Google “David Gray” and you most likely get a British singer-songwriter best known for the hit BABYLON, a plumber who’s been servicing Jacksonville for over 30 years, or a Professor of Religious Studies at Santa Clara University who specializes in tantric Buddhist traditions.
Add the word “Director” to the search and you get an American director and filmmaker, who can’t sing, fix pipes or knows anything about Southeast Asian sexual practices, but is pretty good at directing.
That’s probably why he’s won just about every award in advertising including multiple Cannes Lions, British Design & Art Direction Awards, One Shows, Andy’s, Art Director Club awards and Clios. As well as being nominated for the Director’s Guild of America Commercial Director of the Year award.
David grew up in Rochester, New York where his start in filmmaking began working in the 35mm film labs at Kodak during college summer breaks. After graduating Cum Laude from Syracuse University, he soon became an award winning creative and creative director.
David’s Snickers “Not going anywhere for a while” campaign, he co-created, is one of the most awarded campaigns and his ETrade “Monkey” spot is considered one of the Top Ten Superbowl ads of all time.
After his run on the agency side, David quickly established himself as one of the commercial world’s top young talents when he started directing commercially with Hungry Man and was nominated was for the DGA award.
So, while you may have a hard time finding him in a Google search, there’s a good chance you know his work.