Amidst the cacophony of online opinion and the turbulent churn of dogfighting pundits, whose combative exchanges offer more heat than light, I embarked on a series of directing assignments that have illuminated my personal journey as much as they have sparked cultural discourse. In many ways, He Gets Us is emblematic of our polarized era, yet by working on the campaign, I can see all the ways the work has done a unifying work on me. Such is the poetry I continue to find in my life.

Crafted alongside my longtime collaborators at Ditore Mayo Entertainment, on behalf of LERMA/ — twice celebrated as AdAge’s small agency of the year — our collective effort spans a vast stylistic spectrum, whispering into intimate corners on social media and standing out amongst the pomp and spectacle during Super Bowl LVIII. This diversity in medium and unity of message mirrors the multifaceted nature of our team and the culture into which these ancient words still speak, reflecting the complexity of the world it seeks to engage.

The nature of the work, because of the cultural climate for which it continues to act as a mirror, demands a kind of intellectual rigor which I have found invigorating. No work on my reel has required a greater unity between, and dedication to, the development of the three parts of my creative soul I most value: the poet, the philosopher, and the witness.

Given the significant confluence this work represents at this stage in my career, I am compelled to share a few pieces that embody what I find so personally fulfilling about creating for this ambitious brand, rooted in a revolutionary ancient philosophy, one we’ve yet to fully comprehend.