Augustus Punch joins Rabbit

Rabbit has announced that directing collective Augustus Punch has joined its director roster.

The Australian duo is made up of Alexandra Bolton and Diesel Schwarze. Both were born and raised in Australia but now split their time between Melbourne, LA, NY and London.

The pair kicked off their careers by working at Baz Luhrmann’s production company. Schwarze worked closely with Luhrmann on the directing, editing and visual effects side of Bazmark’s projects, while Bolton designed alongside four-time Academy Award winner Catherine Martin. They spent 6 years at the company and played integral roles in productions such as Moulin Rouge, the Broadway production of La Boheme and Chanel No. 5 with Nicole Kidman.

With training like this, it is no surprise that elements such as large set builds, complex choreography, innovative camera-work, seamless transition shots and high-end visual effects are common threads throughout in their work.

A career highlight includes directing US department store Macy’s brand campaign for JWT New York. The campaign featured more celebrities than you could poke a stick at. Shot over 5 days in an underground armory in the Bronx, NY, Bolton and Schwarze replicated the old Hollywood feel of shooting in a giant stage.

Augustus Punch won the AICP Award for Production Design for their Sony Xperia tablet spot. Shot in Warsaw over 2 days for McCann NY, the spot is a technical and visual feat – produced mainly in camera on a techno crane and choreographed to a tee.

Says Alex Hay, co-EP for Rabbit: “Alex and Diesel are two of the loveliest, most humble and incredibly clever people I have come across in this business. Their work speaks for itself and Rabbit could not be more excited to represent them in this part of the world.”

For more information and to see Augustus Punch’s work, click here.