BRW USA, Los Angeles signs BBC’s Emmy Award®-winning Top Gear lead director Nigel Simpkiss for commercial representation. This representation is part of Simpkiss’ signing with the BRW Group: BRW USA for the U.S., Independent (London) for worldwide, except North America. Click HERE to view Simpkiss’ reel.

He joins BRW from Streetlight Films, Worldwide, where he was represented in the U.K. and U.S. Highly accomplished in both editing and directing, Simpkiss has been helming music videos, documentaries and commercials for 20 years. The director’s seminal work includes the acclaimed documentary Richard Hammond Meets Evel Knievel and spots for such brands as Aston Martin, Nokia, Land Rover, Subaru, Polaris, Lexus and Jaguar. Known throughout the industry as an auto filming expert, Simpkiss has shot more cars than anyone else on the planet in the last 8 years. He has pioneered a quicker, lighter way to film cars and has shot in a multitude of extreme locations and situations.

Says BRW USA Managing Director Andy Traines, “Nigel is all about innovation and finding new ways to make well-trod material fun and exciting. He has had enormous success with cars, etc. for Top Gear, but
that’s just the tip of the iceberg.”
Born just outside the industrial hub of Birmingham, England, Simpkiss briefly studied social work at the University of Bristol before stumbling upon the Fine Arts Department and discovering his passion for photography. His love for all things cinema brought him to London, where he eventually landed his big break at Channel 4, working as a runner at editorial house Component Editing. He quickly climbed the ranks to become editor, working on many well-regarded documentaries produced by Channel 4. With the resurgence of music videos, Simpkiss soon found himself doing a great deal of freelance editing on such top music videos as Primal Scream’s “Loaded,” eventually segueing into directing music video segments himself. After spending a few years freelance directing music videos and music documentaries, he began filming cars, serving as a director for numerous high-profile car shows.
Hearing through the grapevine that BBC’s Top Gear—which had been dropped by the U.K. network—was being revived and in need of a fresh new take, Simpkiss employed his extensive skills in both automotive and documentary filmmaking, as well as his desire to make the show more cinematic, to land a job as a series director. Through his Top Gear acclaim, where he continues to direct today, Simpkiss was chosen to helm commercials for many of the U.K.’s top automakers. Though highly experienced in automotive directing, his passion truly lies in his documentary film roots. Says Simpkiss, “I would like to move in the direction of making more documentary-style commercials where people express their passion about what they do.”
Simpkiss recently directed the BAFTA-nominated “South America Special” doc, where he led the production through a Bolivian rainforest under the debilitating effects of high altitude and the terrifying sheer drops of the infamous Death Road. The variable conditions ignited a great deal of excitement in Simpkiss and enabled him to pull the very best out of crews and presenters.
Simpkiss currently resides north of London.

About BRW USA, BRW FILMLAND AND INDEPENDENT

BRW USA is a creative content production company founded by Andrew Traines, Gianfilippo Pedrotti, Michele Nocchi and Marco Bussinello. The L.A.-based shop is home to a team of seasoned producers and A-list directing, design, VFX and interactive talent. The diverse collective offers integrated creative solutions for agencies, brands and the entertainment industry. With its sister companies Independent, London and BRW FILMLAND Milano, BRW USA has a reach that extends to Europe, South America and beyond. BRW USA is able to employ top talent from around the world to ensure the finest work at the most cost-effective price.

Established in 1974 as BRW & Partners, BRW was the first commercial production company in Italy to work with only the best American and British directors, and quickly became one of the most award-winning production houses in Europe. Currently run by Marco Bussinello, the company changed its name in 2009 giving birth to BRW FILMLAND.

INDEPENDENT (LONDON), headed by Jani Guest, is recognized as one of the UK’s top production companies with a wide array of top-tier talent in both live action and animation.

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