Director Georgi Banks-Davies has signed with Joinery for U.S. representation. Her clients include Coca Cola, South African Airways, InterContinental Hotels, Shell, Ericcson, BMW and Credit Suisse.
Banks-Davies began directing commercials at the BBC after graduating from film school, quickly poached by CNN International soon after to direct content for the network’s global coverage of news, current affairs, politics and sports. That tenure allowed Banks-Davies to develop her unique, evocative style of storytelling that focuses on shared human emotions framed in a boldly cinematic style:
“Jamaica” for Coca Cola exemplifies this approach. It’s absorbing work shot on the Caribbean island that plays out as a fun, infectious ride full of atmosphere and character. “Soul” for AT&T through BBDO NY also features beautifully considered moments of family life.
Banks-Davies is currently in post wrapping projects for Kohler through O&M, India, plus work for T-Mobile through DDB, Hamburg that follows on from her previous successful World Cup campaign. Two online films for Nivea through AKQA, London will also be released in upcoming weeks. Prior to Joinery, Banks-Davies was with Mad Heart in the U.S.
Rom-Com Mainstay Hugh Grant Shifts To The Dark Side and He’s Never Been Happier
After some difficulties connecting to a Zoom, Hugh Grant eventually opts to just phone instead.
"Sorry about that," he apologizes. "Tech hell." Grant is no lover of technology. Smart phones, for example, he calls the "devil's tinderbox."
"I think they're killing us. I hate them," he says. "I go on long holidays from them, three or four days at at time. Marvelous."
Hell, and our proximity to it, is a not unrelated topic to Grant's new film, "Heretic." In it, two young Mormon missionaries (Chloe East, Sophie Thatcher) come knocking on a door they'll soon regret visiting. They're welcomed in by Mr. Reed (Grant), an initially charming man who tests their faith in theological debate, and then, in much worse things.
After decades in romantic comedies, Grant has spent the last few years playing narcissists, weirdos and murders, often to the greatest acclaim of his career. But in "Heretic," a horror thriller from A24, Grant's turn to the dark side reaches a new extreme. The actor who once charmingly stammered in "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and who danced to the Pointer Sisters in "Love Actually" is now doing heinous things to young people in a basement.
"It was a challenge," Grant says. "I think human beings need challenges. It makes your beer taste better in the evening if you've climbed a mountain. He was just so wonderfully (expletive)-up."
"Heretic," which opens in theaters Friday, is directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, co-writers of "A Quiet Place." In Grant's hands, Mr. Reed is a divinely good baddie — a scholarly creep whose wry monologues pull from a wide range of references, including, fittingly, Radiohead's "Creep."
In an interview, Grant spoke about these and other facets of his character, his journey... Read More