The Bear (company)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Founders | Ben Steinbauer Berndt Mader |
| Headquarters | , U.S. |
Area served | Global |
| Services | |
| Website | www |
The Bear is an American production company and creative studio based in Austin, Texas. It was founded in 2007 by directors Ben Steinbauer and Berndt Mader,[1] and as of 2022, its executive producer is Elizabeth Spiva.[2]
History
After meeting at The University of Texas at Austin, Ben Steinbauer and Berndt Mader formed The Bear in 2007.[3]
The company has produced the comedy documentary, Winnebago Man, (directed by Ben Steinbauer),[4] Chop & Steele (directed by Steinbauer and co-directed by Berndt Mader),[5] Yeti's Soul of a City (directed by Berndt Mader),[6] and the "C'Mon Ted!" political campaign ad (directed by Richard Linklater)[1]
In 2011, Steinbauer and Mader were selected to direct a segment of the feature film, Slacker 2011, a remake of Richard Linklater's Slacker (1990) by 24 Austin-based filmmakers. The firm produced 5 Time Champion (2011), starring Betty Buckley, Jon Gries, and Dana Wheeler-Nicholson. The film was written and directed by Mader and won the Target Filmmaker Award at the 2011 Dallas International Film Festival.[7]
The firm co-produced the feature film Prince Avalanche (2013) directed by David Gordon Green, starring Paul Rudd and Emile Hirsch.[8] Also produced in 2013 was Double Play (2013) directed by Gabe Klinger, about the relationship between Richard Linklater and experimental filmmaker, James Benning.[9][10]
In 2015, the firm produced Booger Red (2015) directed by Mader,[11] starring Ornur Turkel and Marija Karan. The film won the Special Jury Prize at the 2016 Dallas International Film Festival.[12]
The firm has produced short films including Brute Force (2012); Bad Guy #2 (2014); Calls To Okies: The Park Grubbs Story (2015); The Superlative Light (2016); Death Metal (2016); Slow To Show (2016), directed by Steinbauer, which was acquired by The New York Times Op-Docs;[13] and Heroes From the Storm (2017).
The Bear has created commercials for clients such as Budweiser, Capital One, RAM, Fritos, Whole Foods, Alfa Romeo, Crate & Barrel, Dodge, Indeed, Yeti, and more.[14]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Director | Company | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Winnebago Man | Ben Steinbauer | Kino Lorber | |
| 2012 | Brute Force | Ben Steinbauer | The Bear | |
| 2013 | Prince Avalanche | David Gordon Green | Magnolia | |
| Documentary Subjects Wanted with Rory Scovel - Funny or Die | Ben Steinbauer | No Distributor | ||
| 2014 | Bad Guy #2 | Chris McInroy | No Distributor | |
| Double Play: James Benning and Richard Linklater | Gabe Klinger | Cinema | ||
| 2015 | Booger Red | Berndt Mader | Dark Star Pictures | |
| Calls To Okies: The Park Grubbs Story | Ben Steinbauer, Bradley Beesley | NA | ||
| 2016 | Death Metal | Chris McInroy | The Bear | |
| The Superlative Light 360 VR | Ben Steinbauer | The Bear | ||
| The Superlative Light | Ben Steinbauer | The Bear | ||
| Slow To Show | Ben Steinbauer | The Bear | ||
| 2017 | Heroes From the Storm | Ben Steinbauer | The Bear | |
| 2019 | Siren Song | Ben Steinbauer, Berndt Mader | No Distributor | |
| 2022 | Chop & Steele | Ben Steinbauer, Berndt Mader | Drafthouse Films |
Music video
| Year | Title | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Parted Ways | Heartless Bastards |
| 2014 | Out On the Street | Spanish Gold |
| 2015 | I'm Enough | The Mrs |
| 2017 | Sonic Demon | Rainbows Are Free |
| 2018 | Up Around the Sun | Up Around The Sun |
References
- ^ a b "Lucky 21 Welcomes Award-Winning Directors Ben Steinbauer and Berndt Mader". LBBOnline. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
- ^ "Chelsea Pictures Adds Directing Collective The Bear, EP Michel Waxman". SHOOTonline. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
- ^ "How The Bear Is Leaving Footprints in Austin's Creative Community". LBBOnline. May 19, 2023.
- ^ "Summerfest: Ben Steinbauer On "Winnebago Man"; Watch Now for Free!". IndieWire. August 15, 2011. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
- ^ Whittaker, Richard (May 10, 2023). "Chasing the Story of Chop & Steele". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
- ^ "Lucky 21 Adds Directors Ben Steinbauer and Berndt Mader For Spots, Branded Content". SHOOTonline. October 1, 2020. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
- ^ "First-Time Champion: Austinite Berndt wins DIFF's Texas Filmmaker Award". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
- ^ Rooney, David (January 21, 2013). "Prince Avalanche: Sundance Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
- ^ Dalton, Stephen (September 8, 2013). "Double Play: James Benning and Richard Linklater: Venice Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
- ^ "Venice Film Festival: FilmBuff to Press 'Double Play' Digitally". Variety. August 30, 2013. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
- ^ Hall, Michael (October 30, 2015). "The Mineola Child Sex Case Gets the Movie Treatment". TexasMonthly. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
- ^ "Dallas International Film Festival Announces Winners". Screen Magazine. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
- ^ "The New York Times Op-Docs Returns to IFC Center in New York". The New York Times Company. April 26, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
- ^ "Chop & Steele – Co-directors Berndt Mader and Ben Steinbauer". May 24, 2023. Retrieved August 12, 2024.