Director Nicole Ackermann has landed her first U.S. representation for commercials and branded content, joining the roster of Merman. Among her recent endeavors is a spot for The Economist out of Proximity London, a sister shop to AMV BBDO, London.
“It is rare to find a director with a strong visual aesthetic who has an equally strong conceptual point of view,” said Kira Carstensen, global managing partner of Merman, which maintains offices in L.A., New York and London. “Nicole’s film is gorgeous. But every beautiful shot is in service to the story and emotional arc.”
Ackermann’s directorial career kicked off with writing and directing theatre, unearthing her drive to create beautiful, emotional narratives first for the stage, then for screens. Inspired by a keen interest in cinema, she went on to study film at Wits University in Johannesburg and completed her studies through a scholarship program at Tisch, NYU. She immersed herself in the world of advertising through years of creative research and a stint at TBWAHuntLascaris, Johannesburg, before directing commercials.
She commenced her directing career in the duo PHI, learning from the partnership before embarking on a solo career. Since working independently, she has collaborated with national and international clients including PSG, Singapore Airlines, Samsung, Nestle, McDonald’s, and KFC.
Ackerman is enthused about joining the Merman family. She said, “It’s an honor to be part of a company with such great vision and high levels of creativity and craftsmanship.”
A prime focus of Merman is to bring writers and creators from TV and film to advertising content, and to develop and collaborate with directing voices conversant in all media.