RSA Films has signed award-winning director Jack Cole for commercials and branded entertainment in the U.S. Best known for sharp, character-driven comedy, Cole is a versatile filmmaker whose work pairs standout casting and performance direction with striking visuals and art direction. Recent credits include back-to-back campaigns for Red Baron, work for AG1, Velo and Minnesota Lottery, and Little Caesars’ multi-award-winning 2022 campaign “The Lake Giveth.”
“What I enjoy most about Jack’s work is the merging of a polished and textured aesthetic within a comedic frame, blending VFX seamlessly where it elevates the joke,” said Luke Ricci, President, RSA Films U.S. “His work speaks to a very current approach to comedic advertising and strikes a balance between humor and nuanced, authentic performances.”
“I’m energized to build on the work I’ve created to date,” said Jack Cole. “I’m ambitious and ready to challenge myself with bigger opportunities, and RSA is the perfect home for that—with stellar leadership and production expertise. I can’t wait to dig in with Luke and the team.”
Cole’s films are richly textured, instantly transporting viewers into cinematic mini-universes. In “Octagon” for Red Baron, gritty MMA fighters find their zen over pizza, sharing disarmingly tender moments in the cage.
In “Toilet” for AG1, a softly lit, thoughtfully designed bathroom becomes the stage for a morning that goes sideways without the product’s benefits. And in “The Lake Giveth” for Little Caesars, the scenery, styling and color palette channel nostalgic, camp-trip Americana.
Beyond advertising, Cole directs shorts and installation pieces and is an avid still photographer. His work has exhibited at The National Gallery (London), Paul Smith Albemarle Street (London), Salon Art Fair (New York) and Spazio Orlandi (Milan).
An unabashed art lover, he cites masters Zurbarán, Caravaggio and Rembrandt, alongside contemporaries Ron Mueck, Grayson Perry, Alex Prager and Erwin Olaf. Music is a constant influence—rooted in ’90s hip-hop and now spanning neo-soul, nu-jazz and electronica.
Artistically inclined from an early age, Cole studied film at the University for the Creative Arts (UK), initially focusing on cinematography. He briefly formed the directing partnership LIFF with Stian Smestad during the Scandinavian comedy wave before launching a solo career inspired by icons Spike Jonze, Jonathan Glazer and Frank Budgen.
For more than a decade he’s helmed humor-driven campaigns for brands including Heineken, Panasonic, Google/YouTube, Reebok, Subway, Toyota and KFC, collaborating with top agencies such as Mother, Droga5, BBH, AMV BBDO, BETC and Uncommon.
Reel 360 News wishes Jack the best of luck at RSA.
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