Content development and production company Rodeo Show is excited to announce the signing of award-winning British director Jamie Lane for commercials and branded content in the US.
An accomplished director with a singular talent for comedy, Lane is known for his ability to draw authentic, real-life performances from his keenly-chosen actors. He has directed for a wide range of clients, including BMW, McDonald’s, Mars, Kellogg’s, and Vodafone. Now, Lane brings his sharp eye for everyday absurd humor to Rodeo Show.
“Jamie is a master and commander of the commercial format in his own right,” says Mike Brady, Rodeo Show Executive Producer & Managing Partner. “One look at his reel and you’ll find an entire universe of offbeat worlds and characters brimming with life. Every story he tells manages to feel original and true to the brands he works with; but anyone who knows Jamie’s work will most certainly know it’s him. We’re excited for the US market to see just what we’re talking about.”
“I was first introduced to Rodeo Show through [commercial rep] Corey Rodgers in New York,” recalls Lane from his home in London. “Not only are they just really nice people who take the time to listen to and chat with you, but they’re also exactly the right size where you know you’ll truly be supported as a director.”
Lane has been in the industry for almost three decades, directing commercials for the past 18 years, all the while building a name for himself across the UK and Europe. He got his start as a director in the London arm of award-winning production company Great Guns, before moving on to helm commercials for The Love commercial production company, as well as HOBEN. Along the way, Lane also honed his craft by working as an assistant at Partizan to established directors, including Michel Gondry and Doug Nichol, to name but a few.
Lane has been described as having an eye for natural and fluid performances, which he credits to his desire to discover new and engaging actors — all of which ties back to his general love of people-watching. “I can be on the bus, unable to stop watching two strangers have an argument, and I realize it’s just like creating comedy — it’s fundamentally about working with interesting people,” Lane notes. Having worked with Belinda Norcliffe Casting for 18 years, he also makes it a rule to never work with the same actor twice.
Having earned multiple Cannes Lions for his commercial work, namely for the hoax ComputerTan.com website via ad agency McCann Erickson and client Skcin, Lane’s eye for comedy encompasses both everyday and slightly stylized situations. One of his most notable ads for online gambling company Sun Bingo features a dizzying range of subtly colorful individuals, all interacting in a lively series of kinetic whip pan shots. Another ad for Kellogg’s Crunchy Nut, titled “The Rummager,” sees a relatably rumpled office worker searching for any utensils he can find to enjoy his morning cereal, all while an unseen narrator dryly tweaks his unorthodox eating habits.
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Beyond his European commercial work, Lane enjoys still photography, with a notable interest in documenting London’s closed shopfronts and more eccentric residents. Whether he’s “having more than one camera nicked in a dodgy neighborhood,” or photographing a train commuter with a large snake around his neck, Lane is not one to sit still.
He is eager to embrace the American ethos that gives commercial directors more creative freedom in the editing of projects, especially with the backing of Rodeo Show.
“I’m excited to see what we can achieve together,” concludes Lane. “Rodeo Show cares about your career and making sure you stay relevant in clients’ minds.”
To view more of Jamie Lane’s commercial work, as well as his still photography, please visit here. Reel 360 News wishes Jamie the best of luck.
