Global production company and artist management agency Great Bowery Film is excited to announce the addition of London & LA based director Gerard de Thame to its roster of top-tier directors, artists, photographers, creative directors, designers and animators. One of the most recognized names in commercial filmmaking, de Thame began his directorial career in his native England after graduating with BA & MA honours from Chelsea School of Art and winning the prestigious Rome Scholarship. Having directed more than 500 spots, he has won numerous awards for his work, including Cannes Gold Lions, Clios, D&ADs, and BTAA Best Commercial of the Year.
Most recently, de Thame was represented by Humble where he joined forces with long-time collaborator, Shannon Lords who was an Executive Producer there as well. During this time, their partnership flourished, making his move to Great Bowery Film to once again team up a natural progression.
“It’s an exciting time for me to come on board and partner with Shannon again,” de Thame states. “Great Bowery Film is a unique and innovative production company with a fresh slant on the film industry. Being a part of such a wealth of creative talent that is housed in Great Bowery and working across platforms and disciplines is really inspirational to me, as well.”
Throughout his career, de Thame has worked with leading brands such as Adidas, American Express, Audi, Microsoft, Nike and Samsung. His most recent endeavor was serving as both film director and creative lead on a campaign for One America Appeal, a 501-nonprofit founded by presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush in the wake of the disastrous 2017 hurricane season. The campaign was conceptualized and scripted by George H. W. Bush’s spokesman Jim McGrath, alongside Roy Spence and Judy Trabulsi of the Purpose Institute in Austin. The campaign consisted of two PSAs, filmed in two days with five video shoots in five different locations around the country.
“Working on the One America Appeal initiative was quite different for me because I really had complete creative license for the entire project, working as both the creative director and film director,” de Thame adds.
With long-time producer, Fabyan Daw, de Thame captured the very essence of bipartisan support and true leadership—a depiction that serves as a breath of fresh air compared to the current political circus. With the help of de Thame’s spots, One America Appeal raised over $42 million in hurricane relief funding.
“This project [One America Appeal] elegantly captures Gerard’s versatility and mastery,” Shannon Lords, Executive Producer of Great Bowery Film added. “We’re so thrilled he’s joining our team—his creative vision and outstanding portfolio really solidify our position as a powerhouse film company.”
