Claudia Alberdi, Argentina

Slipping between Portuguese, Spanish, English and Italian dialog makes Claudia Alberdi all the more flexible when it comes to moving around and shooting spots in the southern hemisphere.

Alberdi has been directing for a mere three years following her graduation from the respected Art Centre College of Design in Pasadena, CA. Presently repped by international production company Film Planet, Alberdi has directed spots in countries such as Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela and Mexico.

Alberdi's flexibility to wrap creative visuals around several languages allows her much creative room on set. "Being fluent in all the languages, living in all the countries and comprehending the different cultures and perspectives makes me pretty much at home wherever I shoot," explains Alberdi.

Although challenged by the structure of US commercial production, Alberdi does concede that it doesn't compare to the potential of projects south of the border.

"In South America the creative energy is higher because you actually go through the whole process and deliver a spot finished; in the US it's primarily the agencies who deal with post-production so your duties are done once the cameras have stopped rolling. There is also plenty of opportunity for directors in the Hispanic market. The North American market is far more specialized with respect to specific visual, comedy, car and beauty directors, but in South America you get to do work that you wouldn't have an opportunity to shoot in the States."

Alberdi's clients include Polaroid, Crest and McDonald's and she has just wrapped a spot for Land's End through DDB, Chicago. In addition to continuing her Hispanic and US spot route, Alberdi also has her eye cast on Europe and will soon investigate its possibilities. "I simply try to push the boundaries on every job that I do," says Alberdi. "That, and great storytelling are what make a great commercial." SW

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Film Planet> www.filmplanet.com

Mario Bazzi, Uruguay/Chile

Uruguayan director Mario Bazzi has remained content with his work via constant changes in scenery. His current port of call is Santiago, Chile.

"These last years haven't been good [economically] for Argentina and Uruguay. I decided to go to Chile because there is a lot of work there; the scripts and ideas are serious in economic terms and it's a nice place to shoot," says Bazzi. "Chilean creatives are open to new ideas. They don't like to fax you a script; they call you and tell you the idea to get instant feedback."

Bazzi's Chilean work is a testament to this creative freedom. "Oreja" for Devorame.com began as a short film dreamed up by Bazzi and his friend Kiko Carcavilla, general creative director at Lowe Porta & Partners, Santiago. Based on a young man who doesn't listen and after several accidents is reduced to nothing but an ear (it/he commits suicide when an infection makes music appreciation impossible), the seven-minute 16mm film was made into an ad. Also for Lowe Porta, Bazzi directed "Mexico" for LanChile. The spot shows a Chilean family who've returned from a Mexican vacation, leaving the father so enamored with the place that he even speaks with a Mexican accent. "Peliculas" for Sky through Prolam Y&R, borrows from the snapshot flashback scenes from Run Lola Run. The stills strobe through the misadventures of a man who, in an attempt to rent a movie, finds himself harassed, beaten and eventually jailed for his efforts.

"Many times creatives have references or are basing ideas on other stories, so you have a clear idea about what [they] want to say," says Bazzi. "If it's clear, you start working and mix in your own ideas. But many times they call you not just to visualize, but to write the film for them. I am not a writer. I prefer to work in form rather than concept."

Bazzi works with No Guns Pictures, LA. SH

Webfiles>

No Guns Pictures> www.nogunspictures.com

Lowe Portas> www.loweporta.cl

Peluca, Argentina

Spinning comedic kitsch with a distinctly Argentine twist, Peluca Films, Buenos Aires continues to spread its heightened, expressive realism, spoofs and off-color humor. Directors Luciano Podcaminsky, Agustin Marqués, Juan Taratuto and Enrique García Siedner comprise the Peluca collective.

"The four of us work as a group under the name Peluca," explains Podcaminsky. "We work in pairs of two and sometimes our directors work alone, but with the support of the team."

Peluca has worked extensively in Argentina, shooting a smarmy Italian racecar driver in a '70s-flashback spot in Bardahl "Mansion," and an intentionally over-acting cocktail gigolo in Cinzano "Vaso," both for CraveroLanis Euro RSCG. Another spot, "Gatito" for dotcom Sinectic through RATTO/BBDO depicts a man who finds a stray kitten soaked to the skin outside of his door and tries to dry it off in the microwave. Dr. Scholl's "Piecitos" out of Y&R shows two shoeless men reclining in a park, with two piles of dung at their feet. A voice-over complains of the stench and suggests a move, but rather than the men moving on, the turds inch away from the rank feet.

"We understand that every commercial has its own look, needs and personality. Having said that, we like different kinds of things because the four of us are quite different. We make a good mix between performance and realism and good-looking and image commercials," says Podcaminsky. "We always want to be involved as much as we can. We like to know everything about the product and the way the creative intended the campaign. We are more than just producers -- we like to participate with ideas and concepts."