Production company Friends Electric has hired Barney Richard as EP of its London studio.
Richard will take responsibility for the growth of the company and the talent roster across Europe, and will work closely alongside Belinda Blacklock, EP of the LA studio, for their global offering. The Friends Electric roster includes the newly signed mixed media aficionados Future Power Station, as well as Ewan Jones Morris and the animation studio Woodblock.
Industry vet Richard started at Jelly London, subsequently co-founded Friend, went on to Riff Raff and most recently was at Rogue Films, working with influential talent along the way.
Richard said, “I’ve always adored animation, I sort of think in it. The ability to tell stories in limitless ways, be it fantastical, emotional, dark or comedic, you can bring these to life visually in anyway way, or multiple ways. Often untapped, it’s expressive, cut-through, highly original and loads of fun to make…Our boutique roster is exceptional and I want to build on the incredible talent base, creativity and culture that’s already here.”
Friends Electric is the sister company to Electric Theatre Collective, allowing clients to benefit from utilizing world-class visual effects talent.
“Heretic” and “Maria” Set As Red Carpet Premieres At AFI Fest
The American Film Institute (AFI) has announced that Heretic, the psychological thriller starring Hugh Grant, and Maria, based on the life of opera singer Maria Callas starring Angelina Jolie, will round out the Red Carpet Premieres section at this yearโs AFI Fest. The Heretic Gala Screening will take place on Thursday, October 24, and the Maria Gala Screening will be held on Saturday, October 26. The complete Red Carpet Premieres section includes the world premieres of Music By John Williams, Robert Zemeckisโ Here, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl and Clint Eastwoodโs Juror #2. All Red Carpet Premieres will take place at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre. The full lineup for AFI Fest 2024 will be unveiled on October 1.
โAt the heart of AFI Fest is an unwavering dedication to celebrating the best in global cinema--together,โ said Bob Gazzale, AFI president and CEO. โWe look forward to uniting artists and audiences once again to be inspired by the art form in a powerful sense of community.โ
Heretic follows two young missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) who are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed (portrayed by Grant), becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse. The film is directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods and produced by Stacey Sher, Beck, Woods, Julia Glausi and Jeanette Volturno. The film will be released nationwide by A24 on November 8.
Directed by Pablo Larraรญn, Maria presents a tumultuous and beautiful depiction of one of the worldโs most renowned artists and reimagines the legendary soprano in her final days in Paris, as Callas (Jolie)... Read More