Storytelling Pioneer andFormer Snapchat Executive Rylee Jean Ebsen Takes on Director Role at Big Block

Multi-Platform Storyteller with Trillions of Views Under Her Belt Joins Creative Powerhouse and Business Catalyst to Help Brands Re-Imagine Advertising Experiences

Big Block, a creative services company, proudly announced the addition of Rylee Jean Ebsen to its creative roster as a Live Action Commercial Director.

As a very early Snapchat employee and its most recent Director of Creative Media, Ebsen brings Big Block clients her unique experience producing groundbreaking content including Augmented Reality, VR, Artificial Intelligence, 360-video, vertical video and live-streaming across social and broadcast.

“Rylee was a valuable and innovative creative partner throughout Snap’s early journey,” said Evan Spiegel, Snap Inc. Chief Executive Officer. “We’re excited for her to fulfill her dreams as a full-time director!”

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Ebsen ran Snapchat’s in-house creative agency for seven years, hiring and leading a team of 15 while reporting directly to CEO Evan Spiegel. Ebsen debuted Snap’s first vertical Original Content Series on the Discover Platform, co-directed Snap’s very first broadcast TV spot, earned an official patent for her work creating Snapchat’s AR Geofilters, and guided Snap’s narrative through its billion dollar IPO. Rylee established Snap’s prominent position in the art and technology communities as the lead creative behind the debuts of the Jeff Koons Augmented Reality project, Snappables, World Lenses, Custom Stories, and Spectacles.

“What drew me to Big Block is that they weren’t just another production company making commercials, they’re a go-to partner for brands and agencies to turn to for innovative ideas, unique activations and incredible artistic interpretations,” said Ebsen. “I’m thrilled for the next chapter in my life and the collaborations that are ahead.”

Big Block’s involvement with “Free the Bid” was another draw for Rylee, as she’s an active member and passionate about encouraging other female creatives. She’s also an executive member of Women in Film and has spoken at USC’s “Own It” women’s leadership summit and “It’s Our Turn,” Brentwood School’s Young Women’s Conference.

“This is a transformational time for advertising and Rylee is a trailblazer in inventing and executing new concepts. Her experience at one of the top social media platforms gives her a unique understanding of storytelling and advertising in the digital landscape,” said Jennette MacLachlan, Live Action Executive Producer at Big Block. “With culture and innovation driving Big Block’s offering as a one-stop-shop for brands, Rylee’s creative vision and agility across new technologies make her a perfect addition to our director roster.”

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At 28 years old, Rylee has already spent over 1,200 hours directing on set with equipment ranging from vertical rigs to top-of-the-line Alexa cameras. Rylee’s been immersed in Hollywood storytelling her entire life, growing up as the granddaughter of actor Buddy Ebsen and advertising creative director Stan Freberg, and later graduating from the NYU Tisch School of the Arts.

Rylee Jean Ebsen’s background as a creative director and business executive at Snap Inc. fits seamlessly into the culture and ethos of Big Block Capital Group’s burgeoning portfolio of investments in production, esports, and emerging technologies. “We have always and will always invest first in people with big ideas and a vision for bringing them to life,”  said Big Block CEO, Seven Volpone. “Rylee is a tremendous addition to our team, we are ecstatic she is bringing her gifts to us and the companies we work with.”

More on Ebsen

Ebsen’s commercial work has generated 40+ million views on YouTube and trillions of views on Snapchat. Rylee spearheaded Snap’s first original shows in 2015, debuting vertical series like “Literally Can’t Even,” “Pillow Talk,” and “Under the Ghost” as well as directing six additional original series for the “Snap Channel” on the Discover platform.

In addition to Snap Inc.’s four in-house brands, Snapchat, Bitmoji, Spectacles, and Lens Studio, Rylee’s worked with Gatorade, Revlon, Target, Anheuser-Busch, Universal Pictures, Sony Pictures, Adidas, TurboVote, Seth McFarland, DJ Khaled, Tiesto, Brittany Snow, Dillon Francis, Meghan Trainor and more. Rylee is well-versed in captivating the younger generation wherever they are; she directed Snap’s campaign for Voter Registration in 2018 which drove over 400,000 new registered voters and was produced completely vertically on smartphones. Rylee also produces projects for musicians, such as the Goldroom Music Video that incorporates both vertical and horizontal video.

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