Hungry Man's Paulo Gandra Passes Away at 28
The Brazilian director was perhaps best known for his $73K bar tab stunt.
By: Shareen Pathak, Published: Jan 30, 2012
Gandra, who was repped out of Hungry Man, began his career shooting independent videos in London, armed with just a Handy Cam. Later, he returned to Brazil, where he earned a degree in radio and television and then landed a production position at agency Almap/BBDO.
He also had stints at Cinema Centro and Dinamo Films, and spent some time directing at his own company, Gandaia Films. In 2008, he won a Cannes Silver Lion for a spot for non-profit organization Casa do Zezinho, out of Almap/BBDO.
His most well-known work, perhaps, was his viral stunt for Ogilvy Brazil and Bar Aurora & Boteco Ferraz. A campaign for anti-drunk driving, the stunt gave people a $73,000 bar tab at the end of their nights out -- something to jar them out of their stupor, perhaps. That work earned Gandra two Bronze Lions at Cannes.
In 2010, he also directed an anti-AIDS spot out of JWT Brazil that saw an assortment of couples sing a classic Madonna song.
"Paulo was living a very happy moment of his personal and professional life. To be with him was an honor for all of us. We will miss him dearly," Hungry Man said in a statement.
