Directors, Bandito Brothers
Gentlemen, the directing duo comprised of Brett Snider and Billy Federighi, joined Bandito Brothers in February 2009. The directors have since helmed numerous assignments for the company, including: a Kraft Lunchables projects via Draft FCB Chicago, shot on location in New Zealand, on which they worked with celebrated cinematographers Emmanuel Lubezki (Children of Men) and Igor Jadue-lillo (The Kids Are All Right, Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy); "Moon Dunk", for PowerBar Energy Blast via Publicis Dallas, which launched Lamar Odom into space; and Kellogg's "Popumentary" via Leo Burnett, for which Gentlemen "documented" Corn Pops frolicking in the wild.
The team entered the spot-making arena three years ago, winning ad contests for Doritos and Converse. Doritos "Mousetrap" aired during the Super Bowl XLII broadcast, and has been featured on countless "best of bowl" shows ever since, including CBS' "Super Bowls' Greatest Commercials: 2010" this year. The initial exposure led to projects for Kellogg's (Leo Burnett/Chicago), Cici's Pizza (Deutsch LA), Hormel (BBDO), and Kentucky Lottery (Northlich). Gentlemen also earned inclusion among shots' most promising new directors and in the SHOOT New Directors Showcase.
After meeting at Columbia College Hollywood in 2005, Snider and Federighi decided to try their hand at directing. As Gentlemen, they wrote, directed, and edited a 16mm spec for Converse. "The Original" won the brand's worldwide contest and ran nationally. Doritos "Mousetrap" followed. When the directors were invited to screen their work for Chicago powerhouse agency Leo Burnett, they were determined to stand out and parlay the screening into actual work. The guys constructed a wooden 2-foot by 2-foot diorama depicting themselves as centaurs perched atop snow-capped mountains. A recorded track related their long and arduous journey from the hinterland to Chitown. The stunt and the work made an impression and Leo Burnett came through with an opportunity: the agency gave Gentlemen a 50K budget to realize an animatic for Kelloggs as a test, a "live-a-matic," as Snider calls it. Gentlemen hit a home run with the project, and "Toothosaur" became a national commercial.
With Gentlemen, Bandito Brothers - known for intense, in-camera action - expanded it roster to include comedy. "We're fired up by the fact that these guys do action," says Snider. "The vibe is cool and exciting, and no one we've met has this kind of energy. It's easy to get excited about Bandito Brothers." For Federighi, the Bandito Brothers' stature in the action arena has huge appeal. "Being at this company allows us to be more than just comedy directors," he enthuses. "We're the solution for comedy at Bandito Brothers, and that holds us to a certain standard."