Directorial Duo Nilson Schwartz Joins RadicalMedia For Spots, Branded Content
Tyler Nilson (l) and Michael Schwartz
  • LOS ANGELES
  • --

Writers/directors Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz--aka the filmmaking duo Nilson Schwartz who won the SXSW Narrative Spotlight Audience Award earlier this year for their debut feature, The Peanut Butter Falcon--have joined RadicalMedia’s global roster to direct commercials and branded content. RadicalMedia becomes the directing team’s first career roost for representation in the ad arena.

Set for release in select theaters on August 9, The Peanut Butter Falcon tells the story of Zak (portrayed by Zack Gottsagen), a young man with Down syndrome who runs away from a residential nursing home to pursue his dream of becoming a student at the professional wrestling school of his idol, The Salt Water Redneck. Zak hits the road where he meets with Tyler (Shia LaBeouf) who becomes an unlikely coach and friend. They are joined on this life’s experience-rich journey by Eleanor (Dakota Johnson), a kind nursing home employee.

“After watching the film, it was obvious that Nilson Schwartz have the ability to strike an emotional chord with audiences and we’re looking forward to sharing those sensibilities with agencies and clients,” said Frank Scherma, president and co-founder, RadicalMedia.

Nilson and Schwartz have honed their collaborative relationship over varied projects. Prior to The Peanut Butter Falcon, they teamed on not only writing and directing but also editing and handling camera, VFX and color for the short film The Moped Diaries. Nilson and Schwartz assumed that jack of all trades approach spanning writing, directing, cutting, lensing, VFX and color on several other projects as well, including a pair of short films with rock climber Alex Honnold, the subject of the Oscar-winning documentary Free Solo (directed by Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi). Nilson Schwartz’s work with Honnold consisted of Urban Ascents and At Home Off The Wall, both pieces of branded content for Stride Health.

Nilson Schwartz is also creating, writing and set to direct The Wildest Animals in Griffith Park, a show in development with Lucky Chap, Margot Robbie and Warner Bros.

Nilson and Schwartz have in the past additionally worked on ad fare as actor and editor, respectively, including projects for Visa, Apple, Virgin America and Twitter.

Schwartz said of Radical Media, “Their roster and body of work speaks for itself. It wasn’t that long ago that we were sleeping in our cars and hoping that someone would read our script.  It’s exciting to have the movie coming out and also have new opportunities to collaborate with creatives to tell shorter stories with commercials and branded content.” 

Nilson added, “When you decide to work with people creatively it’s important to find the right fit.  We hit it off right away with Frank and the team in Los Angeles.”

 

Credits:

Tyler Nilson, Michael Schwartz, writers/directors

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