NORTON

Archer's Mark

1) How did you get into directing? 
I worked as an editor cutting commercials for about 6 and a half years. I always wanted to direct but it was only when I decided to apply for a Genero.tv competition that my first music video came about. It was for a band called Kap Bambino. It didn’t win the competition, but it got me signed.

2) What is your most recent project? 
My most recent project is a commercial for Nike featuring Neymar Jr., called “Ousadia Alegria.”

3) What is the best part of being a director? 
The best part of being a director is seeing your vision begin to take shape, step by step, and collaborating with talented people, each one with their own expertise to bring it to life.

4) What is the worst part of being a director? 
Having so many people inundate your inbox with questions. Ha ha. It’s obviously crucial to get all of these answered, but it can feel like you’re Marcello Mastroianni in Fellini’s “8 1/2” at times.

5) What is your current career focus: commercials & branded content, TV, movies? Do you plan to specialize in a particular genre—comedy, drama, visual effects, etc.?
My current career focus is commercials. I’m more of a visual effects and clever concept type of director, so that’s my genre. On my spare time, I’m currently planning a few short films and writing a feature.

6) Have you a mentor and if so, who is that person (or persons) and what has been the lesson learned from that mentoring which resonates with you?
I have a few mentors, from my buddy cinematographer Alex Disenhof (whom I find to give consistently good advice) to Keith Schofield, who’s been really encouraging. “Move to L.A.” was one of the best lessons. It just meant: surround yourself with people you admire and respect and take in as much as you can. A lot of filmmaking is being in the right place and meeting the right people.

7) Who is your favorite director and why? 
There are a lot of favorite directors, but Fincher is the one I always go back to. He’s my generation’s Kubrick. His eye for technical perfection, his deep understanding of storytelling and his ability to get remarkable performances from actors make him a legend. I have to mention Bennett Miller in here too. He’s worlds away almost everybody else in understanding and capturing the nuances of human behavior.

8) What is your favorite movie? Your favorite television/online program? Your favorite commercial or branded content? 
My favorite movie has got to be “Se7en.” It’s a masterpiece. As far as TV, I’m really into the show “Baskets” right now. It’s very unique. Favorite commercial is probably Michel Gondry’s “Drugstore” commercial for Levi’s.

9) Tell us about your background (i.e. where did you grow up? Past jobs?)
I grew up in Lisbon, Portugal. Then moved to the U.S., in particular New York when I was 22 for my senior year of college. I love the city so much that I ended up staying for another 5 and a half years, before moving to L.A., where I’m now based. I’ve had many lives, from acting, entertainment news reporter, to editor, VFX artist, colorist and finally directing.

Contact

Represented by Archer's Mark in the UK; contact via email
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