SixTwentySix Adds Director Michael J. Murphy
SixTwentySix announces the signing of director and screenwriter Michael J. Murphy, a Gen Z filmmaker known for his vibrant maximalism, narrative precision, and multi-million-follower online audience built during his early career as one of YouTube’s breakout young creators. This marks Murphy’s first official signing to a production company roster for commercials, branded content, and music videos, introducing a new creative voice to SixTwentySix’s dynamic slate of directors.
Murphy’s journey began earlier than most. Born and raised in Jackson, New Jersey, he was reframing shots on his father’s camcorder before the age of two, blocking family members for “better compositions.” By sixteen he had built a following of more than two million subscribers on YouTube, writing, shooting, performing, and editing weekly films that sharpened the discipline and storytelling instincts that define his work today. After moving to Los Angeles at seventeen, he transitioned into traditional filmmaking, where he refined his signature style rooted in worldbuilding, tactile design, lush color, and character-driven performance.
Across commercials and branded content, Murphy has created memorable work for leading brands including Spotify, Tinder, Amazon, Bonchon, Carl’s Jr., and A-list celebrities including Chris Hemsworth, Paris Hilton, and Alix Earle. His Carl’s Jr. campaigns with Earle for this year’s Super Bowl captured massive cultural attention, and his comedic collaboration with Paris Hilton for the brand quickly became one of the brand’s most shared spots of the year. Across every project, Murphy brings a belief that commercial storytelling should be imaginative and joyful all year long, not just during tentpole cultural moments.
For Murphy, joining SixTwentySix represents a homecoming to the type of creative partnership he has long envisioned. “SixTwentySix is exactly where I want to be. I have admired their roster and their work for years, and the moment I met the team, it felt like a no brainer,” says Murphy. “They are young, hungry, collaborative creatives who want to build things the right way, and I knew they were the right team to take this next step in my career with.”
SixTwentySix co-founder Austin Barbera immediately saw a rare clarity in Murphy’s craft. “Michael has the ability to build entire worlds inside thirty seconds. His frames feel handcrafted, modern, and cinematic, and his love for filmmaking is contagious. He brings a tone and energy that we feel the commercial space is hungry for.”
Co-founder Jake Krask echoes that perspective. “Michael is a generation-defining voice with a massive built-in audience, but what impressed us most is his craft. He has a point of view you can feel instantly. He is hungry, he is collaborative, and he is building a world of his own. That makes him a perfect fit for SixTwentySix.”
Murphy is currently preparing for production on his debut feature film, which he also wrote, while continuing to deepen his commercial practice through ambitious set builds, theatrical compositions, rich art direction, and a maximalist approach to visual storytelling. He is represented by Luke Maxwell at 3Arts Entertainment and Shaun Gordon at Weintraub and Tobin.
