SKUNK welcomes John Hillcoat as partner and rostered director
The renowned filmmaker brings his artistic vision and inspired leadership to SKUNK.
Award-winning production company SKUNK announces the addition of filmmaker John Hillcoat as partner and rostered director.
Hillcoat, one of the most preeminent directors in the industry today, brings a wealth of experience and a unique artistic vision to SKUNK. Hillcoat’s accolades include top honours from the Cannes Lions Festival, AICP, ANDY, ADC Awards, Clio, and One Show Awards, making him a highly sought-after collaborator. Hillcoat's lyrical realism and depth of expertise across all filmic mediums make him an ideal partner for SKUNK.
Hillcoat’s storied commercial career began at SKUNK with Levi’s campaign Go Forth - Ready to Work, a collaboration with renowned cinematographer Harris Savides and executive produced by Shelly Townsend and Matt Factor, SKUNK’s founder. Other early collaborations between Hillcoat and SKUNK include spots for Coca-Cola and Jameson Irish Whiskey. Hillcoat’s impressive body of branded work consists of the acclaimed film Corazon, created in partnership with Montefiore Health Systems and starring Demian Bichir and Ana de Armas. Premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival, Corazon won a Grand Prix at Cannes Lions and a Grand Clio for Branded Content. Highlighting LVADs, or “medical hearts,” the film has saved over thirty-five thousand lives.
Hillcoat is known for his ability to bring a captivating sense of intimacy to his films, as seen in his celebrated commercials such as Coca-Cola’s It’s Beautiful and Expedia’s Train, both of which celebrate the unity of humankind while also revelling in our unique differences. His additional brand collaborations include iconic names like Apple, Samsung, Volkswagen, Guinness, and Sofitel, among many others.
As a narrative filmmaker, Hillcoat directed the feature adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, which premiered in competition at the Venice Film Festival. His other feature films include Triple 9, Proposition, and Lawless, which premiered in competition at the Cannes Film Festival. For television, he directed the episode Crocodile of the acclaimed Netflix series Black Mirror, which won an Excellence Award for Short Film at the Seoul International Drama Awards, four episodes of Special Ops: Lioness for Paramount+, and the multi-Emmy-nominated Showtime mini-series George & Tammy, starring Jessica Chastain and Michael Shannon. Hillcoat’s deep love for music has also translated into numerous collaborations on music videos for legendary artists like Nick Cave, Depeche Mode, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, and Siouxsie and the Banshees, to name a few.
“I am thrilled to join SKUNK not only as a director but as a creative partner,” remarks Hillcoat on his latest venture. “I want to help build something new that can grow to cross-pollinate and explore multi-platform work that cultivates and celebrates quality over quantity. I’m excited to have a company around me that’s not only home to my own work but a place where I can develop and support up-and-coming directors.”
SKUNK founder and executive producer Matt Factor adds, “I’ve always had a lot of love for John, creatively and as a person, and I’m excited that we’re working together. I have an appetite to go into longer-form material, expand beyond commercials, and look forward to working with John to evolve our capabilities to address what’s to come in branded media.”