DIRECTORS
TIM KIRKBY HE'S BEEN MAKING FOLK LAUGH SINCE 1922
The British and US comedy scene has been getting drunk on Tim’s hooch these past few years. From BAFTA winning 'Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle' to Mike Myers ‘The Pentaverate’ on top of many British Comedy awards for previous brews including the now classic 'Look Around You'. Not forgetting piloting the hugely successful 'Fleabag'. Oh and helming a few episodes of the EMMY winning ‘VEEP’.
CALLE ÅSTRAND REMORSELESSLY DRY WITH SHARP EDGES
Surreal, subtle, sublime and Swedish. Calle Åstrand comes from the homeland of TV commercial comedy. His background in long brews has been filtered and fermented and is now the 'Absolut' article.
Skål
DAVID GRAY ALL ABOARD THE GRAY-VY TRAIN
David Gray might be new to the Bootleg roster, but he’s no greenhorn to the comedy scene. Gravy, as he’s known in the speak-easy circuit, has been turning out 100% High-Octane hooch for many a moon. From baby faced Creative Director to film directing legend running award-winning white lighting in a bottle for some of the biggest adland mobs across the US, UK and Europe. He’s won just about every award including Cannes Lions, D&ADs, One Shows and other collectables. A master of working with talent and pulling comedy gold out of any teetotaler’s ne’er-to-mentions. He’s a classy addition to the Bootleg bathtub.
A VERY SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS (AVSB) IS INDEED A HUGELY SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS (HSB)
Oozing pure comedy essence and with 100 million hits, YES, 100 million hits on one film alone, Theresa May thank him for that. This slick operation always pleases the palette.
TIMOTHY KENDALL HE'S FRUITY AND DANGEROUS TO KNOW
The legend that is higher-brow. Sharp shooting and sharp witted he’s the ‘go to’ bounty hunter of this generation. Short form or long form this boy has form. He makes it look easy, some say too easy.
EUGENIO RECUENCO FINE PURVEYOR OF THE PHOTOGRAPHIC FORM
A unique blend of visual velvet, oozing style from every pore. A required taste for fashion aficionado’s and surprisingly undiscovered on these shores. He learnt his craft as a photographer and is regarded as one of Europe’s masters of the lens. Sumptuous pictures flow from the screen. The man has high standards and never gives away his secret recipe. A legend in the making.
JEREMY CHARBIT A RARE SINGLE BARREL MALT WITH FRUITY NOTES
From the city that made absinthe the drink of the artiste – Paris. Absinthe has often been portrayed as a dangerously addictive psychoactive drug. Jeremy is absinthe personified, engaging, stylish and unnaturally friendly, prohibitionists beware.
LAURENCE THRUSH THIS FELLA WON'T SING LIKE A CANARY
Give him a grain of a script and this songbird will turn it in to a full field of the finest barley. He has enough recipes to have you sobbing with emotion or punching the air with elation. Some say he just gets ‘em drunk, others say he’s totally talented.
TEEMU NIUKKANEN FRESHLY IMPORTED 100% PROOF CLASS ACT.
From the land where “epäjärjestelmällistyttämättömyydelläänsäkäänköhän” is apparently an actual word. Finland where the moon shines brighter, Teemu’s humour is crystal clear, off the rocks and mixed with beautifully crafted visuals.
JON STEVENS A FULL-BODIED MALT WITH A WHIFF OF PEAT
Jon’s isn’t one for sitting on a place where the moon doesn’t shine. Creating stunning films with style and flare that few can replicate. His pedigree is high, having worked as Creative Director at Discovery and Channel Four he honed his craft. Picking up D&AD and Promax awards along the way Jon has proved to be no thin skin. Jon’s hooch can be enjoyed around a campfire in far off remote territories or equally sipped in a hidden corner of fashionable speakeasies around town.
NICK ESDAILE A FRESH NEW BLEND OF MOONSHINE
He’s brainy. He’s decent. He has a bag of ingredients from creative directing to film directing he has the deft touch and the guile to turn your milk stout in to a Krug.
AMIT MEHTA A MAN YOU WOULD WANT TO MESS WITH
If Amit ran a circus he’d be the only act he needed to hire. If you have a script where the on-screen talent is celebrity, sports star, A-Lister actor or a tricky little kid, Amits’ your man. A one-man tour-de-force. Over the years, he has directed a range of established talent like Chris Pine, Kevin Costner, Nicole Byer, Jane Lynch, LL Cool J, Bridget Moynahan, and Vin Diesel – in addition to extensive work making actors out of professional athletes in sports from basketball to cricket. Born out of his career on both sides of the camera (yep, he’s a paid up member of the acting fraternity as well) Amit’s work reflects a passion for eliciting nuanced, genuine performances and a predilection for both the awkward and the absurd. Amit’s Super Bowl ads for BMW enjoyed a long subsequent run, with one earning a best-of nod from TIME Magazine. Most recently, his work for CBS and Paramount+ was recognized with multiple awards and an Editor’s Pick on Creativity. Raise your glass to Amit.