“Content” isn’t a buzzword, it’s a legitimate sea change. People can watch what they like, and skip what they don’t. And we think that’s a great thing. It means more people focusing more of their time and attention on the things they find interesting, beautiful, engaging, or just plain cool.
We’re committed to the art of telling beautiful, compelling stories. Enjoyment and passion imbue every step of our process, and we believe that our love for the medium and the depth of our engagement with each project sets our work apart. These are the ingredients that deliver films people want to share, comment on, and watch again and again.
Production is an artform. Collaboration is crucial. Limitations can be liberating. Exploration is essential. We believe every story deserves to be shown in the most beautiful light and the best work comes from a passion for the process.
These are the beliefs that guide our work, and the reasons why we started Avocados and Coconuts.
“The enemy of art is the absence of limitations.” Orson Welles said that, presumably between big swigs of champagne. He was onto something. Chasing the Big Idea is great so long as you don’t lose sight of the Big Picture. That is to say, understanding what it will take to turn a creative vision into a successful reality. We find that our pragmatic, holistic approach to the process delivers work that’s as achievable as it is awesome.
Mean streets of the tree-lined northern suburbs of Johannesburg, South Africa.
Has an acute understanding of productions of any scale. Has been in production for over 20 years and has worked on everything from large multi-million dollar budget union films, commercials, and PSA's, to sit-coms and webisodes.
Logs most of her crucial and relevant hours in the ocean. Traveling far and wide to try to find her perfect wave. She is a pioneer of what she believes to be the small wave surfing movement.
Assembled in Vermont, from U.S. and Tanzanian components.
Co-founded his first company, the seminal snowboard brand Twist, while still in high school. Owes his creative vision to the scrappy DIY ethic he learned from skate/surf/snow culture. The self-reliance, determination, and open collaboration that he values has served him well, from his boardsport roots to directing global campaigns for brands such as Adidas, Xbox, and Apple.
Carries at least one camera all the time, everywhere. Garden variety Japanophile with a particular love for ceramics.
Tamalpais High ⇒ Cal ⇒ SF
It’s the usual story of becoming an elite coxswain, then a major label record biz guy, then an actual stuntman, then a writer and eventually creative director in the advertising industry. His many successes are the direct result of assuming audiences won’t care unless you give them reason to, while also presuming people are generally quite smart and kinda weird.
Bikes, mountains, mountain bikes, pancakes, power ballads, pioneering the Slow Jogging Method, casually pursuing UFOlogy.
Decatur, Alabama
Brandon has been working commercially in San Francisco for the past decade cultivating his craft of telling stories through advertising and short films. His southern roots keep his directing style humble, conversational, and honest. Brandon’s experience in advertising demands a high standard of work that is stimulating, artful, and distinct. Brandon’s first feature documentary, A Film About Coffee, explores the global culture of specialty coffee.
Coffee, Wine and College football - roll tide!
Farmed straight from the fields and swimming pools of Davis, California.
Began his career shooting professional surfers across the globe. Having earned a Masters degree in documentary from UC Santa Cruz, his award winning doc work screened in festivals worldwide and nationally on PBS. After a stint living and filming in Peru, he returned to San Francisco, building his commercial reel as a director, working with major brands and agencies. Drawing from his diverse filmmaking background, he strives to create cinematic, heartfelt and honest connections between his subjects and the viewer.
He can’t stay dry for too long. Most days you can find him surfing and photographing the rugged swells that frequent his northern California home.
Born in Manhattan and raised in the city of San Francisco.
The son of an oil painter and an architect, Spencer has been steeped in the conceptual and the functional from an early age. Beginning with a stint living in a remote Himalayan Buddhist Nunnery, he has filmed cultures across the world, developing an obsession with the alchemy that can arise from the delicate mixture of visuals, light, and sound.
Spends much of his time watching how light falls on walls, objects, and plants. Otherwise on trails in the wilderness with a backpack and sleeping bag.
SF born, Sacramento raised. Either way, go Giants!
Makes ads, films things, tells stories. Raised by a painter who now serves as his biggest critic (and fan). Was featured as part of the Saatchi & Saatchi New Directors Showcase at Cannes and was named a Shots Rising Star. Has done ads for brands including Keurig, GE, GRLSWIRL, Allbirds, Le Creuset, and more. Is grateful for all of the above, as well as his dog, NBA basketball, good books, and hot tubs.
Reading books, watching/making movies, being in nature, brewing/drinking beer, skiing, and writing bios like this one.
Bay Area born and bred.
Raised by a painter and a schoolteacher, his filmmaking journey began as a kid when he picked up a skateboard. Fresh out of high school, he began traveling the world making skate films with some of the world's top skaters. Eventually, he decided to pursue some of his broader filmmaking interests, and since then has been building his reel of branded content, and ads for brands like Google, Nike SB, Clif Bar, and more. No matter the project, he strives to tell stories that are rooted in universal truths that help us connect with and understand each other.
Skateboarding, film, sneakers, METAL.
Fresno? Fres-yes.
Federally certified drone pilot. Researches, buys and maintains camera equipment. Understands the intricate workings of RED cameras, Movi stabilizers and other gear needed for high quality productions.
Spends the majority of his time visualizing how things look from an aerial perspective. Excess time is spent consuming avocados, Cabernet and episodes of Seinfeld. Also enjoys playing fantasy football and basketball (the real-life kind).
Did you say Masshole?
Juggling massive coffee consumption whilst managing 100 post projects and memorizing schedules in her head. Junk-food connoisseur. Donut lover.
It’s all for fun.
If Sicily and San Francisco had a kid
A detail-oriented creative who’s slightly reluctant to admit she was once a theater kid. Has a writing and secret photography background and a few interesting travel stories to tell. Unceremoniously graduated from USC early-pandemic but still Trojan-proud. Vlogged her life from ages five to fifteen (before it was cool).
Direct-messaging medical professionals online with issues they’ll inevitably misdiagnose perpetuating her fear of all things health-related. Otherwise… thrifting.
Aquidneck Island
New England born-and-bred artist with a big heart and uncommon sense. Lover of fine art and pop culture alike. Accommodating, enthusiastic, and adaptable. Master of interdisciplinary integration and multitasking. The mind of a Producer and the heart of a Director.
Frequently can be found backpacking, creating content, and practicing yoga & qigong, but will try almost anything once!
Tower 30, La Jolla Shores CA
Forever a sensitive kid, classically untrained flutist, UC Davis visual design grad. Previously half of a production team, where she produced, shot, and edited a variety of content for non-profit and corporate clients, absurdist short films, and everything in between.
Reading one book at a time, treading water of any kind, rewatching Mad Men, and having existential conversations about Love Island. Has a soft spot for loud symphonies. Always on the hunt for the best chocolate chip cookie.
Someplace between LA and San Diego
Organizing everything from household items to words, shapes, and color. Illustrating people, plants, and simple moments.
Perfecting her pour overs, fermenting things, tending to her plants and cat.
Sailed in from Vashon Island, WA.
Studying film and music, and pursuing both in various capacities from film composer, to touring guitarist, to assistant editor. He seriously believes you shouldn’t take yourself too seriously.
When he’s not re-re-reading This Band Could Be Your Life for further DIY inspo, he makes music and short films. He is a runner, a hiker, and an orderer of takeout.
St. Helena, CA (Not the island where Napoleon was exiled)
When the moon is in the right house, he directs commercials and music videos. He has been known to point his finger in random directions, saying "that's the ticket" to no one in particular. Most of the time you will find him in a dark room, punching a keyboard (Editing).
He plays guitar in two Bay Area bands and collects obsolete ephemera to soften the unease of modern living. Sometimes he wanders around Golden Gate Park asking strangers if they have seen his dog. He dreams of someday becoming the co-founder of a really good deli.
