Photoplay’s new director, Tobias Nathan, came to filmmaking from journalism (which he studied in college) and copywriting in a small Madison Agency. Wanting to interfere on shoot relentlessly brought him to an a-ha moment. Directing was his destiny. He wrote a short and pitched it to friends who had just started a production company on New York. The film was made. Then he pitched a three-part Miguel music video as a co-director with a friend. They won the pitch. Now his ability to uncover the intricate dynamics that exist between people builds emotive power into advertising, music videos and film.
Now based in Sydney, Nathan has directed thought-provoking campaigns for international brands such as Apple Music, Samsung, Infiniti, Vodafone, Nespresso, Grey Goose, Remy Martin, Cadillac and KIA.
He is also well-known for his music video work for artists such as G-Eazy, Miguel, Luav, Walk the Moon, and Alessia Cara, which have over one billion views combined.
Nathan’s 2019 documentary short, Breaking the Circle, profiled a group of female samba dancers changing the cultural norms in Brazil, earning accolades from The Clios, the Telly Awards, and the Lovie Awards. He is also currently working on a feature film and TV series.
Nathan commented, “The biggest, most important thing for me is the people I work with. The team at Photoplay are warm and genuine and care about the creative quality and craft of their films. They are also interested in doing projects that are rewarding for their directors and team. It’s all about collaboration, I love the support of a production team that is sincere and artistic.
“I like the Australian sense of humour – it’s playful and self-aware in a way I’m drawn to. Australian cinema is revered for its willingness to explore grit and naturalness, and this is something I miss in the American film landscape. I also love the Australian landscape and can’t wait to shoot here.”
Photoplay executive producer, Oliver Lawrance, added, “We are thrilled to work with Tobias and are excited to introduce him to all the creatives and producers here. His film work speaks for itself, drawing on cleverly crafted storytelling to portray real human connection. And I think his background in music videos and documentaries also strongly informs his overall visual aesthetic. Really looking forward to making some films together.”
View Tobias Nathan’s reel here
