The Bear (company)

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The BearCompany type| Private

|

Industry| Entertainment
Founded| 2007
Founders| Ben Steinbauer
Berndt Mader
Headquarters|

Austin, Texas

U.S.

Area served

| Global
Services|

* Film production
* Television production

Website| www.thebear.us

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

[edit]

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)[1]

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

[edit]

### Film

[edit]

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  | Booger Red | 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

[edit]

* 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)

## References

[edit]

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