Golden LA has added director Paul Minor to its roster for U.S. representation spanning commercials and branded content. His credits include memorable spots for Acura, Lincoln, Corona, Nike, Google and BMW.
Matthew Marquis, Golden’s managing director, said of Minor, “I’ve watched his approach to filmmaking evolve over the last few years, driven by his ability to combine storytelling with authentic performances and a unique visual perspective.” Marquis had previously worked with the filmmaker at Logan and Sons just prior to founding Golden LA. Most recently, before joining Golden LA, Marquis was handled by production house Skunk.
A recent quirky-cute ad for TD Bank entitled “A Tall Tale” exemplifies Minor’s detail-focus and ability to suspend reality. As he artfully depicts the story of a young woman grappling with her career path, Minor weaves together subtle visuals, and imaginatively underscores her particular perseverance despite low ceilings and drenching rainstorms, by stringing together well-crafted, and emotionally resonant mini-scenes.
“Constraints within the short form change constantly, yet endless possibilities exist,” said Minor. “It’s always a good creative challenge to successfully tell a story by tapping into the emotional landscape of the characters and shaping a world around them in such a short time frame. One day, you’re shooting an intimate story in a moving car, and another, you’re setting up a sweeping wide shot in the Star Wars universe, that’s one of my favorite parts of the job.”
In addition to short form, Minor also plans to help enable Golden’s fresh evolution into long form. “Both Matt and I are enticed by the countless creative possibilities television and feature film projects have to offer. I look forward to helping contribute to Matthew’s vision in that new space.” Minor is currently attached to direct a feature film version of the novel “I Am The River,” which he adapted with the book’s author, T.E. Grau.
Raised in Texas, Minor discovered filmmaking in his teens, when he often experimented with making lo-fi, VHS slasher films. Simultaneously, playing in hardcore punk bands at the tender age of 14 ignited a passion for music. Those two paths would later converge as Minor went on to craft music videos for bands such as Editors, Muse, and Queens of the Stone Age before turning his eye to spots.
An editor, composer, and sound designer, the multi-talented Minor draws on his DIY background to create his own tactile, atmospheric soundscapes. Sometimes, his musical compositions appear in his film work–like the suspenseful score he contributed to the Lenovo spot “The Getaway” and the ambient reworking of a Coldplay track he contributed to the O2 campaign he directed–boosting his projects’ originality, and sonic specificity.
Minor just completed his first project as part of Golden LA’s roster, an upcoming campaign for Dell, scheduled to air this month. “I’ve always admired Matt’s unique perspective on the business and his out-of-the-box thinking. Since we worked together years ago, we both wanted to find a way to do more together. I couldn’t be happier to join the crew and set sail on the SS Golden.”
