Production company SKUNK has added filmmaker John Hillcoat as a partner and rostered director for worldwide representation (except Australia and New Zealand) spanning commercials, branded content, music videos, TV and movies. Hillcoat’s work over the years has earned honors from the Cannes Lions, AICP Awards, ANDY, ADC Awards, Clios and The One Show. Prior to joining SKUNK, Hillcoat was repped in the U.S. by Serial Pictures.
Hillcoat’s commercialmaking career began at SKUNK with Levi’s “Go Forth – Ready to Work” campaign, a collaboration with renowned cinematographer Harris Savides and executive produced by Shelly Townsend and Matt Factor, SKUNK’s founder. Other early collaborations between Hillcoat and SKUNK include spots for Coca-Cola and Jameson Irish Whiskey. Hillcoat’s body of branded work consists of the acclaimed film “Corazon,” created in partnership with Montefiore Health Systems and starring Demian Bichir and Ana de Armas. Premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival, “Corazon” won a Grand Prix at Cannes Lions and a Grand Clio for Branded Content. Highlighting LVADs, or “medical hearts,” the film has saved over 35,000 lives. Hillcoat is known for his ability to bring a captivating sense of intimacy to his films, as seen in his celebrated commercials such as Coca-Cola’s “It’s Beautiful” and Expedia’s “Train,” both of which celebrate the unity of humankind while also reveling in our unique differences. His additional collaborations in the ad arena include brands like Apple, Samsung, Volkswagen, Guinness, and Sofitel, among many others.
As a narrative filmmaker, Hillcoat directed the feature adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s “The Road,” which premiered in competition at the Venice Film Festival. His other feature films include “Triple 9,” “Proposition,” and “Lawless,” which premiered in competition at the Cannes Film Festival. For television, he directed the “Crocodile” episode of the Netflix series “Black Mirror,” which won an Excellence Award for Short Film at the Seoul International Drama Awards, four episodes of “Special Ops: Lioness” for Paramount+, and the multi-Emmy-nominated Showtime miniseries “George & Tammy,” starring Jessica Chastain and Michael Shannon. Hillcoat’s deep love for music has also translated into numerous collaborations on music videos for artists like Nick Cave, Depeche Mode, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, and Siouxsie and the Banshees, to name a few.
“I am thrilled to join SKUNK not only as a director but as a creative partner,” remarked Hillcoat. “I want to help build something new that can grow to cross-pollinate and explore multi-platform work that cultivates and celebrates quality over quantity. I’m excited to have a company around me that’s not only home to my own work but a place where I can develop and support up-and-coming directors.”
SKUNK founder and executive producer Factor added, “I’ve always had a lot of love for John, creatively and as a person, and I’m excited that we’re working together. I have an appetite to go into longer-form material, expand beyond commercials, and look forward to working with John to evolve our capabilities to address what’s to come in branded media.”
