Gatsoulis, formerly represented by Anonymous Content, has a long list of credits in commercials, music videos and emerging media, the latter including recent work for Sprint, Verizon and Philip Morris, and is known for a dark, but subtle, sense of humor and ability to tell stories.
Gatsoulis was introduced to Boxer Films through John Quinn, its head of production, and had previously worked with Boxer when the company facilitated production on a public service announcement for PAUSE, a non-profit formed by the Kaiser Family Foundation and Fox Networks promoting healthy lifestyles among young people.
“It was a great experience and I came away very impressed with Boxer,” he said. “I like the direction they are taking, their outlook on the business and its future, and their ethics as a company. It’s a good place to grow a career.”
Gatsoulis has already completed his first project for Boxer. He was one of five filmmakers selected by Gap to direct music videos based on original songs created by five musicians, each one inspired by a different color. The videos are featured on the website www.soundofcolor.com where the songs are also available as free downloads. Gatsoulis directed a video, inspired by the color green, featuring hip-hop artist Swizz Beatz and his song Candy Green. The action-packed video follows three unlikely smugglers running from the law under the cloak of desert darkness.
“Tom is a very talented director. His reel shows great range and a lot of craft,” said Boxer Films executive producer John Clark. “He is also a very strong conceptual and strategic thinker, something that is evident in his work for Gap and other emerging media projects. That kind of ability is becoming increasingly important as agencies look for creative partners who can shape and drive content.”
Gatsoulis had been with Anonymous Content since 2005 and originally worked through its V3 division for up-and-coming directors. More recently, he has directed via Anonymous Content Emerging Media, which specialized in web advertising and other branded media. His work there included short web films for Verizon (McCann-Erickson, New York), Sprint (Organic, San Francisco), and Philip Morris (Leo Burnett, Chicago). He also recently directed traditional broadcast campaigns for ESPN, Nascar, Hasbro, Universal Studios, Directv, Comcast and Novartis.
“I usually do work that is a little out of the mainstream,” Gatsoulis said. “I like to challenge myself and experiment with different genres so that I’m difficult to pigeonhole. I’ve done a lot of dialogue, but I’ve also had an opportunity to do visual storytelling. I’m at my best where I’ve got some freedom, where the concept hasn’t been fully worked out, or there is no concept at all.”
Gatsoulis likes to say that he got into advertising from the client side. After graduating from USC with a business degree, he founded a beer marketing firm, and, with the help of some creative friends, did all of the marketing for the company, including three commercials. After selling the company, he went onto study film, advertising and photography at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. Upon completing his reel, he signed on as a director with A Band Apart and won acclaim for his first project, a spot for United Way featuring rapper LL Cool J. By the end of his tenure at A Band Apart his work included campaigns for ESPN and Bally Fitness in addition to several music videos.
Boxer Films is located at 3453 S. La Cienega Blvd., Bldg. B, Los Angeles, CA 90016. For more information, call (310) 559-8333 or visit www.boxerfilms.net.
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For additional information, contact:
Linda Rosner
Artisans Public Relations
(310) 837-6008
lrosner@artisanspr.com
