Treehouse Edit has brought in veteran creative editor Greg Sunmark to anchor its talent roster as the studio undergoes a shift in talent, focus and client mix.
Treehouse EP Jeremy Besser said Sunmark’s signing, which covers the Texas and Southwest markets, is the first step in a push to reimagine Treehouse’s role, not just on the Dallas post scene but nationally, as the evolving nature of remote work changes the game for postproduction.
A Midwestern native, Sunmark got his start in Chicago and spent the first part of his career there at editorial house Red Car. He relocated to Dallas in 2013, joining Reel FX as sr. editor. He was also on the roster at charlieuniformtango, but has been working both locally and nationally as a freelancer for the past several years.
Sunmark’s signing is the first step in a top to bottom refresh of the Treehouse studio that Besser and partner Reid Brody are undertaking in response to shifts in the local advertising scene and the impact it’s had on the production and post community. They’re also positioning Treehouse for the future of post, in which geographic limitations on talent access will become less of an issue for clients and post houses alike.
“It’s no secret there’s been a lot of changes in the postproduction marketplace, particularly here in Dallas,” Besser stated. “That’s why we’re rebuilding the company on the talents of fresh personnel, and Greg is our first major step. You can tell by looking at his reel that he’s an extremely talented artist, but above that he’s a doer, with many outside interests that he can bring in and apply creatively to what we do in the advertising world.”
Sunmark’s reel includes work across numerous categories, with a particular emphasis on automotive work and comedy. Spots for GameStop, Twix, Snickers, the Texas Lottery and other brands reveal his flair for delivering the belly laugh at just the right moment, without sacrificing the spot’s overall message.
He’s also a multi-faceted talent, having performed everything from color grading and VFX to sound design and even voiceovers on some of his freelance projects. He’s also shot live action (including a series of food and lifestyle spots for Jimmy John’s produced under lockdown conditions), and provides creative input when the jobs require it.
Sunmark has known Besser for years–and knew Treehouse partner Brody from his time in Chicago, where the entrepreneur has had a hand in a number of major players in production and post. “I see this as an opportunity for me to re-engage with the Dallas market in a positive way,” he said about joining the roster. “It allows me to be more visible as part of a respected post shop, which will keep me more top of mind. It’ll also be nice to have a team behind me, to provide not only great support but sales, too.”
Besser said Sunmark’s joining was motivated, in part, “by two big plusses. First was representation by Alyson Griffith, and second is the support of a producer and staff that will free him up to focus on creative editing.”
Sunmark’s signing is only the first part of the reinvention process at Treehouse, noted Besser. “We’ll be announcing soon the addition of another great editor to the roster, and through Reid’s connections, we’re forging relationships with a carefully curated group of freelancer talents whom we’ll tap for all the other disciplines involved in post.”
And the studio is also adapting to the new matrix for post work, which will likely mix local with national work, drawing talent from outside the region, as well as a combination of on-premise sessions coupled with remote capabilities. “We can see where things are going in the postproduction world,” said Brody, “and setting ourselves up to service both set ups, depending on the clients’ preferences, the needs of the job, the right talent match-ups and the locale. By the time we’re done, Treehouse will have a vastly different look and feel.”
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