International talent join forces as gods&monsters

A new Australian production company, gods&monsters, has launched with the signing of director Barney Howells (far left) by executive producer Nik Round (left). With Round’s 20 years of production experience, and Howells’s recognition by Cannes Lions as one of the world’s hottest new directors, the collaboration promises agencies a skilled and imaginative team dedicated to the craft of making outstanding content.

Hailing from the UK, Howells (represented by Partizan for the UK and USmarkets) has directed for MTV, Xbox, Playstation, Nokia and VO5. Abackground working with some of the world’s most reputable directorsincluding Traktor, Mehdi Norowzian and Antoine Bardou Jacquet, Howellshas now forged his own successful path.

Says Howells: “I’mreally excited to be finally living in Australia, I’ve been watchingthis market for some time and love being part of a very talentedcreative industry that rewards pro-active people and creativesolutions.”

A finalist at Cannes and Kinsale Shark Awards forthe best new director, Howells’s film for Xbox was a finalist at theBritish Television and Advertising Craft Awards and won CreativityOnline’s Platinum Award. His work has been selected as Pick of the Weekin Campaign, iSpot of the week in Shoot Online, as well as being verypositively reviewed in shots magazine and Contagious.

gods&monstersoffers expertise in traditional and emerging media with Nik Roundproducing the first branded content documentary program for NikeAustralia, and Howells directing a 13-part branded content online dramaseries for Ford UK.

Also from the UK, Round has produced acrossthe globe including Australia, Asia, Europe and North America. He wasinstrumental to the success of EXIT Films where he worked for sixyears, and was engaged by Saatchi & Saatchi London to establishtheir production division for Team Saatchi. He has some incrediblefeats under his belt including large-scale operations for theAustralian Defence Force and retail launches for Myer and Kmart.

Forfurther information on gods&monsters, and for a copy of BarneyHowells’s reel please call Nik Round on 0417 379 023 or via email nik@godsandmonsters.com.au