Station Film has signed comedy director Kristin Dehnert for commercials. Best known for her performance-driven work with celebrities and athletes, she has directed campaigns for Uber, Liberty Mutual, ESPN, Credit Karma, Frito-Lay, Wells Fargo and many other brands. She recently directed Willie Nelson, Snoop Dogg and Martha Stewart in a cheeky campaign for Bic, with the comedy emanating from the spot-on performances of the dynamic trio–Nelson is chill, Snoop is emphatic and Stewart, skeptical.
Other recent work from Dehnert includes Viasat’s “Piggybackers,” a hilarious spot which depicts a couple going to great lengths to “borrow” internet services before signing up for Viasat. Think: awkward, as in overstaying your welcome at the diner or lingering in a car parked outside your neighbor’s front window. The actors’ comedic timing and understated performance make the spot a standout.
“I’d seen Kristin’s work before we started talking with her and was a fan of her comedic sensibility, great casting and performance,” said Michelle Towse, partner/executive producer, Station Film. “I knew she had formidable experience and a ton of talent! Then we met in person, and I was instantly taken with her charisma, confidence and ‘can-do’ vibe.”
Caroline Gibney, Station Film founding partner, added, “When I first met with Kristin, I learned she was self-trained and driven to create, having made her way from the ground up in the film industry in Chicago on major studio films before moving to Los Angeles to write and direct. She doesn’t talk about what she wants to do, she goes out and does it. She’s a real self-starter. And she has an infectious energy and enthusiasm for our business and the filmmaking process. We’re excited to bring her new opportunities.”
“Station’s reputation is stellar,” Dehnert said. “Everyone is genuine, fantastic at what they do, well respected and fun! For me, it’s always about forming a partnership with like-minded people and charging forward with the same creative goals. Station checked all the boxes and then some.”
Dehnert grew up in Chicago, and later moved to Los Angeles. She found initial success as a writer/director on the BAFTA Award-winning short film Underground, a thriller. Next she burst onto the commercials scene, writing and directing a comedic spot for Doritos’ inaugural Crash the Super Bowl contest called “Check Out Girl.” It was Dehnert’s first national spot and was hand-picked to air on the Super Bowl. Inspired by comedy legends like Carol Burnett, Gilda Radner and Mary Tyler Moore, Dehnert’s own work often features women as comedic leads.
“I like breaking stale comedic cultural norms,” she said. “Women are hilarious, so I’ll often push for flipping the script and having the female characters drive the laughs.”
Dehnert professes to thriving under pressure, including the time constraints that go along with working with high-profile talent. She’s also worked with Mindy Kaling, Busy Phillips, Sophia Bush and Zoe Kazan; and athletes and commentators including Marcus Spears, Candace Parker, Alyssa Naeher, Rick DiPietro, Michael Smith and Jemele Hill. Prior to joining Station Film, Dehnert had most recently been repped by production house Honor Society.
“I’m like a Golden Retriever,” she quipped. “I’m pretty laid back and don’t take myself too seriously. I put talent at ease and create a safe space for them to explore. Building trust and having a stress-free set is key to making actors feel safe to dive in and cultivate the laughs. Being in the collaborative performance zone with actors is definitely my sweet spot.”
Dehnert is already working on her first campaign with Station for ampm mini-markets out of agency RPA.
