabletop was an absolute pleasure,” shared Apple Pie Tabletop in a joint statement. “Warm welcome, unwavering support and dedication--everything a director can ask for. The entire experience was both enjoyable and rewarding. We will not miss an opportunity to collaborate with them again.”
“The first thing you notice is that Apple Pie has beautiful work,” Heller observed. “Having worked with them, I can say that Gene and Alisa are extremely meticulous and detail-oriented; their combination of talent and agility appeals to agencies and clients.” Also appealing to Heller is Apple Pie Tabletop’s brisk international... Read More