NORTHERN LIGHTS’ CO-FOUNDER BRUELL DIES

NEW YORK – Phillip Bruell, co-founder of Northern Lights Post in New York, died April 13 due to complications from kidney disease. He was 29.

A native of Great Neck, NY, Bruell met David Gioiella and Mark Littman during college at Northwestern University. After graduation, the three editors launched Northern Lights in 1995 in a small loft in Tribecca. Bruell edited many of the company’s first projects such as the documentary A conversation with Ken Kesey and a short film on the fans of the Grateful Dead,Tie-Dyed: Rock n’ Roll’s most Dedicated Fans. Over the next few years the boutique grew rapidly with clients including Saatchi & Saatchi, the independent Film Channel and MTV among others.

Bruell’s illness prevented him from being involved in the daily operations of the business or editing much in the last few years but consulted with Littman and Gioiella on how to further grow the business. Northern Lights intends to establish a scholarship in Bruell’s name at Great Neck High School.