Jordan Bahat Directs Nostalgic Spot for Magic: The Gathering
Magic: The Gathering’s latest campaign, “Beginnings,” leans into 90’s nostalgia, following one man’s journey with the iconic tabletop and digital card game. Director Jordan Bahat of Golden LA has unveiled a new, extended cut of this poignant short film, offering a fresh perspective to this heartfelt story. Re-released just in time for the holidays, “Beginnings” invites legacy players to introduce the game to a new generation while reconnecting with their own roots.
This long-form ad tells the story of a boy’s connection to Magic: The Gathering from the mid-90s to the present day - with the game featured across multiple milestones in a coming-of-age journey. After purchasing his first pack at a local card shop, Magic: The Gathering sparks friendships, connections, and community as our hero grows into adulthood, even sharing the digital game with his infant daughter. Bahat masterfully directs a large cast of actors, with some characters played by multiple performers as the story spans decades. The result is a comprehensive narrative, making “Beginnings” feel like a rich mosaic of memories.
Through cinematic nuance and naturalistic performances, “Beginnings” evokes a precise sense of place and time and is bolstered by an evocative musical score. Golden LA handled all aspects of the project from initial ideation to script development, production, post, and finishing, creating a holistic creative and production process for Magic: The Gathering and the larger team at Hasbro, Inc.
Director Jordan Bahat of Golden LA remarks, “I grew up in the same timeline as the story and loved personalizing this world. We even shot at a few locations I grew up around. Everyone at the brand is a genuine lifelong fan of the game—and the game itself is built on world-building and storytelling—so they’re natural collaborators who bring inspiring ideas to the table. It’s clear that Magic: The Gathering is much more than a game to so many, and I hope we were able to authentically represent the depth of connection fans have built with MTG.”
“We are all film school dropouts in one form or another, so being asked and entrusted to tell an endearing story for a brand is a genuine highlight,” says Matthew Marquis, managing director of Golden LA. “As a company, we embrace the holistic creative and production process. It's always been Golden LA’s DNA, and being able to execute it on this level was both exciting and gratifying.”
CREDITS:
Golden LA - Production Co
Director - Jordan Bahat - @jordanbahat
Managing Director - Matthew Marquis - @matthewdmt
Executive Producer - Kevin Gallagher - @kevyg_5
Producer - Rick Brown - @raisedinla
Stills - Dimitri Tzoytzoyrakos - @dimitritzoy
Casting - Dan Cowan - @broad_cast.tv
Location Scout - Alex Dominguez - @d_alex15
Production Supervisor - Robert Morales - @robertjmoralesphotography
DoP - Mike Gioulakis - @mikegioulakis
1st AD - Chad Antonelli
Gaffer - Arjun Prakash - @arjun61091
Production Designer - Tatiana Van Sauter - tatianavansauter
Lead Person - Jon Coltrain
Set Decorator - Reka Vivien Szabo - @rekavivien
Prop Master - Sadie Moon - @littlelostsputnik
Key Set Dresser/Driver - Daniel Richmond - @acolorfulstateofmind
Stylist - Abigail Keever - @chickynuggie
Makeup and Hair - Corinne Foster - @mrsmakeupfx
Golden LA - POST / FINISHING
Executive Producer - Kevin Gallagher - @kevyg_5
Post Producer - David Hemphill - @govader
Conform / Finishing - Alan Mykitta - @alanmykitta
Compositing - Chris Reilly - @filmreilly
Flame Artist - Pilon Lectez
Work Editorial - OFFLINE - @workeditorial
Managing Director - Marlo Baird - @marlobaird
Executive Producer - Remy Foxx - @remyfoxx
HoP - Gabrielle Page
Producer - Juna Drougas - @junadrougas
Producer - Samantha Axelrod - @sbaxelrod
Editor - Martin Leroy - @_martinleroy_
Assistant Editor - Jennifer Losch - @jenlosch
Company 3 - TELECINE - @company_3
Colorist - Sean Coleman - @seantelecine
Producer - Matt Moran - @capecodmatt
LIME - AUDIO - limestudios.tv
Sound Design and Mix - Jeff Malen - @jeffmalen
Audio Assistant - Victoria Cortez
Audio Assistant - Kris Huayta - @krishuayta
Producer - Cassie Underwood - @cassieunderwood
Executive Producer - Susie Boyajan - @susie_boyajan
MUSIC
Composer - Nick Sena - @nicksenamusic
CAST
Lonny - 1994 - Maks Koutsenok
Lonny - 2002 - Rion Ezra Fletcher - @rionofphoenix
Lonny - 2011 to Present - Nick Pisko - @pisko12
Lonny - Present - Joe Robinson
School Friend - Jaysten Lacy
School Teacher - Rocky Hart
Diane - 1994 - Arya Desai - @not_arya_stark (TikTok)
Ali - Megan Carrasquillo - @themeghancarr
Diane - Present - Jessica Soza - @jessicasozawoollen
Niece - Rory Vienna Alexander
Lily - Poppy Castleton - @poppycastleton
Baby Lily 1 - Ava Boatman
Baby Lily 2 - LiiliAnne Olivia Vetter
Hobby Store Clerk - Leonard Smith Jr - @theleonardsmithjr
