Thinking Machine has signed filmmaker Megan Brotherton for her first commercial representation. A multi-hyphenate talent, she is gaining a reputation for directing high profile comedy commercials–and making the occasional cameo–for brands such as Microsoft, Nerds, Oikos, Walmart, Nintendo, Kohl’s and more recently Maybelline, her first campaign produced by Thinking Machine for NBCU Creative Partnerships for SNL’s 50th anniversary season. The campaign features show alums Vanessa Bayer and Cecily Strong, with Brotherton capturing their signature comedic style in scenes highlighting beauty in pop culture. Brotherton’s latest comedic campaign just broke for NC Education Lottery via agency Cactus.
“From my first call with Megan, I immediately noticed how vibrant and collaborative she is as a filmmaker,” said Alon Simcha, executive producer of Thinking Machine. “Her background as a writer and her experience in front of the camera bring so many ideas and an infectious energy to every call we’ve had. I’m really excited to be working together and look forward to how we can help grow her career.”
Brotherton earned her MFA in acting at Harvard University including a residence at The Moscow Art Theatre where her teachers noticed her aptitude for directing. She was introduced to commercialmaking in 2017 through a Women In Film LA mentorship program where she was selected to direct a PSA for a local non-profit. That PSA for Access Books won her a Bronze Telly and a Platinum Best of Show Aurora Award. In 2023 as a CDDP Fellow mentored by Caleb Dewart at Hungry Man, the path emerged for her to be a working commercial director when Dewart connected her to Thinking Machine. Along the way, she has collaborated with a cross-section of agencies including Highdive, GSD&M, Paramount Brand Studio, Fallon and The Martin Agency.
Thinking Machine co-founder/director Matthew Docter commented, “While Megan may be relatively new to the advertising scene, her years of experience as an actress and improv performer in front of the camera and her extensive narrative work behind the lens make her a very confident commercial director who comes across extremely seasoned in every aspect of the filmmaking process.”
“I really loved Thinking Machine’s reel,” Brotherton added, “and meeting with them felt very relaxed and authentic, like a family. They are very supportive and hands on when I need them to be and also respect my creativity and want me to do well. They’re passionate filmmakers like me so we just clicked and there was instantly a level of mutual respect that I really appreciated.”
Earlier in her career, Brotherton both directed and starred in comedic sketches and branded content for UCB Theatre LA and Funny or Die including the hilarious “Going to the Bathroom in a Romper” sketch about…well, going to the bathroom in a romper, which is the most watched video across FoD platforms to date.
She has also enjoyed success in narrative film. She has been writer/director/actor on the award-winning short film Buttercup, a drama which received rave reviews globally; her viral comedic hit Everybody Does It, with 10M YouTube views and counting; and her comedic short Pickled about a pickleball obsessed woman, produced by The Roku Channel as part of an anthology series by “the next generation of comedy directors.” And she recently directed Hangman, another drama meeting critical acclaim at festivals, written by Sascha Alexander, Sarah Rodenbaugh and Dayna Schaaf.
