David Charles

David Charles (born David Charles Rodrigues; October 5, 1980) is an American filmmaker and Award-winning Creative Director whose work includes feature documentaries, branded content, interactive experiences, multimedia installations, music videos and commercials.

Biography

Born in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, Charles is of Brazilian and Greek descent. When he was 8 years old, his family moved to Belo Horizonte, Brazil. He graduated with honors in Communications (Advertising, Journalism and PR) from Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais in Brazil.

GRAPHIC NOVELS

David started his career at 16 as a graphic novel writer, publishing under indie label Big Jack Comics in Brasil. In 1999, one of his stories, "Navegando no Tempo" was selected amongst the top 20 in the world at the Comic Con Biannual in Brasil.

ADVERTISING

In 2000, he ventured into advertising, working for over 15 years at some of the top agencies and brands in the world; writing and creative-directing multi-awarded global campaigns. He was selected to serve on the 2015 board of the ADC Young Guns and has been a writer and creative director for advertising agencies Agência Click, BSSP, AKQA, 72andSunny and was the founder and ECD of KesselsKramer Los Angeles, among others.

Charles has created award-winning work for James Cameron’s Avatar, Apple, FIAT, Nike, Diageo Global, MINI, VISA, HTC, Xbox, The Standard Hotels and the launch of MOCAtv, the world’s first art channel on YouTube for the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles.

FILMMAKING

In 2006 he began his filmmaking career, writing and directing branded content series, commercials and music videos. A video he co-directed with Melinda Gorham "Nefariousa" for UK DJ Skream was selected by Complex Magazine as one of the Top Ten Best DubStep music videos of All-Time. In 2011, he and artist Gary Baseman became creative partners, and their feature documentary Mythical Creatures, chronicling Baseman’s journey to the Ukraine to discover stories about the Holocaust and his family’s history, was selected for the 2013 Sundance Institute New Frontier Story Lab and Sundance Institute Documentary Program's 2015 Documentary Fellows Program.

ART CURATION

David has been curating Internationally acclaimed art exhibits for the past ten years. Between 2012-2014 he was co-founder & curator of Kesselskramer’s Gallery in Chinatown, Los Angeles, which held exhibits by renowned artists such as Gary Baseman, Rafael Rozendaal and Pinar &Viola. David has always been interested in showing a more experimental side of an artist’s career that they are not able to display at a commercial gallery.

PERSONAL LIFE

David lives and works in Los Angeles, CA. He is married to Creative Director/Fashion Designer Melinda Gorham, with whom he often collaborates on projects. He also has a beautiful teenage step-daughter Karson and two chihuahuas Amelie and Lolo.

Filmography

Film

• Hans Doner Makes me Wet (Multi-media installation) (2010)
• The Basemans (Short documentary) (2013)
• The Teenager (Short film) (2014)
• Mythical Creatures (Documentary) (2016)
• Boo (Feature Film) (2017)

Music videos

• The Death Set “It’s Another Day” (2011)
• Skream “Nefariousa” (2011)
• Die Antwoord “Buckingham Warrior” (2013)

Branded Content & Commercials

• Telecom Itália Mobile Campaigns (2001-2004)
• FIAT “Dr. Amor” (2005)
• X-MEN 3 “Deleted Scenes” (2006)
• LucasArts “The Force Unleashed” (2007)
• Nike Presents “Blood, Sweat & Tears” Series (2008)
• Sagatiba “Brasil with an S” Series (2008)
• GAP “Vote For” Campaign (2008)
• GAP “Merry Mixmas” Campaign (2009)
• James Cameron’s “Pandora ROVR” (2009)
• Sprite “Spark” Featuring Drake (2009)
• VISA Presents “World’s Longest Goal” (2010)
• PacSun “Sinatra x Dress Irresponsibly” (2011)
• HTC “Amazing things” Campaign (2011)
• MOCAtv Series (2012-2014)
• Pampero “Live What You Love” (2013)
• CitizenM “Swang Song” (2014)
• FIAT “Paris” Featuring Paris Hilton (2014)
• FIAT “Volare” (2015)
• Apple “Vacation” (2015)