Backyard Signs Swedish Director Jesper Ohlsson

Backyard Signs Swedish Director Jesper Ohlsson

Swedish director Jesper Ohlsson has joined Backyard for representation statside.

Venice, California-based Backyard has signed Swedish director Jesper Ohlsson for his first-ever U.S. commercial representation.  Ohlsson’s knack for both visual and character-driven campaigns are best showcased in spots for Nokia, Carlsberg, and Hyundai.  Almost immediately after signing, the director helmed TripAdvisor and is currently shooting a spot for Hershey’s out of Arnold, NYC.  Ohlsson is represented in Sweden by Social Club and in Germany by Cobblestone.   

Says Backyard Managing Director/Partner Chris Zander, “There's not much to say except I fucking love everything about this guy."

Ohlsson excels at encapsulating the appropriate tone and energy across all media platforms.  His work often features surreal elements without being excessive, and with appropriate amounts of quirkiness or humor.  His simple-yet-effective approach and incredible eye for detail brings complicated or underdeveloped concepts to affecting, dynamic life – no matter which genre he’s tackling.

Notes Ohlsson, “I enjoy creating offbeat characters and visuals that express a specific mood.  Sometimes all it takes is one carefully delivered image or performance.  Backyard’s directors, including my Swedish friend and mentor Jesper Ericstam, all do this beautifully and efficiently.  Backyard has felt like my home away from home since day one.”     

Ohlsson grew up and went to film school in Sweden, where his musings on film were published locally.  After directing a handful of shorts, he quickly transitioned to spots, applying his vast understanding of cinema to advertising projects.  In 2006, his KPA_Mines work was shortlisted for the Young Director’s Award at Cannes Lions.

Outside of film, Ohlsson finds inspiration in music and through his love of photography, for which he recently held a gallery exhibition in Stockholm.  See some of his photographic creations here.

Published 25 October, 2013