WORLD WAR SEVEN (WW7) has signed directors Lizzy Born and Jonathan Pearson for commercials and branded content.
Born directed the first season of the groundbreaking variety show, Ziwe, for A24 and Showtime, along with short-form series Girl Kyle for Comedy Central. She was selected by Paul Feig to direct the Euphoria-esque Gen Z web series Everything’s Fine, for Snapchat, via his incubator production company Powderkeg. In the branded space, Born’s work lives at the nexus of fashion, luxury, beauty, and comedy. She’s helmed films for Bvlgari, Sony, Lexus, and Dolce & Gabbana, among others. Highlights include Vogue’s holiday collaboration with Grey Goose, starring Alexandra Dadarrio of The White Lotus–a cheeky and stylish direct-to-camera brand film which Born wrote and directed; and collaborations with New York City Ballet, where she directed the 2019 fall fashion gala film detailing the alchemy between choreographers and costume designers, Anna Sui and Zac Posen. Born’s short films have premiered at the Sundance, SXSW, and Cannes Film Festivals, and have snagged multiple Vimeo Staff Picks along the way.
Born, who had been freelancing prior to joining L.A.-based production company WW7, said “I couldn’t be happier with this new partnership, WW7 has a reputation for script-forward advertising that is genuinely funny and innovative. I’ve been approached many times to join the rosters of other production companies in the past, but was thrilled when [EP] Sloane [Hayes Skala] and team invited me to join, because WW7 is the first place I could see myself fitting in. They take the craft of filmmaking very seriously, yet simultaneously maintain a light-hearted, positive attitude in the process. The company really feels like a family. I look forward to a prolific relationship with WW7 and their client base.”
Pearson has directed campaigns for brands including Meta, Audi, Netflix, Samsung, JFK Library, Honda and Mercedes-Benz. His spots have earned him recognition from Cannes Lions, Clios, One Show Pencils, D&AD Pencils, RTS Awards, and a BAFTA. Prior to joining WW7, Pearson was repped in the U.S. by Unit9, which continues to handle him in the U.K.
Pearson most recently helmed the branded thriller, Unlocked, for Z by HP, one of the first-ever branded films to stream on Peacock, which was subsequently in competition in the Immersive category of Tribeca X at last year’s Tribeca Film Festival. He’s hot off a campaign for the United Nations, commissioned by Idris and Sabrina Elba, focusing on the impact of climate change. Shooting all over Tunisia, and set to an iconic Nina Simone track, the film will form the centerpiece of a major upcoming campaign from the UN and be screened in front of world leaders this coming summer. A notable series creator, Pearson wrote and directed the drama series Run for the U.K’s Channel 4, starring Oscar-winner Olivia Colman, and has recently finished a long-form project with BBC Studios, shooting throughout Rio, London and Copenhagen.
“I’m a huge fan of Sloane’s, and we had been wanting to work together for quite some time. So when she joined the WW7 family, and introduced me to [co-founders] David [Shafei] and Josh [Ferrazzano], it immediately felt like a fantastic fit. The company has a highly focused creative ethos where they share knowledge and insights, and prioritize craft and storytelling in pursuit of great work. In addition, and most importantly, they are such a genuinely wonderful bunch of humans, who within just a few months of joining, already feel like family. I can’t wait to work with WW7’s top-tier reps and client base as I continue to develop my U.S. commercial career. I’m extremely proud to be WW7’s first non-comedy signing, and to be at the start of a new and exciting chapter for us all.”
“When I joined WW7, I immediately thought of Lizzy and Jonathan,” said EP Skala. “They’re both directors I’ve worked with, and adored, for years–they felt like perfect additions to our quirky little family. We’ve been wanting to expand beyond the world of comedy, and while each of them has a unique voice and discernible style that may not immediately read ‘comedy’ on the surface, they both have a connection to the core principles of comedy in the foundations of their ethos; Lizzy in her sharp and witty writing with a cheeky edge, and Jonathan in his casting and creation of real, relatable, human characters. Having them join our team adds an exciting new layer to our roster, which we look forward to deploying to our clients at WW7.”
