Lucky 21 has brought directors Ben Steinbauer and Berndt Mader aboard its roster for national representation spanning advertising and branded content. 

Steinbauer and Mader are widely known for their creative endeavors via The Bear, a creative incubator they founded over a decade ago. Formed to unite the branded and feature worlds, The Bear continues to thrive as a hub for content, and is a complement to Steinbauer and Mader’s national commercial representation as individual directors via Lucky. Steinbauer and Mader were previously repped as The Bear by Chelsea.

Mader came to directing through writing and his approach is defined by a desire to add value and dimension while having fun in the process. Mader’s branded content storytelling includes performance-driven comedy and docu-style projects including Yeti’s “Soul of a City,” a finalist for the Tribeca X Film Award, as well as commercials for Dodge, Budweiser, and Alfa Romeo. He has also directed the hybrid documentary/narrative feature Booger Red (Austin Film Festival) and the quirky and original coming-of-age film 5 Time Champion (SXSW).

Steinbauer’s passion for documentary storytelling with comedic underpinnings earned appreciative audiences and critical acclaim for his documentary cult classic Winnebago Man. Relatability and a sense of discovery are ever-present in his work for Popeyes, Indeed, Yeti, Crate & Barrel  and Whole Foods, among others. He traverses the landscape of short-form to features fluidly, with episodic television credits and his Vimeo Staff pick documentaries Slow to Show, Calls To Okies and Heroes From The Storm.

In addition to advertising projects, the duo is co-directing a feature documentary for David Gordon Green, Danny McBride and Jody Hill’s Rough House Pictures.

Mader and Steinbauer were introduced to Lucky 21 via a mutual friend and Lucky sales representative Gay Guthrey (of indie firm Samuel Guthrey).  Steinbauer explained, “Our decision to join the Lucky squad is all about people. Lucky’s impeccable relationship with crew members--many of whom we work with frequently--and their shared interest in creating a joyful, collaborative atmosphere on set, preceded our meeting. When we started talking, it quickly became clear how much we shared.”

“Texas is a place of vibrant creativity, and Ben and I were both drawn to Austin to be a part of this hotbed of indie filmmaking,” added Mader. “To join forces with Lucky, beloved in Texas and beyond, is an expansion for all of us--a deeper connection that will only intensify what we will create together.”