ALTERED.LA Welcomes Director Duo TOMAT

Dec. 06, 2022

Production company ALTERED.LA has today welcomed multi-award-winning duo TOMAT for representation. Specializing in filmmaking, design, post-production and photorealistic special effects, the director duo will be represented by ALTERED.LA in the USA for general and Hispanic markets. With high profile clients including Coca-Cola, Amazon and Netflix, the director duo are keen to venture into the U.S. film market while continuing to offer production and post-production services from their home base in Brazil. 

Formed in 2011 by directors Mateus Araujo and Tomas Salles, TOMAT have established a fresh directorial style incorporating photorealistic special effects and skillful set direction. Adept at extracting great performances from actors, celebrities and non-actors alike, TOMAT have been recognized across the national award circuit, winning a Bronze Lion at Cannes work on "Cat-Toast" for energy drink Flying Horse, and the prestigious Young Director Awards hosted by Shots magazine. In 2019 the directors went on to win yet another prize at Cannes, this time a Media Grand Prix with the campaign "Nike Graffiti Stores." 

With an impressive array of awards and accolades between them, including the esteemed ABP "Best Brazilian Director" award, the directing duo enjoyed successful careers as directors prior to forming TOMAT having both emanated from the VFX world. Beginning his career in New York as a compositing artist and post-production supervisor, Mateas Araujo has freelanced for wide-range of top design companies, including FDG, USA Channel and Comedy Central. As a director, Mateus went on to win a best pop music video MTV Video Music Award in 2006. 

Similarly, Tomas Salles comes from a 3D background and worked for 8 years in New York for various companies, including PSYOP/Massmarket, NY BUCK, Artjail and The Mill NY,  where he worked as a 3D supervisor. After graduating with honours from NYU’s Digital Imaging and Design, Tomas’s award winning short film ‘Equilibrio’, which he shot on 35mm film, saw him honoured as the first student selected for the SIGGRAPH Electronic Theater and Stash Magazine for his work. The film went on to win the Create and Summershort awards hosted by Student Filmmaker Magazine.

With a visual style rooted in compelling graphics and CG, TOMAT are currently working on their biggest music video project yet, a three minute piece full of practical and digital visual effects. One of their most ambitious and artistic projects ever, the project is set to be released in March 2023. In addition, the duo have a feature film in the works; an exciting project inspired by a famous Brazilian comic book from the 80’s called “Vira-Lata”.

With a passion for cars and cinematography, as reflected in their vast automotive work for brands such as Honda, Ford and Audi, the versatile directors are looking forward to expanding their reach through ALTERED.LA's prestigious network of representatives and producers by making great work for their clients all over the continent.

TOMAT, directors at ALTERED.LA, commened:

"As an international directing duo, we feel that ALTERED.LA brings a varied and inclusive feel to their work. ALTERED.L.A. Is the right fit due to their experience in the U.S. General Market as well as in the expanding Hispanic Market. In an ever-changing production landscape, we were looking for a company that has values that are in sync with the fresh, multicultural view we bring to our work. We are excited to be a part of the ALTERED.LA family and at the risk of sounding tremendously cliché, we think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."

 

Marcos Cline, Founder and Executive Producer at ALTERED.LA, added:

"More and more we receive requests for directors who are versatile, meaning they can direct comedy but also running shots of sheet metal all while being mindful of VFX integration as well. TOMAT are just that. A directing duo which emanated from the VFX world (still run a successful VFX company), have a nak for directing talent, and are passionate about cars and cinematography.  This might be why they’re one of the most sought after directors in their native Brazil. Much of our growth has been a result of our personal relationships with talent and our commitment to excellence. The result is a boutique feel. We’re not so big that the directors or clients never speak to the EP’s, but also not small in a way that would be concerning. I believe this was the reason German film director and producer, Marcus Nispel introduced me to TOMAT.  When an iconic director like Marcus introduces you to one of the top directors in a market the size of Brazil, you pay attention! As a company, the important takeaway is that we’ve reached that point where directors are finding us, they admire what we’ve achieved and want to be a part of it. It’s tough to express how grateful we are to be that sort of beacon for Latin American and US Latino directors who are looking to expand into the U.S. market."