Believe Media Signs Stuart Douglas
Multi award-winning British director and photographer Stuart Douglas has signed with Believe Media for exclusive representation in the US. Long recognised in the European advertising world, Stuart relocates to Los Angeles with his family to pursue new opportunities in the American markets, bringing to it an arresting and intimate style that perfectly aligns with the Believe standard of visual storytelling.
Stuart Douglas is known for his meticulous eye for crafting intimate, emotion-driven narratives. He began his career working in tandem with his brother Andrew as the still photography duo The Douglas Brothers. Their distinctive and moody style of portraiture took the advertising and editorial worlds by storm, with their work appearing in publications such as The Face, American Esquire and The New York Times Magazine. They later transitioned to directing music videos and commercial campaigns, beginning with a series of short films for Adidas.
After 12 years, the brothers ventured to go their separate ways, with Andrew heading to the States, and Stuart continuing to direct in the UK. Stuart quickly established himself as a solo force in the commercial arena, founding London-based boutique production company Nice Shirt Films with long-time collaborators Jon Hollis and Richard Martin.
Stuart’s work for Carlsberg, Coca-Cola, Guinness, Pepsi, Nike, British Airways, and Sony has garnered worldwide acclaim, including awards at Cannes, The New York One Show, D&AD, and The British Arrows. His eye for the cinematic translates seamlessly into auto advertising, with credits for Ford, Landrover, Volvo, and Saab. For Jeep’s global “Never Adapt” campaign via Leo Burnett, Stuart weaved dreamlike vignettes of people engaged in extraordinary activities to celebrate the brand’s 70th anniversary.
In 2013, Stuart wrote and directed a 9-part web series for Sony Ericsson to launch its Xperia X1 phone, which generated in excess of 8 million views. Other notable projects include a promo for the BBC that sets images of working class people against lines of prose from Jack Kerouac; a fashion-driven campaign for British retailer Debenhams; and an intriguing tale of sibling rivalry for J&B Whiskey.
Executive Producer Mark O’Sullivan comments on Stuart’s unique position, “As the advertising industry has transformed so much over the past years, it’s important to know that filmmaking is not simply about pretty images. It requires an understanding of what the clients and agencies are seeking, and how to fulfil that demand in the changing landscape – and Stuart has that experience.”
Founder and Executive Producer Luke Thornton chimes in, “Over the past 15 years, Believe has been built as a company synonymous with visual storytelling, while also finding our niche in the luxury, fashion and beauty markets. Aesthetically, Stuart is a perfect fit for the Believe brand. His take on the lifestyle genre complements who we are and what are look for, and now is the perfect time to expose his work to the US market.”
On joining Believe, Stuart says, “When I met with Luke and Mark, there was an instant rapport and language shared between us, based on our history in the business and the mutual desire to make great work.”
Believe ultimately focuses on the craft of visual storytelling, which makes Stuart’s versatility as both a director and still photographer an extremely valuable and relevant asset. At Believe, Stuart Douglas joins a group of image-makers that includes Floria Sigismondi, Bruno Aveillan, Anthony Mandler, who are called upon by clients for print work as a companion to live-action, shooting the two elements simultaneously to create a brand campaign that is cost-efficient and cohesive stylistically.
