Award-winning director, Marcus Nispel, has signed with Tool of North America.

Nispel cites Tool’s physical production and post-production capabilities as a primary motivation for the move. “Tool goes beyond just representing directors,” Nispel said. “Big jobs don’t always come with big budgets anymore. To maximize a client’s budget this kind of infrastructure is needed.”

For Nispel, joining Tool is a natural partnership of similar personalities, experiences and visions. “Tool shares my vision that advertising, as we know it, will transform into branded content, where all these disciplines will ultimately come together. We’re not just talking about small stunts on YouTube, but significant platforms like “American Idol,” “Transformers,” even MTV. That requires expertise in long-form, and conceptual acumen. It takes incredible production muscle to create entertainment that, on its own, is as captivating as the actual product that it is advertising.”

Tool Executive Producer, Oliver Fuselier, added, “I’m really excited to work with Marcus again. He’s an incredible talent who’s directed some of the most engaging spots and music videos of all time.”

Nispel shares a background as an advertising creative with Tool founder, Erich Joiner, and several other Tool directors. “Having served at agencies ourselves—concepting ideas and being immersed in agency culture—gives us all a great understanding of the advertising process and what’s expected.” Some of Nispel’s most recognized and awarded work has come from projects where he was brought directly into the creative process to collaborate with the creative team.

On his parting ways with MJZ after more than a decade, Nispel said, “My working relationship with MJZ has simply transformed, and David Zander and I remain great friends. I’m currently directing a feature film with MJZ and David Zander producing.”

Over the course of his career, Marcus Nispel has directed over 250 music videos, worked with nearly every agency and advertiser on about 2000 commercials, and shot features for the USA Network, New Line, Warner, Lionsgate, and 20^th Century Fox. Now, Nispel seeks to combine his formidable background in advertising and feature films to push advertising into the future with his new partner, Tool of North America.

Nispel is already in development on numerous branded long-form projects slated to go into production early next year.