Tom has worked alongside the commercial industry's most sought-after storytellers. He has directed campaigns in fashion, design, and technology, for companies such as IBM, AT&T, and Zappos. He has created over 500 pitches for top-tier directors, namely: Ridley Scott, Sam Mendes, Peter Atencio, and many more. Currently, Tom is based in Los Angeles and is writing screenplays and freelancing as a Creative Director.
Check out his portfolio below and say hello!
IBM
A two-year collaboration with Ogilvy & Mather on four different campaigns
1. The First Thinking Sculpture
Architectural designers and historians taught Watson all about Gaudi’s work and continued his legacy in the city where he made such an architectural difference — a sculpture that’s quite literally shaped by the emotions of the moment.
Director: Tom Basis, Production Company: Mill+, Agency: Ogilvy & Mather
The teaser was created with all in-camera VFX. The film premiered in front of the sculpture itself at the 2017 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
2. Cognitive Couture
In celebration of the Met Gala’s 2016 theme 'Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology', IBM Watson collaborated with fashion house Marchesa to create a ‘cognitive’ LED dress worn by Karolina Kurkova.
Director: Tom Basis, Production Company: Mill+, Agency: Ogilvy & Mather
The dress was teased at an exclusive event accompanied by a twenty feet tall looping projection animation, created with bespoke 3D generative technology.
3. Setting the Table for Tech
While in Barcelona revealing The First Thinking Sculpture, IBM brought together the top thought-leaders in tech for a cognitive-created dinner to find out how cognitive AI is changing the way we create.
Director: Tom Basis, Production Company: Mill+, Agency: Ogilvy & Mather
The ten-course Watson-inspired meal by a Michelin-star chef was streamed on Facebook live and then cut into separate episodes and released on YouTube.
4. Watson at Work
After gaining valuable insight on how to construct a narrative between man and machine, 360° storytelling was the perfect next step. This series of VR films invites users to dive deeper into customer stories and learn about Watson’s capabilities.
Director: Tom Basis, Production Company: Mill+, Agency: Ogilvy & Mather
Each film is made up of multiple takes stitched together, CG elements, and scene replacements to create smooth, seamless 360° scenes. A visual system was also developed for the simple yet dynamic graphic overlays that animate in tandem to Watson’s narration, further emphasizing specific data sources where relevant.
HUDSON YARDS
Reveal Film
Vessel
A collaboration between Hudson Yards and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater on a ninety-second film introducing British architect Thomas Heatherwick’s newest centerpiece for Hudson Yards Public Square called Vessel.
Director: Tom Basis, Production Company: Mill+, Client: Hudson Yards
As the Vessel was not built yet, design exploration with a team of artists was critical. Style frames and storyboards were created throughout the pitching process which was presented directly to both Hudson Yards and Thomas Heatherwick. The creative landed on an in-camera approach — with every new building in the skyline comes a new shadow.
OLAY
Digital Campaign
DEFY BEAUTY
A YouTube series told in six parts that visualizes Olay’s determination to not follow the beauty rules but defy them.
Director: Tom Basis, Production Company: Mill+, Agency: Saatchi & Saatchi
ZAPPOS ASMR
Digital Campaign
INSTAGRAM CHALLENGE
Two Man Repeller team members, Two ASMR microphones, a lot of cozy Zappos clothing, and vertical cutdowns made for IGTV.
Director: Tom Basis, Client: Man Repeller
HAP & LEONARD
Branding for SundanceTV series
Title Sequence
Each episode of the twisted love, washed-up, lost loot world of Hap and Leonard opens with a seductive, twangy, neon-lit animated title sequence.
Director: Tom Basis, Production Company: Mill+, Client: AMC
The creative process started by referencing noir films, VHS tape covers, and pulp magazines. As storyboards that embraced the darkly comedic narrative were drawn, posters, logos, and other design materials were developed for the shows marketing team.
The Poet and the plant
Short Film
LOGLINE:
A poet loves his new houseplant so much he kills it. A meditation on true love, loneliness, and listening. And an allegory for modern man's relationship with nature, and how it can heal.
The Poet and the Plant, starring Sarah Snook of HBO's Succession, was awarded a fiscal sponsorship by the Redford Center, received an honorable mention by Hollywood New Directors, and was an official selection of the 25th Annual Nantucket Film Festival.
