Bicoastal Skunk has opened an office in London, hiring producer Kate Taylor to serve as UK managing director and securing indie firm OB Management (headed by founder Otis Bell) for representation. Additionally, recently joining Skunk’s worldwide roster is director Jim Hosking who was previously handled by Hungry Man. His ad credits span such brands as Coca-Cola, Cadbury and X-Box. He becomes Skunk’s first London-based director.
Hosking–whose first feature film, The Greasy Strangler–recently premiered at Sundance and then screened at the SXSW Festival–rounds out a Skunk directorial lineup which includes Andrew Dominik, Brent Harris, Brian Lee Hughes, Glendyn Ivin, Jonathan Augustavo, Paul Minor, Raf Wathion, Rhys Thomas and Saman Kesh.
Taylor’s experience includes producing in London for such shops as Rattling Stick, Biscuit Filmworks, Sonny London, RSA Films, The Sweetshop, Bare Films, Outsider, and Thomas Thomas. In 2014 she joined Biscuit as producer/head of production where she oversaw a number of significant projects, including the global Netflix campaign directed by Aaron Stoller and the lauded Rekorderlig campaign with director Andreas Nilsson.
Skunk’s UK launch continues company president/founder Matt Factor’s already close and long-running ties with production in London. First through his executive producer/partnership experience at Furlined, former sister company to UK’s Blink, Factor exposed directors such as Dougal Wilson and Lynn Fox to the U.S. market–and more recently Factor had a six-year Skunk partnership with UK’s Stink which ended in January 2015. By opening in London to complement its NY and L.A. offices, Skunk is looking to access creative opportunities not only in the UK but also in other notable markets such as Amsterdam and beyond.
Over the years Skunk has earned assorted honors, including nine Cannes Lions plus 10 nominations, Gold awards at the British Arrows and Creative Circle awards, Silvers and Bronzes at the Clio Awards, the Ciclope Festival and at The One Show.
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