The Bear (company)

The Bear is an American production company and creative studio based in Austin, Texas. It was founded in 2007 by directors Ben Steinbauer and Berndt Mader.[1] The company has produced feature films and narrative and documentary short films.

The Bear
TypePrivate
IndustryEntertainment
Founded2007
FoundersBen Steinbauer
Berndt Mader
Headquarters
Austin, Texas
,
U.S.
Area served
Global
Services
Websitewww.thebear.us

History

After meeting at the Radio, Television & Film at The University of Texas at Austin in 2004 and working on several projects together, Ben Steinbauer and Berndt Mader formed The Bear in 2007.

The Bear's documentary Winnebago Man (2009) is about an RV salesman named Jack Rebney who became a viral video sensation. Michael Moore called it “One of the funniest documentaries ever made”,[2] and Roger Ebert named it one of his favorite films of 2010.[3] The film was directed by Steinbauer and was named by the Austin Film Critics Association the Best Austin Film for 2010.[4][5]

In 2011, Steinbauer and Mader were selected to direct a segment of the feature film, Slacker 2011, a remake of Richard Linklater's Slacker (1990) by 24 Austin-based filmmakers. The firm produced 5 Time Champion (2011), starring Betty Buckley, Jon Gries, and Dana Wheeler-Nicholson. The film was written and directed by Mader and won the Target Filmmaker Award at the 2011 Dallas International Film Festival.[6]

The firm co-produced the feature film Prince Avalanche (2013) directed by David Gordon Green, starring Paul Rudd and Emile Hirsch. Also produced in 2013 was Double Play (2013) directed by Gabe Klinger, about the relationship between Richard Linklater and experimental filmmaker, James Benning.[7][8]

In 2015, the firm produced Booger Red (2015) directed by Mader,[9] starring Ornur Turkel and Marija Karan. The film won the Special Jury Prize at the 2016 Dallas International Film Festival.[10]

The firm has produced short films including Brute Force (2012); Bad Guy #2 (2014); Calls To Okies: The Park Grubbs Story (2015); The Superlative Light (2016); Death Metal (2016); Slow To Show (2016), directed by Steinbauer, which was acquired by The New York Times Op-Docs;[11] and Heroes From the Storm (2017).

In 2017, The Bear joined the roster at Chelsea Pictures for commercial representation.[12][13] In 2018, The Bear began working with AG Reps for representation in the Texas market.[14]

Filmography

Film
  • Siren Song (2018) - directed by Ben Steinbauer & Berndt Mader
  • Heroes From the Storm (2017) - directed by Ben Steinbauer & Berndt Mader
  • Slow To Show (2016) - directed by Ben Steinbauer
  • The Superlative Light (2016) - directed by Ben Steinbauer
  • The Superlative Light 360 VR (2016) - directed by Ben Steinbauer
  • Death Metal (2016) - directed by Chris McInroy
  • Calls To Okies: The Park Grubbs Story (2015) - directed by Ben Steinbauer & Bradley Beesley
  • Bad Guy #2 (2014) - directed by Chris McInroy
  • Documentary Subjects Wanted with Rory Scovel - Funny or Die (2013) - directed by Ben Steinbauer
  • Brute Force (2012) - directed by Ben Steinbauer
  • The Printer (2007) - directed by Berndt Mader
  • Road to Tlacotepec (2006) - directed by Berndt Mader
  • The Next Tim Day (2006) - directed by Ben Steinbauer
  • Recently Deceased (2006) - directed by Chris McInroy
  • Neutral Density (2005) - directed by Berndt Mader
  • Smile and the World Smiles With You (2005) - directed by Ben Steinbauer
  • A Thousand Words (2004) - directed by Ben Steinbauer
  • Pay Dirt (2004) - directed by Berndt Mader

Music video
  • Up Around The Sun “Up Around the Sun” (2018)
  • Rainbows Are Free “Sonic Demon” (2017)
  • The Mrs “I’m Enough” (2015)
  • Spanish Gold “Out On the Street” (2014)
  • Heartless Bastards “Parted Ways” (2012)

References
  1. "Chelsea Pictures Adds Directing Collective The Bear, EP Michel Waxman". SHOOTonline. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  2. Jones, Kimberley. "The Love Connection: Michael Moore hearts Austin and two of its funniest filmmakers, Bob Byington and Ben Steinbauer". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  3. Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook 2012. The Best Films of 2010: Andrew McMeels Publishing. 2011-12-06. p. 677. ISBN 9781449408138. Retrieved 30 December 2019.CS1 maint: location (link)
  4. "Austin Critics Go For "Black Swan"; Oklahoma Like "Network"". IndieWire. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  5. "Backing 'Black' The Austin Film Critics Association announces 2010 awards". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  6. "First-Time Champion: Austinite Berndt wins DIFF's Texas Filmmaker Award". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  7. Dalton, Stephen. "Double Play: James Benning and Richard Linklater: Venice Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  8. "Venice Film Festival: FilmBuff to Press 'Double Play' Digitally". Variety. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  9. Hall, Michael. "The Mineola Child Sex Case Gets the Movie Treatment". TexasMonthly. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  10. "Dallas International Film Festival Announces Winners". Screen Magazine. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  11. "The New York Times Op-Docs Returns to IFC Center in New York". The New York Times Company. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  12. "Chelsea Pictures Announces Two New Executive and Creative Appointments". Little Black Book - Celebrating Creativity. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  13. "Chelsea - Director, The Bear". Chelsea.com. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  14. "Texas - AG Represents". AG Reps. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
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