Commercial production company REVERSE has signed director Ashton Sterling Bingham whose brand storytelling credits span such clients as Porsche, McLaren, Ancestry, and Nokian Tyres.
“I find joy in the creative process and collaborating with people I genuinely enjoy being around, and REVERSE immediately felt like a match,” remarked Bingham. “Between the impressive talent roster that Thibaut [Estellon, founder/executive producer at REVERSE] has assembled and learning about his ambitious vision for the future, everything just clicked and felt like the right home for me to take my next big leap as a director.”
Hailing from the picturesque landscapes of Salt Lake City, Utah, Bingham was raised by a family of artistic influencers. His mother, a muralist, taught him the intricacies of art and visual storytelling to communicate complex narratives. His grandfather, an award-winning photographer for National Geographic, broadened his worldview while imparting the craft of capturing and shaping light–fundamentals that continue to permeate his cinematic language–sublime, organic, and ethereal all at once. Simultaneously, Bingham’s father, a skilled mechanic, instilled invaluable traits as a storyteller and problem-solver, particularly in his approach to automotive filmmaking. This is exemplified in his ad for McLaren, featuring a breathtaking ballet performance to convey the concept of precision.
Bingham also cites luminary filmmakers Aaron Sorkin, Damien Chazelle, and Frank Darabont as inspirations. Beyond dialogue and camera movement, his passion for storytelling is deeply rooted in his connection to music.
“Pictures don’t make me cry, but a song or a movie can bring me to tears,” said Bingham. “That’s why I’m drawn to the fusion of music and visuals. It’s a symphony that truly enhances the impact of storytelling in a profound way.”
Before joining REVERSE, Bingham was represented by Skunk in the U.S. market. He attributes his emergence as a director to the hands-on experience gained through internships and working as a production assistant on every local commercial shoot that welcomed him. When he wasn’t on set learning from mentors like Diego Contreras and Aaron Tao, Bingham maximized his free time by immersing himself in online tutorials, investing in gear, and experimenting with cameras and lenses through his personal projects.
“I was fortunate to learn from seasoned professionals while working on commercial sets and fell in love with short-form storytelling in the process,” recalled Bingham. “The constraints of time, resources, and budgets associated with these mediums presented challenges that pushed me to innovate and be resourceful in my directorial approach.”
“Ashton is a great fit for our roster,” concluded Estellon. “He has a charming personality and a hunger for success–and his work is elegant and powerful, with an exceptional sense of humanity, modernity, and pacing. We’re excited to develop and connect him with top agencies and brands. He’s a true diamond in the rough, and we can’t wait to establish him as a director that matters.”
Apple, WWF, CeraVe, Sydney Opera House Among Those Having A Grand Time At CICLOPE
An awards ceremony last night (10/10) capped three days of CICLOPE in Berlin, marked by talks by notable speakers, collaborative Craft Sessions, and attendees making global connections.
Drawing nearly 1,700 entries, culled down to 370 finalists across 18 different countries, the competition saw judges award seven Grand Prix winners, 45 Gold, 51 Silver and 61 Bronze trophies.
Grand Prix winners were:
--Apple’s “Flock” directed by Ivan Zacharias of SMUGGLER for TBWAMedia Arts Lab, Los Angeles.
--WWF’s “Up In Smoke” directed by Yannis Konstantinidi via production company NOMINT.
--A$AP Rocky’s “Tailor Swif” from directors Vania & Muggia of production company Iconoclast.
--Spotify’s “Spreadbeats” directed by Maldita via production house The Youth for FCB NY.
--CeraVe’s “Michael CeraVe” from directorial duo Tim & Eric via production company PRETTYBIRD for WPP Onefluence team, led by Ogilvy PR North America.
--Sydney Opera House’s “Playit Safe” directed by Kim Gehrig via Revolver x Somesuch for agency The Monkeys.
--Gucci’s “Who is Sabato De Sarno? A Gucci Story” directed by Henry Joost & Ariel Schulman via Moxie Pictures.
Special Awards--Year’s Best
CICLOPE Special Awards went to:
Production Company of the Year: SMUGGLER
Director of the Year: Ivan Zacharias
Editing Company of the Year: Work Editorial
VFX Company of the Year: Electric Theatre Collective
Animation Company of the Year: Untold Studios
Sound Company of the Year: Barking Owl
Music Company of the Year: String & Tins
Agency of the Year: TBWAMedia Arts Lab
Brand of the Year:... Read More