Open Swim Launches in Brooklyn

Director/Editor Bradley Ross has launched a new, full-service production company, Open Swim, that leads with creative continuity at its core. Ross, the former President of Manhattan Productions, has teamed up with EP Amyliz Pera to develop rich, emotive content encouraging creative perspectives coming together in a nonlinear way.  

“AZ [Pera] is a multi-faceted talent. She not only can outsmart any challenge, but has transformed our culture both internally and externally to establish humanity and kindness in the rigid world of production,” comments Ross. “It’s something that is so important and often gets overlooked. She was actually my first boss who I learned from eighteen years ago, and I’m still learning from her every day.” 

“Bradley always had a holistic way of executing projects, and now he has cultivated a company where everyone is treated as a maker, and where no one is siloed in the process,” says Pera. “I’ve worked with a lot of Directors over the past thirty years, and Bradley has that thing — you know it when you find it. He is charismatic, assiduous, and unafraid.” 

Open Swim works to guide projects from start to finish with the ultimate care from artisans experienced in their craft. This approach is already being applied to the multiple projects currently underway, including comedy and lifestyle spots for electrical equipment company, Brother; interviews and product showcasing for pharmaceutical brand, Skyrizi; and creative direction of a new campaign for the hair supplement brand, Nutrafol. A project for pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk will be their latest focus, powering them through the first half of the new year.  

"Bradley and his team have been with us from the beginning to help us express our voice,” notes Dr. Sophia Kogan, one of the founders of Nutrafol. “Bradley makes the interview process so easy, which is why there is so much humanity in his work. We are backed by science, but our driving force is still our connection with how people feel, and Bradley gets to the heart of that, which is one of the things that makes our partnership so valuable." 

Partners who have worked with Ross in the past are excited to continue their collaborations with the new entity. ”It is rare that you get the opportunity to work with a director that becomes a true partner in your project or production,” shares Steve Pytko SVP, Director of Broadcast Production at Saatchi & Saatchi Wellness. “Bradley and his whole team are so eager to do just that; become our creative partner on jobs big and small. Bradley wants to get involved as early as possible to help guide the team and bring his vast experience to each project. I have always felt that Bradley and his team become an extension of the agency's creative and production departments. Working seamlessly with all of us and delivering over and above all expectations. Bradley has become one of our ‘Go To’ Directors and production companies. Plus, I hear he cooks a mean steak!” 

In addition to their work in branded content, Open Swim has two feature films in development. Bradley is no stranger to the world of feature film, most recently with the film Centigrade, directed by Brendan Walsh, which launched in August 2020. The upcoming projects include a film starring Edie Falco (“The Sopranos,” “Nurse Betty,” “Oz”), and Homesick, a survivalist journey seen through the eyes of an eleven year-old. 

“We’re like-minded with our priorities, and working in tandem with Amyliz allows me to be my best self,” sums up Ross. 

“Joining Bradley to work together again has brought me full circle, and launching Open Swim with him is just the beginning,” adds Pera.