Production house atSwim has signed director Ben Tedesco for commercial and branded content representation in the U.S. and Europe. His storytelling prowess is featured in spots for Chevrolet, Dodge, Colorado Parks, and Hooters. Tedesco was included in SHOOT’s 2014 New Directors Showcase back when he was at Superlounge, his production roost prior to joining atSwim.
Tedesco now becomes part of an atSwim directorial roster that includes Alberto Accettulli, Shane Valdes, Nicolo Bravetta, Chris Groban and Diane Paragas at the company.
Tedesco points to two spec projects, “Spaceman” and “Farrier,” as having helped to jump start his directorial career. In the former piece for Chevrolet, a young boy fabricates a spaceship/go-kart out in his garage, until his dad interrupts the action by pulling in his new Volt model automobile. The work so impressed creatives at Chevy Direct that they awarded the director several more spots. Meanwhile the “Farrier” spec for Dodge features a friend of Tedeso who just happens to make his living traveling up and coast the California coast, blacksmithing horseshoes while taking breaks to surf some waves. It was largely on the strength of “Farrier” that Tedesco earned his aforementioned slot in the SHOOT Showcase three years ago.
“Ben is a really talented director who knows how to touch the heart,” said exec producer Michael Appel who heads atSwim along with EP Dave Schiavone.
Further showing Tedesco’s penchant for directing narrative is a simple music video for the band The Borrower’s Debt. The music video takes its viewers around Hollywood and into the lives of three people, who happen to be the band members. Connecting all three stories is a piece of string each follow during the video, until reunited on a rooftop to finish singing their song.
Tedesco was drawn to atSwim in part by his affinity for Appel. “Mike sees where I’m trying to go with my storytelling,” said the director who broke into the business as a freelance coordinator, then worked his way up to serve as production supervisor at such commercial production companies as Green Dot, RadicalMedia, MJZ and Radiant. Tedesco then successfully made the transition to directing as his spec fare initially opened doors for him.
As far as the doors maintained by atSwim, the company has offices in Los Angeles, New York, London and Prague.
