The Bear (company) explained

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] and as of 2022, its executive producer is Elizabeth Spiva.^[2]

History

After meeting at The University of Texas at Austin, Ben Steinbauer and Berndt Mader formed The Bear in 2007.^[3]

The company has produced the comedy documentary, Winnebago Man, (directed by Ben Steinbauer),^[4] Chop & Steele (directed by Steinbauer and co-directed by Berndt Mader),^[5] Yeti's Soul of a City (directed by Berndt Mader),^[6] and the "C'Mon Ted!" political campaign ad (directed by Richard Linklater)

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.^[7]

The firm co-produced the feature film Prince Avalanche (2013) directed by David Gordon Green, starring Paul Rudd and Emile Hirsch.^[8] Also produced in 2013 was Double Play (2013) directed by Gabe Klinger, about the relationship between Richard Linklater and experimental filmmaker, James Benning.^{[9] [10]}

In 2015, the firm produced Booger Red (2015) directed by Mader,^[11] starring Ornur Turkel and Marija Karan. The film won the Special Jury Prize at the 2016 Dallas International Film Festival.^[12]

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;^[13] and Heroes From the Storm (2017).

The Bear has created commercials for clients such as Budweiser, Capital One, RAM, Fritos, Whole Foods, Alfa Romeo, Crate & Barrel, Dodge, Indeed, Yeti, and more.^[14]

Filmography

Film

!Year!Title!Director!Company

2009	Winnebago Man	Ben Steinbauer	Kino Lorber
2012	Brute Force	Ben Steinbauer	The Bear
2013	Prince Avalanche	David Gordon Green	Magnolia
2013	Documentary Subjects Wanted with Rory Scovel - Funny or Die	Ben Steinbauer	No Distributor
2014	Bad Guy #2	Chris McInroy	No Distributor
2014	Double Play: James Benning and Richard Linklater	Gabe Klinger	Cinema
2015		Berndt Mader	Dark Star Pictures
2015	Calls To Okies: The Park Grubbs Story	Ben Steinbauer Bradley Beesley	NA
2016	Death Metal	Chris McInroy	The Bear
2016	The Superlative Light 360 VR	Ben Steinbauer	The Bear
2016	The Superlative Light	Ben Steinbauer	The Bear
2016	Slow To Show	Ben Steinbauer	The Bear
2017	Heroes From the Storm	Ben Steinbauer	The Bear
2019	Siren Song	Ben Steinbauer Berndt Mader	No Distributor
2022	Chop & Steele	Ben Steinbauer Berndt Mader	Drafthouse Films

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)

Notes and References

1. Web site: Lucky 21 Welcomes Award-Winning Directors Ben Steinbauer and Berndt Mader . 2024-08-02 . LBBOnline . en.
2. Web site: Chelsea Pictures Adds Directing Collective The Bear, EP Michel Waxman . 30 December 2019 . SHOOTonline.
3. Web site: 2023-05-19 . How The Bear Is Leaving Footprints in Austin's Creative Community . LBBOnline.
4. Web site: 2011-08-15 . Summerfest: Ben Steinbauer On "Winnebago Man"; Watch Now for Free! . 2024-08-07 . IndieWire . en-US.
5. Web site: Whittaker . Richard . 2023-05-10 . Chasing the Story of Chop & Steele . 2024-08-11 . Austin Chronicle . en-US.
6. Web site: 2020-10-01 . Lucky 21 Adds Directors Ben Steinbauer and Berndt Mader For Spots, Branded Content . 2024-08-12 . SHOOTonline . en-US.
7. Web site: First-Time Champion: Austinite Berndt wins DIFF's Texas Filmmaker Award . 30 December 2019 . The Austin Chronicle.
8. Web site: Rooney . David . 2013-01-21 . Prince Avalanche: Sundance Review . 2024-08-11 . The Hollywood Reporter . en-US.
9. Web site: Dalton . Stephen . Double Play: James Benning and Richard Linklater: Venice Review . 3 January 2020 . The Hollywood Reporter. September 8, 2013 .
10. Web site: Venice Film Festival: FilmBuff to Press 'Double Play' Digitally . 3 January 2020 . Variety. August 30, 2013 .
11. Web site: Hall . Michael . The Mineola Child Sex Case Gets the Movie Treatment . 30 December 2019 . TexasMonthly. October 30, 2015 .
12. Web site: Dallas International Film Festival Announces Winners . 30 December 2019 . Screen Magazine.
13. Web site: The New York Times Op-Docs Returns to IFC Center in New York . 30 December 2019 . The New York Times Company. April 26, 2017 .
14. Web site: 2023-05-24 . Chop & Steele – Co-directors Berndt Mader and Ben Steinbauer . 2024-08-12 . en-US.