World War Seven (WW7) has added Jamaal Parham and Bashan Aquart, known as the directing duo Jams and Bash, to its roster of directorial talent for U.S. representation spanning commercials and branded content.
Jams and Bash’s extensive credits include branded content, advertising, documentaries, and narrative fare. Before leaning into mainstream commercial work, Jams and Bash’s campaigns for theatrical brands “The Sound Inside” and “The Inheritance” earned the duo two Clio Awards. Their work for “Harry Potter and The Cursed Child” not only took over Times Square but was honored with a national ADDY Award and a Grand Clio–the first one ever awarded to a live entertainment brand.
In the ad space, Jams and Bash–who were previously repped for commercials via ArtClass–have not only made a splash in comedy, but have done so with major names and faces in entertainment and sports. Some notable projects include commercial campaigns for ESPN (which netted them a Bronze Clio for their collab with Michael B. Jordan), MLB, Wendy’s, Axe, Adidas, Mastercard, Xfinity, Ebay and, most recently, Disney, which earned the helming duo two Gold Clio Awards last year, including Best Direction. They have incorporated performances from the likes of Will Smith, Robert De Niro, Samuel L. Jackson, Laurence Fishburne, Jake Gyllenhaal, Marshawn Lynch, Eli Manning, Derek Jeter, Martin Lawrence, Bryan Cranston, Martin Short, Forest Whitaker, Mindy Kaling, and Sam Rockwell.
In the branded narrative space, the duo helmed A Room of Our Own, a special for ESPN and Disney, following the relationship between Black athletes and Black music, and its transcending impact in powering social movements. They directed SoundCloud’s first original feature film The Day Ones, an artist-studded story similarly about the power of music and enduring friendships. But making people (and themselves) laugh is where Jams and Bash shine. In between commercial projects, they directed two seasons of HBO’s late-night comedy series, Pause with Sam Jay, starring stand-up comic Sam Jay.
Jams and Bash in a joint statement shared, “We were stoked on WW7 from the jump. They aren’t afraid to take risks and push the work. They’ve curated a roster of really special filmmakers with unique perspectives and amazing energy when it comes to advertising, specifically through a comedic lens. As directors, finding a home that pushes you to be your best and wants to trumpet your values to the world is everything, period. And as big fans of floriculture, we love their work in the floral space — inspiring.”
“Jams and Bash have such a compelling blend of style, humor, and charisma,” added WW7 EP Sloane Skala. “They’re a force. They have a unique ability to be both serious and hilarious, and to know the right moments for each–and you can see that in their work. We were already fans from afar, but from the minute we met them, we knew they fit right into our punk rock ethos. Their eye for comedic timing is impeccable, and they take calculated risks that pay off in spades, which makes their work a joy to watch. Plus, they’re so much f*cking fun. WW7 is truly ecstatic to have them on board, and to see what we can do together.”
