Aaron Ruell joins Little Minx for US commercial representation
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The Napoleon Dynamite actor, known for his turn as Kip Dynamite, adds his comedy-driven directing style to the company’s roster.
Comedy and craft combine in the latest addition to Little Minx, as director and photographer Aaron Ruell signs for US commercial representation.
Ruell has created campaigns for Burger King, NY Lottery, Serta, Macy’s, Kerrygold and Coca-Cola. Based in Portland, he brings a background in photography and design to his directing, balancing poker-faced humour with distinct art direction and clean geometry.
“Aaron has this dry, deadpan sense of humor, in his work and in himself, that I love,” said Rhea Scott, Founder and President of Little Minx. “It’s always followed by a lovely smile and a quick glance to see if I caught it. Subtle, sincere, and immensely talented, he carries a quietness and shyness that conceal a lot of bravado – and a truly spectacular body of work.”
Ruell added: “What stood out for me about Little Minx is the level of artistry that lives on the roster, which feels unique to Rhea and her exceptional vision. My work tends to be comedy-driven, but there’s also a focus on art-direction. What I do best is create whole worlds that feel believable and at the same time absurd. Also, as a photographer and director, I feel totally at home in a place like Little Minx, which has many layers and real depth. I’m very happy we found each other.”
Beyond his directing career, Ruell remains recognised for playing Kip Dynamite in the cult film Napoleon Dynamite. His short films Everything's Gone Green and Mary both premiered at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival, while his photography has been published in books and exhibited internationally, including in Paris, Milan, Los Angeles and Buenos Aires.
Most recently, he directed a four-spot campaign in Toronto. After the shoot, an agency art director gifted him a miniature ceramic reproduction of his “nachos plate” title card from the Napoleon Dynamite “dishes” sequence.
“People are really still into it, man,” Ruell said. “And I don’t mind that at all.”
