Randy Krallman

Randy honed his singular blend of deviant, deadpan humor first as an art director, before making the move behind the camera. Blessed with a wit that’s as sharp as it is unapologetic, he creates offbeat, authentic characters that leap off the screen and live long in the public’s consciousness. His eye for casting is phenomenal. His control of performance beats, improvisation and timing are finely tuned and unmatched. His humour shines through in the details – a gesture, a turn of phrase, an infamous leg kick – nuances not only in the writing but discovered in the execution.

His standout campaigns have reshaped expectations of commercial comedy. The MTV “If MTV Were…” promos with Alec Baldwin became a template for a generation of comedy writers and directors. “Still Free” for Ecko with Droga5 earned Krallman the Grand Prix at Cannes Lions, while his short film Force 1 TD won the Titanium Lion at Cannes and was an Official Selection at Sundance. His iconic Starburst spot is even funnier now than when it first launched, exploding back into culture as a viral TikTok sensation. And his E*TRADE campaign, featuring a talking baby voiced by Krallman himself, is in the pantheon of unforgettable brand characters. 

Other notable work includes “Scamageddon” for Telstra, starring Steve Buscemi as a galactic overlord intent on scamming Australia. The film became one of the most talked-about campaigns of the year, receiving honours at CICLOPE, Ad Age and AICP. His Island Wide Realty spot, featuring Staten Island legend Tony B, championed a local business through its off-beat underdog story and earned AICP and CICLOPE Gold awards, alongside selection into MoMA’s permanent collection via the AICP Show archive. His FOX Sports campaign extends the same sensibility, featuring Tom Brady channeling his seven-ring football knowledge through overzealous, everyday people.

Krallman was also instrumental in the runaway success of Skittles Commercial: The Broadway Musical, helming shorts “Therapist” and “Advertising Ruins Everything,” featuring Michael C. Hall as he expresses his existential anxiety about appearing in the Skittles commercial. The integrated campaign received accolades at Cannes Lions, AICP and The One Show, and stands as a one-of-one example of agency and production company collaboration.

Few directors become brands unto themselves, and Krallman is just that. His body of work is among the most influential in commercial comedy, with films that are quoted, studied, imitated, memed and rediscovered by new audiences year after year. A defining voice in a class of his own, he continues to shape iconic campaigns rooted in the guiding principle: to make an audience laugh, he has to laugh first.