Yard Dog TV has signed award-winning commercial director Matthias Berndt for representation in the U.S. Berndt is known internationally for his automotive and visual storytelling work for such clients as Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Jeep, BMW, Nissan, Giorgio Armani and Gucci, to name a few.

Berndt shoots for brands and ad agencies all over the world: in the African Desert, downtown Los Angeles and amid the hustle and bustle of Bangkok. “I have climbed high walls and dived deep into oceans. Nothing beats the feeling when the camera is rolling and all the prep pays off and visual magic unfolds in front of the lens,” he said, describing why he will go the extra mile to get the right shot. 

“Matthias’s passion for his work has comes through in each conversation I have had with him,” said Beth Pearson, partner/executive producer at Yard Dog TV, which is a woman-owned and certified production company. 

Joe Picirillo, also partner and EP at the company, added, “I have followed Matthias’s career for years and have always been inspired by his work.  We connected instantly once we met.” 

Berndt--who was earlier repped in the American ad market by Native Content--has worked as a CG artist and editor, bringing those disciplines to his directorial endeavors. He uses VFX to push the visual boundaries and has worked with VFX houses worldwide--creating dinosaurs, LED backgrounds and a plethora of photorealistic car work. 

But his visual storytelling is driven by more. “As a director I love to work with emotions to give a deeper impact to the scene. Be it behind the camera, working with actors, or crafting the post and VFX, creating a momentum that moves the audience is a constant driving force for me,“ Berndt explained.

Regarding his new roost, Berndt is putting stock in the energy and passion he sees in Pearson and Picirillo. “As a director you work with a team around you. Uniting all that talent to bring out the perfect moment and creating that magical second is one of the most rewarding things for me,” said Berndt.