THE BACKSTORY
NATHAN O'BRIEN - FOUNDER
I am an independent, nomadic, from Montreal,
US based writer and filmmaker. An advertising Creative Director and copywriter working with global brands for over 20 years. I am a storyteller that travels the world, stopping where characters are found.
Every idea has its own voice. I lead, direct and build bespoke teams of artists and production crew who know how to give everything they have
for the idea.
I concept, script and direct original commercial, documentary, animation and short films for agencies and corporations with visionary people across Canada and the US.
Globally local is how I live. My career has taken me all over the world: Canada, US, Argentina, Chile, Continental Europe, Northern & South Africa, Hong Kong & China.
My home is found in people and the land.
The awards we’ve won, the individual international acclaim we’ve earned, are all based in the roots I have in others. Anything less is just a trophy gathering dust in a box.
HAIKUKU
The 5 - 7 - 5 rule of a haiku with a side of crazy- enough-to-believe-this-will-work is how I solve problems with a poet's mindset.
Brilliant creativity in all fields is built on the foundation of the fundamentals.
To create for a living, to inspire others, to be an iconoclast, to be consistent — all comes down to understanding the immutable laws of structure. Without it, all we have is a mess masquerading as art.
A haiku places immense pressure on language and meaning. To use it as a problem solving philosophy forces complex business and communications problems into clear actionable artistry.
If I can’t say it simply, beautifully, in as few words as possible so everyone can understand, I haven’t said anything.