Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning actress Jane Lynch is joining STORY as a director for advertising projects. Lynch, who currently stars in the Amazon series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, has already completed her first project with STORY, a two-spot campaign currently in postproduction for an undisclosed client.
“Jane Lynch is one of the most gifted comic talents working today,” said STORY executive producer Mark Androw. “She has a wonderful knack for storytelling, an impeccable sense of comic timing and a natural skill for directing actors. We are thrilled to work with her and help her launch what we believe will be a very successful career as a director.”
Lynch was introduced to STORY executive Cliff Grant by her longtime friend, comedian Andy Richter, who is also represented by the company as a director.
Last year, Lynch won an Emmy Award, her fifth, for her role as Sophie Lennon on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. She won both Golden Globe and Emmy awards in 2010 for her role as Sue Sylvester in Glee. She also won two Emmys as host of Hollywood Game Night. Additional television credits include Space Force, Manifesto, Two and Half Men, The Good Fight and Criminal Minds. She has appeared in the films Wreck It Ralph I and II, The Three Stooges, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Talladega Nights, Role Models, Julie & Julia, A Mighty Wind, Best In Show and For Your Consideration. A Chicago native, she began her career with Second City and Steppenwolf Theatre.
Lynch has acted in many commercials over the course of her career. Lynch said she has learned to appreciate the commercial format from having worked with some of the best comedy directors in the business, and believes that her background in improvisation and comic acting translate well to advertising. “I’ve learned not to linger on things,” she said. “I find that the first take is often the best take. I like to record rehearsals because of the spontaneity and the ideas that come out.”
For her first commercial directing project Lynch worked with STORY’s Grant, producer Marsie Wallach and veteran cinematographer Randy Arnold. “I was thrilled to work with such wonderful actors and top-notch crew,” she said.
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