Bicoastal production company Honor Society has signed comedy director Lucas Spaulding for his first U.S. commercial representation as a solo director.
As an industry veteran with over two decades of experience in both production and post, he has lent his directorial talents to projects for brands such as Tech CU, Burger King and Honda. Spaulding’s signature comedic timing and ear for dialogue are informed by his extensive experience as an editor and span beyond branded work. His short crime comedy Sequestered debuted at Tribeca in 2014 before going in to win awards at Stony Brook, Woodstock, Edmonton and Malibu, among other festivals.
Spaulding recently directed for Honor Society a humorous Burger King campaign reuniting Napoleon Dynamite’s Jon Heder and Efren Ramirez and their enduring love for tater tots.
Honor Society EP Megan Kelly said of Spaulding, “His experience both writing and editing not only inform his approach to dialogue-driven comedy, but also gives him a much broader perspective on the creative process. His diverse skillset speaks to where the industry is heading.”
Spaulding noted, “With the democratization of advertising, there is now more than ever a space for more collaborative storytellers. I’m looking forward to bringing my entire skillset from writing to directing to editing to each and every project that comes my way.”
Spaulding started in advertising at an early age when he was cast in a Visa commercial at his local park. In high school and college he wrote and directed Super 8 short films which helped land him his first job working in the production department at Hal Riney and Partners. Two and a half years later he transitioned into editorial.
It was at Mackenzie Cutler that Spaulding fell in love with comedic storytelling. He’s never looked back. “It was an exciting time in advertising and Mackenzie Cutler was at the heart of it. I’ve always loved making people laugh. To be able to do it for a living was a dream come true.”
Five years and two children later Spaulding returned to his native California with stops at Cosmo Street, Spotwelders, Whitehouse and his current roost at NO6.
Along the way he continued to write and direct while expanding his editorial reel, collaborating with Guy Shelmerdine and Richard Farmer as part of the directing collective HAPPY at Smuggler, and also writing and directing a number of short films.
Following the success of Sequestered he began developing Sam Again, a comedy pilot starring Jon Huertas (Castle) and Ted McGinley (Married With Children) It’s slated to debut in 2017.
Spaulding will continue to be represented as an editor at NO6.
The Many Hires Jeremiah Wassom As Group Creative Director
Independent agency The Many has added Jeremiah Wassom as group creative director.
Wassom most recently worked a decade at Deutsch LA where, as SVP/creative director, he led the Taco Bell account and won new business for the agency. His agency past also includes AKQA and TBWAChiatDay. His creative work has touched the QSR, video games, automotive, fashion, and culture brand sectors. He also served eight years with the United States Marine Corps.
“Throughout his career, Jeremiah has helmed work that has not only made me personally jealous but has consistently pushed brands to show up in memorable and innovative ways,” said Josh Paialii, head of creative at The Many. “One look at his body of work and you will see his passion for storytelling and craft has raised the bar for entire categories, driving participation with many brands’ most loyal fans. Beyond being a world-class creative director and maker, Wassom is a proven team player and strategic thought leader. He’ll be a great addition to the leadership team at The Many working across all accounts. His role will be immediately felt as he guides and supports each of the creative leads in the department.”
A 20-year creative with agency, brand, and freelance experience, Wassom has forged a creative approach which focuses on crafting engaging connections rather than simply make ads. He sees the need for advertising to mean more, not simply do more.
The Many believes that true business growth is made possible by harnessing the power of participation and partners with brands to forge deeper connections with consumers, cultivate trust and loyalty, and maximize marketing spend and execution. The agency is built around a flexible model that offers a suite of capabilities, including... Read More