Creative studio SixTwentySix has signed commercial and film director Evan Bourque for his first U.S. representation.
Bourque’s portfolio includes work for brands such as Coursera, Michelob Ultra, Western Union, Squarespace, New Balance, and Lululemon. His commercials for Geico have garnered multiple awards, including silver at the 1.4 Awards and the YDAs in 2023, as well as gold at the Golden Awards of Montreux. He recently directed the clever and humorous Eat Pecans campaign for the American Pecan Promotion Board and SixTwentySix.
Bourque’s path to directing has been anything but conventional. Growing up across various parts of Western Canada, he eventually settled in Vancouver in his early 20s. His academic journey saw him exploring multiple degrees, none related to filmmaking, before a series of short-lived careers led him to discover his passion for directing. His pursuit of creative expression led to a range of projects, from filming skateboarding videos to creating award-winning commercials.
Bourque’s directing style is characterized by a collaborative, creative, and lighthearted approach. His ability to infuse humor into visually striking narratives has gained recognition in the industry. His work also reflects a meticulous eye for detail and a knack for casting and directing actors.
“I hope my work is known for having a unique, unexpected sense of humor while looking really good,” said Bourque. “The most rewarding part of directing commercials or any project is seeing the final piece and releasing it into the world after all the weeks or months of pre-production. It’s rewarding to see the results of all that effort.”
Bourque said he found inspiration in hearing about how Austin Barbera, partner and executive producer, and Jake Krask, partner and managing director, built SixTwentySix from the ground up to where it is today. “Everyone I’ve met there is so passionate about what they do; they consistently put out work that sets the bar high and keeps me motivated. I’m excited to join the roster and add my voice to the mix.”
Krask said of Bourque, “His unique creative voice and innovative spirit promise to be a catalyst for new projects that will captivate audiences and push the boundaries of visual storytelling.”
Barbera added, “Welcoming Evan to our team signifies a transformative chapter for SixTwentySix. We are eager to see his exceptional vision bring new dimensions to our client projects.”
In addition to SixTwentySix, Bourque is represented by Boldly in Canada and Creators Inc. in the U.K.
Changing OpenAI’s Nonprofit Structure Would Raise Questions and Heightened Scrutiny
The artificial intelligence maker OpenAI may face a costly and inconvenient reckoning with its nonprofit origins even as its valuation recently exploded to $157 billion.
Nonprofit tax experts have been closely watching OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, since last November when its board ousted and rehired CEO Sam Altman. Now, some believe the company may have reached — or exceeded — the limits of its corporate structure, under which it is organized as a nonprofit whose mission is to develop artificial intelligence to benefit "all of humanity" but with for-profit subsidiaries under its control.
Jill Horwitz, a professor in law and medicine at UCLA School of Law who has studied OpenAI, said that when two sides of a joint venture between a nonprofit and a for-profit come into conflict, the charitable purpose must always win out.
"It's the job of the board first, and then the regulators and the court, to ensure that the promise that was made to the public to pursue the charitable interest is kept," she said.
Altman recently confirmed that OpenAI is considering a corporate restructure but did not offer any specifics. A source told The Associated Press, however, that the company is looking at the possibility of turning OpenAI into a public benefit corporation. No final decision has been made by the board and the timing of the shift hasn't been determined, the source said.
In the event the nonprofit loses control of its subsidiaries, some experts think OpenAI may have to pay for the interests and assets that had belonged to the nonprofit. So far, most observers agree OpenAI has carefully orchestrated its relationships between its nonprofit and its various other corporate entities to try to avoid that.
However, they also see... Read More