Multidisciplinary production company Ruffian has brought director Dave Ma on board for U.S. representation. He had previously been handled in the American ad market by Superprime.
The son of a Chinese greyhound trainer and an Australian maternity nurse, Ma has always had an affinity for those who similarly possess a sense of not quite belonging. While pursuing a degree in psychology, Ma developed a fascination with exploring the human condition, something he quickly realized as synonymous with the pursuit of art and film. His passion for celebrating the ordinary and exploring why people do what they do is at the heart of his cinematic work.
After university, Ma spent countless nights chasing indie bands ‘round dank basement bars in London’s East End, armed with a camera and a desire to create films and images laced with magical realism. Establishing himself as part of the London music video scene in the late-2000s, his collaborations span artists such as Foals, Bastille, The Horrors, Flight Facilities, Jagwar Ma, and Forest Swords, a body of work that garnered multiple UKMVA nominations.
Now living in Los Angeles with his family, Ma has continued developing his craft in the world of advertising with campaigns for Nike, Honda, Vodafone, Nokia, and Converse. His work has been screened and recognized by LAFilmFest, Atlanta Film Festival, and the ARIAs.
“Dave has an incredible eye for detail, and an ability to draw out real emotion in very real scenarios that have a sense of heightened reality,” said Robert Herman, founder/EP at Ruffian. “His sense of character as expressed visually is cinematic and compelling. He sees the beauty in darkness and the darkness in beauty.”
Ma found himself drawn to Ruffian, relating, “Robert is building something fresh and exciting on the back of fearless intelligence and a wealth of experience.”
Ma is also represented by Finch in Australia and New Zealand.
