Filmmaker and copywriter Mario Garza is the latest recipient of the Superlounge Diversity Award. Garza receives a scholarship to attend Commercial Directing Bootcamp, which he will do June 15, 2019, in Los Angeles. Superlounge partner/director Jordan Brady – whose recent projects include the seemingly ubiquitous “High Thryv” ad (via Publicis Dallas) and a national campaign for Chrysler Pacifica starring Kathryn Hahn (via Doner) – launched the Commercial Directing Bootcamp in 2015. He has since held sold-out seminars in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Dallas. Garza joins ten previous Diversity Award-winners: Iyin Landre, Travis Wood, Alesia Glidewell, Maya Albanese, Kryzz Gautier, Alex Messianu, Bonnie McFarlane, Jody Lauren Miller, Monty Marsh and Kristyna Archer.
“Programs like the Superlounge Diversity Award really help under-represented Latinos,” said Garza, who is originally from Mexico and has lived in the US for ten years. He has spent the past seven as a copywriter at agencies such as Wieden & Kennedy, BBH, and Media Arts Lab. “Nobody tells you how the commercial directing world works; it’s hard to navigate even when you work in advertising,” said Garza. “Jordan’s Bootcamp is the one way I’m aware of to get transitional guidance when you want to make a formal leap into directing for brands.”
“It all starts with the script, so Mario's background as a copywriter positions him to be a great director, that is already crystal clear,” Brady observed. “His directing work shows he can crank out spots while maintaining quality in the filmmaking. My hope is that I can help him navigate the waters of a long term career.”
That career is firmly rooted comedy. “My philosophy is simple,” Garza said, “if it doesn’t make me – and the viewer – laugh…what’s the point?” Currently a director and copywriter at coupons and savings startup Honey, Garza has helmed 15 spots in the past year, all. One, titled “Drama,” is actually a humorous take on the unnecessary frustrations caused by other coupon companies. The closest his work comes to real drama is “Comedy Nightmare,” a PSA for HBF that makes a serious point and is set in, you guessed it, a comedy club.
“All good directing starts on the page, and I can clearly see Mario's copywriting on screen in his spot work,” said Brady. “I know he'll be able to add his comedic herbs and spices to other agency's scripts too.”
Garza was born and raised in a small city close to México City called “Toluca,” known for its amazing chorizo. After spending an amazing childhood in Mexico, he came to the United States to pursue his dream of being a feature film writer, producer and director. He received a scholarship to Florida International University, and graduated with a Bachelor’s in Advertising. worked with some of the most creative minds at the best agencies in the world, while living in Miami, New York, England, Portland, and now in Los Angeles. Since 2016, he has written – directed five award-winning short films and several music videos. He co-founded KoolShiit, a production company based in Los Angeles with his longtime partner Sarah Gamazo.
Garza has taken Masterclasses with Mamet, Scorsese, Samuel L. Jackson, Ron Howard, Aaron Sorkin, Helen Mirren, and more. He is currently enrolled in the prestigious Screenwriting Certificate Program at UCLA, was recently selected as part one of 20 Filmmakers of tomorrow at the Hola Mexico Film Festival sponsored by HBO and is now prepping his first feature film, Censored Love (Kickstarter Here), set to shoot on location in Spain this year.
The next Commercial Directing Bootcamp will take place on Saturday June 15th, 2019 in Los Angeles.
About Superlounge
Superlounge is a boutique LA production company featuring award-winning commercial directors Jordan Brady, Greg Popp, Russell Bates, Ben Giroux, Jeannette Godoy, and John Poliquin. The company is presided over by Executive Producer/Partner Dave Farrell and Executive Producer Vicki Williams.
About Jordan Brady
Jordan Brady has directed more than 1000 national TV spots to date. As host of the popular podcast RESPECT THE PROCESS, Brady interviews as wide range of ad bizzers and filmmakers on a weekly basis. He recently completed his trilogy of documentaries on stand up comedy, comprised of the 2010 cult hit I AM COMIC (Netflix, Showtime), 2014’s follow-up I AM ROAD COMIC (Netflix, Hulu); and 2017’s I AM BATTLE COMIC, which followed Brady and a squadron of stand-ups to Afghanistan, Kuwait, Bahrain and Iraq, where they performed for troops serving in the US Armed Forces. Brady’s book, Commercial Directing Voodoo: Filmmaking Spells & Production Potions, serves as a complement to his popular Commercial Directing Bootcamp.
