Good Behavior, the comedy commercial production outfit recently launched by director Pete Marquis and his partners Victoria Guenier and Adam Lawson, have brought Mike Egan on board as the company’s first director signing. This also happens to be Egan’s first signing for commercial representation; he has been helming spots freelance for almost four years. Egan has a deep affinity for oddball characters who find themselves in unusual circumstances. He likes capturing these characters with simple, yet dynamic images that let them shine through in all their glory and connect with audiences.
“The Good Behavior name is more than just a name,” said Egan. “The things they care about and the things I care about are like a Venn diagram, circles sitting atop one another. And I love the fact that their logo is a baby cherub smoking a cigarette!”
The last two or three years, whenever I found a piece of work out in the world that I loved, when I tried to find out who made it, all roads led to Pete. I’ve been biding my time for quite a while, being very deliberate about my career, building my reel, having lots of conversations in the business. I had faith that the right folks would find me. Good Behavior finally did.”
Marquis said, “After seeing Mike’s work, I got the sense he wasn’t out to make ads for ad’s sake. He’s not going for the easy laugh or cliche construct. His left of center point of view is on full display in his work. And still he’s able to impart originality in a way that enhances the concept without getting in the way of it. I want to see more of Mike’s work out there in the world. And I want to see more of Mike. I’m thrilled to have an excuse to make both those things happen.”
Egan developed his directorial sensibilities during the nine years he spent in the creative department at Wieden + Kennedy, Portland. In his advertising life, Egan helped put Ron Burgundy into a Dodge Durango, lent his voice to the iconic KFC Colonel Sanders campaign, and concepted the award-winning music video for Portugal. The Man’s hit song Feel It Still, which has racked up over 375 million views. Egan’s short film “Bronzed” premiered in the Midnight Program at SXSW, was named a Vimeo Staff pick, and played on screens large and small all over the country–including at six Academy Award qualifying festivals.
“I don’t think there’s a faster, more effective way to reach audiences and affect them than through humor,” said Egan. “When I was an agency creative, I realized I had a responsibility to do everything I could to put something out there that will add something to somebody’s life, be a little entertaining, a little bit surprising, make people look at something in a way they haven’t looked at before. At Good Behavior we’re in a very lucky spot to make things that people see, so we will do our damndest to make something great.”
Good Behavior’s Marquis, Guenier and Lawson first met three years ago, and have worked on over 50 productions since, earning the trust of top brands and agencies, along with winning a wide array of awards. The company recently produced the Pepsi Chase Cars campaign and Snickers’ new Halloween campaign, both created by agency BBDO Worldwide, as well as Mischief’s latest work for Goldfish–all directed by Marquis. Good Behavior is repped on the East Coast by Milktoast, in the Midwest by Sharon and Perry, and on the West Coast by Stephanie Stephens.
