EP Melissa Beth and Director Ruben Latre have announced the official launch of production company Hostage Films. The duo has been collaborating in various capacities since 2008, and founded the company to create brand based content, commercials and features. Laura Zinn of Zinndependent represents the company.
The duo first worked together at Kipany Pictures, where Melissa Beth signed Ruben Latre as part of the company’s commercial division’s roster. Following Kipany, she worked as Latre’s producer on various independent productions. Prior to launching Hostage Films, Melissa was the east coast EP of atSwim, and Ruben was represented by Story.
Hostage Films is currently in post-production on a project for Samsung, which brought them to Istanbul, Turkey and four hours outside of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This is the second year Ruben has directed and photographed this campaign for Samsung. Last year’s work can be seen here. Just prior, Hostage was on location in New Zealand shooting a national commercial and print campaign for Y&R.
Known for his striking visual narratives and strong design background, Ruben Latre was featured in SHOOT’s New Directors Showcase in 2011. In 2012 he was shortlisted at the AICP Show in Cinematography for the TMG Health commercial he directed and DPed on location in Iceland (also named a Vimeo Staff Pick). Latre was named Best New Director at APCP Madrid 2010 for a spot paying homage to Ridley Scott’s Alien. This year, Latre was selected to judge Sony’s PROduction Awards.
Since the beginning of 2013, Ruben has been shooting around the world, first in Haiti and Tanzania for the Abbott Fund, followed by the launch campaign for the international art cooperative, Talents United. In February, Latre flew to Kiev to shoot a spot for Ogilvy, Ukraine, followed by a commercial shoot with Academy Award-winning DP Mauro Fiore (Avatar).
Hostage Films has also just completed a short form project through DraftFCB NY as well as online content for Microsoft.
As president of Hostage Films, Melissa Beth is a proud member of the Women Presidents’ Organization. In addition to producing numerous commercials and long-form brand films, Melissa Beth has produced two feature films: the 2006 comedy The Immaculate Misconception and the 2008 drama Bittersweet starring Sarah Wayne Callies (The Walking Dead & Prison Break). She began her career as a producer for MTV.
“Hostage Films has evolved from our work together and is the culmination of our experiences working in entertainment and advertising worldwide,” concludes Melissa Beth. “I am thrilled to launch the company with such momentum, working side-by-side with Ruben.”
For more on Hostage Films, please visit www.hostagefilms.com.
Contact:Melissa Beth Executive Producer Hostage Films Contact Melissa via email www.hostagefilms.com
Contact:Laura Zinn Sales Representation Zinndependent Contact Laura via email
“Ǝvolution” Comes Full Circle At The Chelsea Film Festival
The Chelsea Film Festival, running from October 16th through October 20th, 2024, at Regal Cinemas here in Union Square, is set to host the East Coast premiere of Ǝvolution, a thought-provoking experimental micro-short film that proves big ideas can come in small packages and in perfect circles.
In just 1 minute 16 seconds, this cinematic gem by Award-Winning Director Romina Schwedler, with original music by Argentine Composer Ignacio Montoya Carlotto, explores a cycle as old as time: life leads to progress, progress leads to destruction, and destruction, well, leads back to life. But is this vicious circle unbreakable? Ǝvolution suggests the answer is yes, unless we decide to open our eyes.
Inspired by the overwhelming number of recent events that threaten human existence, Ǝvolution, possibly the shortest film in this 12th edition of the festival, plays out entirely through the symbolism of circles, cleverly illustrating —in the blink of an eye— the repeating patterns of history, and confronting viewers with the uncomfortable truth that our so-called “progress” may, in fact, be guiding us to our own ruin.Premiering at the Regal 14 Union Square, New York City, on October 18, 2024, at 11 a.m., Romina Schwedler's micro-short, featuring Leah Young with cinematography by Alan J. Carmona, will be sure to spark conversations longer than the film itself! Forcing viewers to reconsider the true meaning of evolution, not just as a biological process, but as a reflection of our collective journey as humans.
With a string of festival appearances across the globe, including CineGlobe at CERN (Switzerland/France), Oscar®... Read More