Alexander Davidis
Encyclopedia
Alexander Davidis is a German born television director, writer and producer.
He was born in Germany in 1963 where he went to private boarding school, the Castle Buldern in North-Rhine-Westphalia. In Essen
, he studied business administrations for two years, then he moved to Berlin
to study Social and Commercial Communications at the Universität der Künste Berlin.
After obtaining his Masters degree, he moved to New York City
in 1989, where he started to work with now Hollywood film director Marcus Nispel
(The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
) at Nispel's then film production company Portfolio Artists Network. Davidis started out as the in-house Conceptual Art Director. In this capacity he was responsible for the art direction of such memorable music videos as C&C Music Factory's "Gonna Make You Sweat
" and "Things That Make You Go Hmmm...", the latter being nominated at the MTV Music Video Awards for best art-direction of that year. He also worked with Nispel on music videos for Aretha Franklin
, The B-52's
, Sheila E, Joe Jackson
, L.L. Cool J. and many more. As the company grew he became Creative Director looking after new directors that joined Portfolio switching from photography to music video directing, such as Hans Neleman
and David LaChapelle
.
Subsequently, Davidis turned director himself. In the early 1990s, he was represented by New York City based Taxi Films and in Europe by Production International that had their main offices in London
and Hamburg
and more offices in many countries including South Africa
. As a result, Davidis became the "traveling director" shooting with the leading advertising agencies in South Africa
, Brazil
, Sweden
, Switzerland
, Spain
, Portugal
, the USA
and many more. He won the award for Best Car Commercial at the Portugal Commercial Film Festival 1996.
In the late 1990s, he worked as a conceptual media consultant for the foreign political department of the ZDF
, Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen, the biggest broadcaster in Europe as well as the New York Times Television, at the time living in London
, from 1998 through 2003. Beginning of 2004 he returned to new New York City
.
Davidis is also a still photographer specialized in historic and luxury Automobiles. Davidis's photography was exhibited in the UK in 2004 and in 2005 and in the US in 2005. He won the prestigious Aston Martin Owners Club
Klemantaski-Parnell photo award in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004.
Alexander Davidis also directs the television series on historic car racing GT Racer
. Produced by the John Galt Films, Inc., NYC. GT Racer
, Season I was shot for VoomHD. In the USA, GT Racer
was called "Classic Racers". Season II was picked up by the Discovery Network
and premiered on HD Theater and Discovery HD
in 2009.
He was born in Germany in 1963 where he went to private boarding school, the Castle Buldern in North-Rhine-Westphalia. In Essen
Essen
- Origin of the name :In German-speaking countries, the name of the city Essen often causes confusion as to its origins, because it is commonly known as the German infinitive of the verb for the act of eating, and/or the German noun for food. Although scholars still dispute the interpretation of...
, he studied business administrations for two years, then he moved to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
to study Social and Commercial Communications at the Universität der Künste Berlin.
After obtaining his Masters degree, he moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1989, where he started to work with now Hollywood film director Marcus Nispel
Marcus Nispel
Marcus Nispel is a German–American feature film director and producer, and formerly a director of television commercials and music videos. Many of his films have been remakes, all of which have met with a negative critical reception....
(The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003 film)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a 2003 remake of the 1974 horror film of the same name. The 2003 film was directed by Marcus Nispel and produced by Michael Bay...
) at Nispel's then film production company Portfolio Artists Network. Davidis started out as the in-house Conceptual Art Director. In this capacity he was responsible for the art direction of such memorable music videos as C&C Music Factory's "Gonna Make You Sweat
Gonna Make You Sweat
Gonna Make You Sweat is the first studio album by production group C+C Music Factory. The album was released in the U.S. on December 13, 1990 ....
" and "Things That Make You Go Hmmm...", the latter being nominated at the MTV Music Video Awards for best art-direction of that year. He also worked with Nispel on music videos for Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
, The B-52's
The B-52's
The B-52's are an American rock band, formed in Athens, Georgia in 1976. The original line-up consisted of Fred Schneider , Kate Pierson , Cindy Wilson , Ricky Wilson , and Keith Strickland . Following Ricky Wilson's death in 1985 Strickland switched to guitar...
, Sheila E, Joe Jackson
Joe Jackson (musician)
Joe Jackson is an English musician and singer-songwriter now living in Berlin, whose five Grammy Award nominations span from 1979 to 2001...
, L.L. Cool J. and many more. As the company grew he became Creative Director looking after new directors that joined Portfolio switching from photography to music video directing, such as Hans Neleman
Hans Neleman
Hans Neleman is an international photographer and film director, and founder of WIN-Initiative stock photography agency.-Biography:Hans Neleman is a Dutch-born photographer and director residing in Connecticut and working in New York City. He is also the founder of boutique stock photography...
and David LaChapelle
David LaChapelle
David LaChapelle is a photographer and director who works in the fields of fashion, advertising, and fine art photography, and is noted for his surreal, unique, sexualized, and often humorous style.-Early life:...
.
Subsequently, Davidis turned director himself. In the early 1990s, he was represented by New York City based Taxi Films and in Europe by Production International that had their main offices in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
and more offices in many countries including South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. As a result, Davidis became the "traveling director" shooting with the leading advertising agencies in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, the USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and many more. He won the award for Best Car Commercial at the Portugal Commercial Film Festival 1996.
In the late 1990s, he worked as a conceptual media consultant for the foreign political department of the ZDF
ZDF
Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen , ZDF, is a public-service German television broadcaster based in Mainz . It is run as an independent non-profit institution, which was founded by the German federal states . The ZDF is financed by television licence fees called GEZ and advertising revenues...
, Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen, the biggest broadcaster in Europe as well as the New York Times Television, at the time living in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, from 1998 through 2003. Beginning of 2004 he returned to new New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Davidis is also a still photographer specialized in historic and luxury Automobiles. Davidis's photography was exhibited in the UK in 2004 and in 2005 and in the US in 2005. He won the prestigious Aston Martin Owners Club
Aston Martin Owners Club
The Aston Martin Owners Club is one of the oldest one-make car enthusiast clubs, one of the largest with worldwide membership and one of the leaders....
Klemantaski-Parnell photo award in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004.
Alexander Davidis also directs the television series on historic car racing GT Racer
GT Racer
GT Racer is a Cinéma vérité television program following classic car racing. In the United Kingdom it is broadcast on the UKTV channel Dave, in the United States it is broadcast by Treasure HD, a high definition channel of VoomHD and can be received on 'Cable Vision' and 'Dish'. The series is...
. Produced by the John Galt Films, Inc., NYC. GT Racer
GT Racer
GT Racer is a Cinéma vérité television program following classic car racing. In the United Kingdom it is broadcast on the UKTV channel Dave, in the United States it is broadcast by Treasure HD, a high definition channel of VoomHD and can be received on 'Cable Vision' and 'Dish'. The series is...
, Season I was shot for VoomHD. In the USA, GT Racer
GT Racer
GT Racer is a Cinéma vérité television program following classic car racing. In the United Kingdom it is broadcast on the UKTV channel Dave, in the United States it is broadcast by Treasure HD, a high definition channel of VoomHD and can be received on 'Cable Vision' and 'Dish'. The series is...
was called "Classic Racers". Season II was picked up by the Discovery Network
Discovery Network
A Discovery Network is a community that can include commercial, academic, governmental and independent entities collaborating together and coordinating their efforts to enrich society with new material goods and services, and extracting some value from doing so...
and premiered on HD Theater and Discovery HD
Discovery HD
Discovery HD is the international name of the high-definition television channels from Discovery Communications.The international Discovery HD first launched in Korea on February 2005 as a programming block...
in 2009.