Los Angeles director, Miles Gillespie, has already shown what his sharp, modern wit can do in commercials for Jimmy Johns, State Farm, and most recently, a Call of Duty’s social campaign, featuring Pete Davidson.
“Miles’ multitude of talents fits in well with the team here at Gifted Youth, and we couldn’t be more excited or feel more lucky to have him,” stated Josh Morse, executive producer, Gifted Youth. “Not only can he write a goof or two but he’s an extremely talented director, so to add him to a roster rife with multi-talents just makes sense. His work is modern, refreshing, captivating—displaying a unique vision and contemporary voice.”
Gillespie grew up surrounded by humour. He is the son of the Hollywood filmmaker Craig Gillespie, who directed films such as, I, Tonya, and Lars and the Real Girl.
“Do I think my dad is a funny guy?” poses Gillespie. “Of course I do…However, my whole career began because we were always disagreeing over punchlines that I thought I could make funnier.”
He adds, “It was a combination of perfect storms that brought me to toil in comedy. My family used humour to discuss tough issues, and, as a chubby kid, I used comedy as a coping mechanism. This is how he honed his ability to walk the fine line between the absurd and the all-too-real.
Gillespie creates his visual punchlines, in the short-form and concept-based work he most likes to make, by breaking down a product or brand to its most defining characteristics and looking carefully for opportunities where humour can be injected. His spot Voodoo for Zapps Chips, https://www.giftedyouth.com/director/miles-gillespie/ for example, follows a young woman who, with the help of her bag of Zapps Voodoo chips, seals the lips of her chatty sexist co-worker, beats up a purse-stealing bandit, and curses a band of cat-calling construction workers.
Presently Gillespie is developing his debut feature film, Pigeon. This undertaking follows directing the short film, Magic of Passion, which follows a magician, played by Marvel franchise actor, Sebastian Stan, as he returns to his childhood home to reconnect with his mother, who he finds is sleeping with his childhood friend. It is currently doing the festival rounds.
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Gillespie hopes that signing to Gifted Youth with its connection to Caviar will help to further his ambitions to make great long-form content and scalpel-sharp comedy commercials.
“Gifted Youth is the pinnacle of comedy in advertising. When I discovered they were interested in me I was blown away,” said Gillespie. “They have the power and talent of a massive company, but the nature of a boutique studio, and having Caviar as a related feature for my scripted and feature work is just the icing on the cake.”
Caviar acquired Funny Or Die’s awarded commercial production company, Gifted Youth, in 2019. It has offices in New York and Los Angeles and its roster includes Jake Szymanski and Payman Benz, from its inception as well as a growing roster of up-and-coming directorial talent.
