Harvey Bertram-Brown and Carolyn Corben–a noted fashion design duo who successfully transitioned into filmmaking with endeavors spanning commercials and music videos–have joined Crossroads Films for representation in the U.S. and the U.K. as a directing team.
The longstanding Crossroads, bicoastal and Chicago, recently set up shop in London, through the acquisition of the former Cowboy Films operation, as earlier reported in SHOOT. Crossroads and Cowboy had a 15-year reciprocal representation relationship. But when Cowboy managing director Lisa Bryer decided to retire from the business to become a full-time mom, Crossroads’ partners/execs Cami Taylor and Dan Lindau made the deal to round up Cowboy and become its co-owners.
Bertram-Brown and Corben come to Crossroads from Pink Film Company, London. They initially established themselves as designers on a diverse range of projects, from creating exhibitions and window displays at Liberty and Harvey Nichols in London and Heni Bendel in New York, to styling gigs for celebrities and other notables, to launching their own fashion and house ware lines.
The next natural progression was film, as the pair got the opportunity to bring its creative and design sensibilities to station identities (the Power Gen weather idents shown on the U.K.’s ITV), to music videos (for such artists as Elton John, George Michael, Rachel Stevens, Girls Aloud) and commercials (for assorted clients, including Gordon’s Gin, Honda, Pantene, Debenhams department stores).
Bertram Brown and Corben recently wrapped a Breakthrough Breast Cancer cinema PSA via Pink for Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe/Y&R, London. The spot shows what happens at high-society gatherings when women show up wearing the same outfits; predictably chaotic catfights ensue. However, the exception to the fashion rule is seen when two ladies appear wearing the same Breakthrough sleeveless tops, part of the clothing line that has helped raise money for the breast cancer charity. The two women merely smile at each other in an expression of solidarity.
The Crossroads deal marks the first time that Bertram-Brown and Corben have had representation throughout the U.S. They are no stranger to directing American assignments; in ’01, the duo worked on Samsung’s “Anthem” spot for FCB, New York. Bertram-Brown and Corben have also helmed pop videos that have garnered major stateside exposure, the most prominent being a duet between Elton John and Leann Rhymes titled “Written in the Stars.”
SUPERLATIVE Signs Director Claudia Abend For Spots and Branded Content
Latin American director/editor and documentary filmmaker Claudia Abend has joined SUPERLATIVE for her first U.S. representation spanning commercials and branded content.
Abend's empathetic docu-style POV has garnered several international awards for the documentary films Hit (2008) and The Flower of Life (2018). Her spotmaking credits include such brands as Procter & Gamble, Nestle and Blue Cross/Blue Shield. SUPERLATIVE has already worked with Abend, together producing a new ad campaign for digital agency Tinuiti and The Honest Company, a consumer goods corporation featuring eco-minded products.
“We found Claudia through her poignant documentaries on the festival circuit,” said SUPERLATIVE creative manager Stefan Dezil. “We are excited about her textured narratives, emotional storytelling, and her powerhouse long-form storytelling abilities, currently on her third feature film. As SUPERLATIVE continues to build our brand after premiering our latest films at Sundance and SXSW, Claudia is the kind of multidimensional artist we are excited to partner with on branded content and beyond. Fluent in English and Spanish, her reel shows real prowess with infants, food and skin products, families both young and old. Great visual storytelling and inspirational doc work.”
Abend began her career in her native Uruguay, studying film and editing in college. “My dad would show me films like Citizen Kane,” she said. “I love cinema and became an editor. It was here that I learned all about communicating human emotion.”
From the get-go, Abend hit it big as a documentary director, teaming with Adrianna Loeff on Hit, a movie chronicling pop artists of Uruguayan music. Abend took home a Best Editing... Read More