Director Gus Black, best known for his body of work in music videos, has signed with Traveling Picture Show Company for exclusive representation in commercials and branded content. Black will continue to helm music videos independently with some of those projects possibly being produced by TPSC. But clearly TPSC’s focus will be to translate Black’s storytelling prowess into the ad discipline for spots and longer form opportunities.
Black’s recent music video efforts have been for Nashville rock act The Wild Feathers whose much anticipated debut album was released earlier this week. He’s also directed videos for such bands as Green Day, Atlas Genius, Deftones and the Eels.
“What really drew us to Gus was his conceptual storytelling abilities, his unique sense to bring a song to life in a special way; we know this skill set can also be translated when telling a brand story,” related John Noble, partner/executive producer of TPSC. “Gus’ work on the Wild Feathers had immediate impression on me, gorgeous visuals coupled with strong conceptual storytelling. He’s a writer, director and songwriter too, a new multidiscipline perspective for us.”
Black’s contributions as director of The Wild Feathers singles ‘”The Ceiling” and “Backwoods Company” have aptly branded the group’s rock spirit while blending fashion, beauty and relevance into a visual narrative for the performers and their music.
Utah Leaders and Locals Rally To Keep Sundance Film Festival In The State
With the 2025 Sundance Film Festival underway, Utah leaders, locals and longtime attendees are making a final push — one that could include paying millions of dollars — to keep the world-renowned film festival as its directors consider uprooting.
Thousands of festivalgoers affixed bright yellow stickers to their winter coats that read "Keep Sundance in Utah" in a last-ditch effort to convince festival leadership and state officials to keep it in Park City, its home of 41 years.
Gov. Spencer Cox said previously that Utah would not throw as much money at the festival as other states hoping to lure it away. Now his office is urging the Legislature to carve out $3 million for Sundance in the state budget, weeks before the independent film festival is expected to pick a home for the next decade.
It could retain a small presence in picturesque Park City and center itself in nearby Salt Lake City, or move to another finalist — Cincinnati, Ohio, or Boulder, Colorado — beginning in 2027.
"Sundance is Utah, and Utah is Sundance. You can't really separate those two," Cox said. "This is your home, and we desperately hope it will be your home forever."
Last year's festival generated about $132 million for the state of Utah, according to Sundance's 2024 economic impact report.
Festival Director Eugene Hernandez told reporters last week that they had not made a final decision. An announcement is expected this year by early spring.
Colorado is trying to further sweeten its offer. The state is considering legislation giving up to $34 million in tax incentives to film festivals like Sundance through 2036 — on top of the $1.5 million in funds already approved to lure the Utah festival to its neighboring... Read More