BestFriend Signs Emmy-Winning Director Mickey Finnegan

Dec. 06, 2018

BestFriend, the LA, NY, and Boulder-based production studio led by Executive Producer Zak Thornborough, adds to its multitalented roster with the signing of writer/director Mickey Finnegan.

Mickey combines an irreverent sense of humor and youthful approach with the level of professionalism that comes with being an established director.  He is as adept at evoking the natural charm of high-profile celebrities like Usher, Miley Cyrus, Emma Roberts, and Jon Cena, as he is crafting narrative pieces for the gaming world and beyond.

This multifaceted skillset means Mickey most enjoys working at the place where genres overlap, as seen in his Emmy-award winning Nick Jr. campaign “Girls in Charge.” The movie trailer-inspired spot blends live-action footage with Nick Jr.’s popular animated characters to assemble and empower the next generation of young girl heroes.

For his BestFriend debut – a Krazy Glue spot via agency VML – Mickey brings wit and humor to ask the sticky question of who is stronger - glue or man? The ominous music and shadowy backdrop provide the perfect comedic foil for the lighthearted subject, as Mickey unearths a perfectly delivered comedic performance from Icelandic strongman and actor Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson.  

A life-long gamer, Mickey directs Esports content with a true understanding of the medium, often by revealing the community’s more humanistic qualities, as showcased in his original narrative short film “Godlike.” Because of his expertise, Riot Games enlisted Mickey to serve as a lead creative on the team behind the first-ever League of Legends campaign directed by Bryan Buckley. Mickey’s insider knowledge of the Esports scene offers the ad industry access into a new frontier that continues to grow with branding opportunities every day.

Born in San Mateo, California, Mickey graduated from USC’s prestigious School of Cinematic Arts. He got his start directing dance-centric music videos, an added edge he calls upon when working with choreographers, while his humor and risk-taking approach makes him a perfect fit for brands that skew youthful.

Mickey’s repertoire includes brand work for Beats, Dish, Pepsi, Intel, Nike, and Kia, as well as promos for TV shows like American Idol, X-Factor, Scream Queens, and Blackish, and for networks such as MTV, HGTV, FOX, and ABC. On the music side, he’s worked with LMFAO, Cee Lo Green, R.Kelly, Lil Jon, and Soulja Boy, to name just a few, with his collected works on YouTube amassing over 2 billion views. Additionally, Mickey has co-written a feature biopic about Vince McMahon and the WWE, which has been optioned and is in development by WWE Studios.

EP Zak Thornborough says:

“Mickey’s reel speaks for himself. He’s a natural at working with A-list celebrities, which is always an asset for the advertising world, and I’m excited to have his kind of comedic firepower added to the roster. He’s a BestFriend type of person – no drama, full of inspiring ideas, easy to collaborate with, and liked by all.”