Bicoastal production company Durable Goods has added director Paul Santana to its commercial roster. Santana brings a wealth of experience and perspectives from his globe-trotting adventures in filmmaking, shooting in numerous countries while infusing diverse cultures into the narratives he crafts. His commercial portfolio includes Nike, Coors, Budweiser, Samsung, Coca-Cola, Jeep, Toyota, Chevrolet, and Home Depot.
Santana’s directorial debut for the American Cancer Society–a film entitled Odds–earned him a slot in the 2005 SHOOT New Directors Showcase and gained recognition at the AICP Show. The campaign was also praised by NPR as one of the most effective smoking-deterrent ads ever made and is currently housed at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
“We are so fortunate to have Paul on our roster, as he brings depth and calculated foresight to every project,” remarked Durable Goods EP/managing director Hani Selim. “His films are cinematic while capturing the importance of the message. Being a director, cinematographer and editor, he is able to effectively communicate every frame and bring a campaign to life.”
Santana said, “I’ve done this long enough to know which production partners are a match, and after speaking with a good number of companies to represent me in the States, Durable Goods stood out. Hani and [EP/Head of Sales] Roxanne Artesona both share my passion for what it takes to do that, and I knew right away that we could make beautiful music together.”
Santana had earlier been repped in the U.S. ad market by Supply and Demand, and briefly Untitled. He continues to be handled in Canada by Feels Like Home.
Known for his meticulous eye, Santana is an accomplished DP and editor in his own right, skills he humorously attributes to being a “raging control freak.” He draws inspiration from such luminaries as director David Fincher and cinematographers Darius Khondji and Owen Roizman, all of whom were early work influences.
Among his notable works, Santana cites pieces on human trafficking and climate change as well as the transformation of a controversial Durex campaign into the acclaimed “King Condoms” spot–pivotal projects with an important social message.
Santana’s vision for the future involves delving deeper into pure storytelling, creating longer narratives, and taking his craft beyond commercial projects. “I see my role as a collaborator,” he concluded. “When someone hires me, they put faith in me. We have this shared baby that we must raise for a week or two, and in the end, doing it right is what’s most important.”
Austin Stowell Gets Emotional About Portraying Stoic Jethro Gibbs In “NCIS: Origins”
Once again, Austin Stowell is having the best day ever — all thanks to him winning the role of legendary TV character Leroy Jethro Gibbs in "NCIS: Origins."
"Since I got this job, it has just been day after day after day of the greatest day of my life," says Stowell, smiling.
The actor has his shoulders back and chest up to portray the ex-Marine-turned-naval investigator, set 25 years before audiences first met "NCIS" star Mark Harmon.
Harmon and his son Sean are behind the idea of this origin story of the special agent, who was on-screen for 19 seasons from 2003 to 2021, solving crimes for the Naval Criminal Investigative Service in Virginia.
Stowell says he'll be doing his best to live up to the role Harmon made famous and give viewers a new perspective on "how the hero was born."
Harmon, who narrates and pops up occasionally in the show, has been very supportive of Stowell, making himself available to chat about life, visiting the set and even texting (something technophobic Gibbs would never).
"Mark and I talk a lot about what it means to be the leader of a team, about what it means to be a leader of this set and crew," he says. "Those conversations have been invaluable to me because I don't know what it's like. I've never been No. 1 on a TV show before."
The lessons he's learned: be on time, be kind, respectful and professional.
He's also studied up on the "NCIS" universe, something he knew about but wasn't yet a super fan.
In a pop quiz Stowell correctly names all the franchise's four spin-off shows and only stumbles when it comes to rule three of Gibbs' famous guidelines: "Never believe what you are told."
(He keeps the full list to read from time to time.)
As for the enduring... Read More