Comedy director Greg Bell–who made his first major splash on the agency side of the business, most notably as the “Bell” of Venables, Bell and Partners–has joined Tomorrow for commercial representation in the U.S. Tomorrow is the production company co-founded by industry vet Chris Zander and indie filmmaker Andrew Wonder, with bases of operation in Los Angeles and Brooklyn. Prior to coming aboard the Tomorrow roster, Bell was repped by Community Films.
Bell is known for his award-winning, humorous work spanning over two decades. EP Zander said, “Greg’s about infectious likability, and that fits us. Every frame of his work has it. He doesn’t go for the sardonic. He finds the hilarious little quirks of human nature that look magical on film.”
A snowboarding accident led Bell to directing. A week in the hospital laid up with five broken ribs inspired his writing/directing debut—the short content series, El Vendor, about a businessman trapped under a vending machine who still manages to ascend the corporate ladder. The darkly comic films garnered over 700,000 views worldwide and got Bell selected for the 2011 SHOOT New Directors Showcase. Representation immediately followed, and Bell took up comedy directing full time.
Bell’s “Confused Lumberjack” for Snickers graced the cover of the CA Advertising Annual, and his comic works for the likes of Amazon, Lowe’s, Samsung and Toyota garnered recognition.
“I didn’t go to traditional film school,” Bell explained. “My film school was 15 years of commercial making, agency-side. I shot with just about everyone, standing way too close to camera to sponge and give input. I was a pain in the ass to the most accomplished directors in the business.”
During that busy 15 years, Bell co-founded ad agency Venables, Bell and Partners, which had runaway success, topping $250 million in billings in seven years. There he spearheaded award-winning work for clients including Audi, HBO and Intel. Prior to that, as an agency art director/writer with stints at Goodby, Silverstein & Partners and Cliff Freeman, Bell’s comedy work received top creative accolades: Cannes, One Show, D&AD, Andy’s, Clios & London International, plus inclusion in the MOMA, the Clio Hall of Fame, and twice in USA Today’s “Best of the Decade.”
