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Director Rebecca Applebaum joins The Salmon
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The Toronto-based production company has added the comedy director to its roster.
Toronto-based production company The Salmon has added director Rebecca Applebaum to its roster.
A comedy director with a sharp eye for casting and subtle performances, Applebaum has directed work for brands including BetterHelp, Moosehead, Sleeman and Gain.
Applebaum broke into commercial directing with Distant Friends, a pandemic-era spec spot she sold to the online therapy service BetterHelp, which garnered more than 20 million views online. Her follow-up for the brand, Want, earned the Special Jury Prize for Performance at the Marketing Awards, Bronze at Clio Health, and recognition from The One Show and the ADC Awards.
“We are officially excited to welcome Rebecca to The Salmon. We have long admired her comedy instincts, honed by her hard work in the ‘comedy mines’ as a writer and performer,” said Adam, co-founder of The Salmon and one half of the directing duo Adam & Dave. “Her casting instincts are top-notch, with an eye for subtle performances that still make us laugh. Her ability to elevate performances during a shoot is a skill we would bottle and sell if we could—but it would be deemed an illegal substance for being too potent.”
“Rebecca has proven that her comedy choices cut through and grab people’s ever-shrinking attention spans,” adds Dave. “With The Salmon now having her back, both metaphorically and physically, if needed, we can’t wait to see what she will do.”
An experienced actor herself, Applebaum brings a deep understanding of the craft and timing to her work behind the camera, with a particular focus on casting and drawing out subtle performances on set. Her acting credits include Station Eleven, Coroner and The Expanse.
As a filmmaker, she also directed and co-starred in the cringe-comedy short film The Gift, which was featured at the Canadian Film Fest in Toronto. Her earlier film Spooning was featured in CBC Television’s Canadian Reflections series. Her directorial efforts earned the film a Best Actor win at the Canadian Film Fest and an Outstanding Performance nomination from the ACTRA Awards.
