OB42 Expands Roster with Director Sebastian Thiel and Duo Sam & David Cutler-Kreutz
OB42 has welcomed three new faces to its growing talent roster, director Sebastian Thiel and directing duo Sam & David Cutler-Kreutz join the company for commercial representation.
Already making waves in the world of Film & TV, Sebastian Thiel joins OB42 hot off the heels of his latest directorial success; Supacell, which launched this month to critical acclaim on Netflix. The show already boasts a 100% Critic Score and has quickly risen to Netflix’ #1 spot. Garnering commentary from the likes of Jay Z, Supacell is a six-part series with episodes 3-5 directed by Sebastien that follows a group of seemingly normal South Londoners who suddenly develop superpowers. Introduced to OB42 by 42’s literary manager and partner Cathy King, a multi-disciplinary creative talent, Sebastian Thiel is a director, writer, producer, and one of the UK’s hottest rising stars behind the camera. Sebastien is represented for film and TV work by 42 and WME.
Born in Zambia and raised in North-West London, he has risen to prominence directing dramas for BBC, ITV, Amazon Prime and Netflix, including the International Emmy-nominated BBC Three comedy Dreaming Whilst Black. Sebastian will be bringing his vast experience in the longform space to OB42’s commercial arm, and has already seen success with commercial work for the likes of Maltesers. The signing is part of the company’s mission to help agency and brand partners navigate the growing world of branded entertainment.
Sebastian comments, “I'm really excited to join OB42 as a director because of their innovative approach at blending advertising and entertainment. The opportunity to work across different media platforms and create engaging content with such a talented team is amazing. I'm looking forward to being part of this dynamic company and contributing to its creative vision.”
Sam & David Cutler-Kreutz are a multi-award-winning directing duo who took the filmmaking scene by storm in 2022, showcasing their love for crafting intensely engaging and gripping drama. Their creative highlights include the Grand-Prix nominated narrative short film Flounder, multi-film-festival-select A-Lien, and their newly released short film Trapped, which was recently awarded the coveted Special Jury Award at this year’s SXSW Film Festival and Best US Short at the Palm Springs International Shortfest. Sam and David join the OB42 commercial ranks after being signed by 42 Talent Managers Jev Valles, Kate Prentice and partner Josh Varney for global film and TV representation, off the back of their award-winning SXSW film.
Managing director of OB42, Clancie Brennan, who recently joined CEO Otis Bell to scale the company’s branded entertainment division, comments, "The signing of Sebastian, Sam and David is a brilliant example of the unique opportunity that our partnership with 42 offers our commercial clients to work with acclaimed talent in the entertainment space. It also demonstrates our commitment to help our diverse roster of talent develop their careers across multiple disciplines, giving them the support and ability to transition seamlessly between film, commercials and music. Sebastian is an undeniable creative force whose ability to connect with modern audiences through comedy, drama and action will no doubt propel him from success to success. Sam and David’s craft is exceptional. Their highly emotive, cinematic stories are some of the best executed short films I have ever seen. With their gripping shorts making waves in the drama space I cannot wait to see the magic we can create when pairing these talents with our clients. I believe they’ll produce the type of content brands desire to cut through the noise and engage the consumer. "
Over the past 12 months, OB42 has been evolving their offering in-tandem with the growing industry appetite for new content formats outside of the traditional TV commercial arena. The bolstering of their commercial director roster with highly-regarded film and TV talent, embodies the company’s belief that the future of brand marketing lies at the intersection of advertising and entertainment. Through the development of OB42’s unique talent ecosystem, their brand partners have unparalleled access to the company’s combination of production expertise and world-class film and TV directors, screenwriters, comedians, novelists and actors.
