Creative collective Wild Gift has signed filmmaker Julian Marshall for U.S. representation spanning commercials and branded content. Mentored by legendary artist Shepard Fairey, Marshall has credits which include a passionate cinematic ode to George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement. Marshall’s We Are George Floyd, which was honored with multiple Webby Awards, features powerful voiceovers by historian Cornel West and rapper Killer Mike, underscoring the resonance of the social justice movement.
A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), Marshall made a major mark with his thesis project, the award-winning narrative short film Obey the Giant about the early life of Shepard Fairey and the origin of his Obey Giant street art campaign. His commercial career took off from there, and he’s since directed spots for Google, Under Armour, Amazon, Nissan, Jeep, Ford, BMW, Red Bull, Citibank, Verizon, Bayer, TNT and Tidal, among many others. Prior to Wild Gift, Marshall had been repped by production house Tool.
“Julian is a volcanic force,” said Wild Gift founder David Mitchell. “He is a master of stunning, breathtaking images and compelling narratives that capture the beauty, joy and drama of life. It’s amazing to watch him work, to see how deeply invested he is in the creative process, whether he’s directing an automotive spot, a sports campaign, lifestyle work or content for a good cause. He sees the wonder in this world and captures it like nobody’s business. Wild Gift is super excited to have him join our roster.”
Based in New York City, Marshall is a Washington DC native who spent his formative years skateboarding at Freedom Plaza on the corner of 13th and E Streets, which he describes as “one of the street skating headquarters of the world.” At the age of nine, he dug up his parents’ Hi-8 camera and began shooting skate videos, “and it became an intense addiction from there,” he said. Marshall also became an avid snowboarder, hockey player, and Washington Capitals fan. His work reflects his interest and talents in sports as well as his abiding love of cars and a hands-on approach to emerging technology.
“I grew up with a camera in my hands, as well as editing,” he explained. “I’m a very hands-on, technical filmmaker. I love the idea that you learn the entirety of the craft, then can speak a very direct language with everyone you’re collaborating with.”
About joining Wild Gift, Marshall said, “David reached out to me for a chat and we ended up spending most of the time talking about our favorite movies. Our personalities clicked. He’s worked with legends in the industry who’ve inspired me throughout my career. And he’s partnered with Tomer DeVito who I met a few years ago and also hit it off with. Everything came full circle. We aligned creatively and also culturally. It goes without saying that this business is all about relationships. So much of my ad work has come from building community and I’m excited to continue this momentum with Wild Gift.”
Marshall added, “There are certain things that naturally come out in my work but for me the most important thing is how I’m making people feel. Everything stems from that. What am I trying to say? How am I trying to say it? And how is it going to make people feel? Everything else flows from there. I strive for emotional immersion, making the viewer a participant in the story.”
Review: Director Morgan Neville’s “Piece by Piece”
A movie documentary that uses only Lego pieces might seem an unconventional choice. When that documentary is about renowned musician-producer Pharrell Williams, it's actually sort of on-brand.
"Piece by Piece" is a bright, clever song-filled biopic that pretends it's a behind-the-scenes documentary using small plastic bricks, angles and curves to celebrate an artist known for his quirky soul. It is deep and surreal and often adorable. Is it high concept or low? Like Williams, it's a bit of both.
Director Morgan Neville — who has gotten more and more experimental exploring other celebrity lives like Fred Rogers in "Won't You Be My Neighbor?,""Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain" and "Steve! (Martin): A Documentary in Two Pieces" — this time uses real interviews but masks them under little Lego figurines with animated faces. Call this one a documentary in a million pieces.
The filmmakers try to explain their device — "What if nothing is real? What if life is like a Lego set?" Williams says at the beginning — but it's very tenuous. Just submit and enjoy the ride of a poor kid from Virginia Beach, Virginia, who rose to dominate music and become a creative director at Louis Vuitton.
Williams, by his own admission, is a little detached, a little odd. Music triggers colors in his brain — he has synesthesia, beautifully portrayed here — and it's his forward-looking musical brain that will make him a star, first as part of the producing team The Neptunes and then as an in-demand solo producer and songwriter.
There are highs and lows and then highs again. A verse Williams wrote for "Rump Shaker" by Wreckx-N-Effect when he was making a living selling beats would lead to superstars demanding to work with him and partner... Read More