Brian Billow
Brian Billow
O Positive
Director
Brian Billow is one of today’s go-to directors for the comedy genre. He spent the first part of his career as an award-winning Creative Director at DDB Chicago and McCann Erickson NY, winning awards on MasterCard, Budweiser and McDonalds among many others. He parlayed his experience as a creative into an award-winning directing style characterized by both strong comedic performance and a cinematic visual aesthetic. An admitted improv junkie—he studied the acting craft at Second City Chicago and New York’s Peoples Improv Theater—Brian’s work also reflects a sixth sense about timing.
Brian recently directed PUMA x Noah’s irreverent spot, “Winning Streak,” which takes its cue from the power of everyday rebellion, and he has also directed many hilarious spots for the famous Geico bundling campaign. His spots in that series have been wildly popular, with “Animal,” featuring the Muppets drummer, getting rave reviews in industry tastemakers like Adweek, “Aunts” winning hearts across America as well as a Webby Award, and “Cloggers” being honored with a Cannes Lion.
Brian also co-wrote and directed the viral hit “Abe and Trump being Frank” @abeandtrump featuring conversations between Abe Lincoln and his hero Donald Trump.
Billow’s viral video sensation BETH—a short film parody inspired by the classic KISS rock ballad, earned rave reviews from an eclectic range of media including Creativity, Adweek, Vice and Huffington Post. KISS’s drummer himself, Peter Chris, called the short, “pretty freakin’ awesome.”
Along with these comedic favorites, Brian has directed more serious fare such as an anti-bullying PSA for BBDO and Monica Lewinsky - #DefyTheName, which won two Cannes Lions, five D&AD pencils and a Webby Award. It features a cross-section of high-profile people like Quest Love, Lena Dunham and John Oliver who overcame being bullied as children.
Brian’s efforts have been acknowledged with a number of other industry awards including Cannes Lions, D&AD, One Show, Webby’s, CICLOPE and CLIOS, along with third place at the PIPS table tennis tournament in Brooklyn, NY.