Creative production company Derby announced today that it has signed director Ryan Balas to its roster of modern directors.
A seasoned director and cinematographer, Ryan’s love for food is also his primary subject. He is a tabletop director with a fresh and natural eye. He co-founded TheFoodPornHub.com with his brother, an editor and his frequent collaborator, showcasing his passion for the elevated tabletop experience. All of the content on the site was created by the duo.
Ryan has created beautiful stories for clients such as Chobani, Freshly, Owyn, Cholula, Bright Greens and has collaborated with food tastemakers such as Molly Yeh, Saveur Magazine and Tasting Table. Ryan loves injecting intimacy in his work by creating a real bond between the brand and its audience.
“Ryan’s modern tabletop style combined with his lifestyle directing experience makes him the perfect fit for the Derby roster. His approach is about bringing a real human element into his projects,” said Mary Crosse, founder and Executive Producer at Derby.
“Derby felt like the right fit straight out of the gate,” Ryan said. “Their roster is so diverse and they celebrate everyone’s unique style and work, and it was important for me to have a team who could understand my approach wholeheartedly. I’m thrilled to be joining a company brave enough to push the limits and make iconic work together with clients.”
In addition to tabletop commercial directing, Ryan has created cinematic, raw stories for multiple narrative and documentary long form projects. Past work includes directing several independent feature films, such as, “Everyone Says I Look Just Like Her,” starring Joe Swanberg. As a cinematographer, Ryan has shot over 20 feature films, including the Anthony Rapp-led “Bwoy.”
Ryan joins Derby’s commercial directorial roster, which includes award-winning directors Lucas Borrás, The Bozzwicks, Nickolas Duarte, Josh Hayward, Catherine Orchard, John Poliquin, and Roberto Serrini. Since its launch in 2015, Derby has produced campaigns with its agency partners and brands, including, Delta, American Express, Tidal, Listerine, Lucky Charms, S’well, and more.
