Independent creative lab Los York and its sister production company Los Films have signed director Raphael Vangelis.
A multidisciplinary director with a background in filmmaking, editing, motion graphics, animation, live action and model-making, Vangelis is also known for his art installations that are inspired by the street art of Banksy and Keith Haring. Vangelis’ “Brickflats” series are resin cast boxes that fill the space of missing bricks in walls and buildings and contain colorful figures of people squashed-in, reflecting the cramped living conditions many face in London and Barcelona.
His directing work includes visually spectacular collages of color and movement that are like living artworks. For example, a recent campaign he directed for Casper, the DTC mattress and bedding maker, is a magical fusion of live action and stop-motion camera work.
“Raphael works at a highly seductive, hypnotic level seldom achieved in our industry,” said Los York founder/ECD Seth Epstein. “He is an artist-savant, a wizard, a creator of intoxicating worlds on film. Seeing his work is like stepping into a magnificent dream. He is an accomplished live-action filmmaker who brilliantly blends the real and the surreal. A true discovery, Raphael is already wowing brands and winning bids. This is the start of a beautiful relationship.”
Vangelis got his start in the film and advertising industry as a 3D artist with Buck in New York, later as a director with Hornet in New York and Glassworks in London, and as a creative director with ManvsMachine also in London. Over the years he has built a singular reputation as a fully hands-on creator, immersing himself in projects from concept to postproduction. He has worked on campaigns for top brands from Nike to Bombay Sapphire. Lately, he has been busy exploring the nooks and crannies of European cities, installing his Brickflat sculptures wherever he finds a hole in a wall.
Vangelis said of his colleagues at Los York, “They have proven over and over how to put ideas first and be versatile in any form of execution. This approach fits me and makes me fit in perfectly. Together we hope to work with playful, imaginative brands that look for concept-driven content. I can’t wait to do some high-class mixed media action together–and I don’t mean recycling.”
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