In a move that adds one well-known veteran director and one newcomer to its U.S. roster, Grand Large has signed Sara Marandi, freelance since leaving Believe Media in 2020, and Côme Ferré, a Frenchman who is entering the stateside market for the first time.
According to Grand Large founder and executive producer Steve Horton, both directors are additions that speak to his company’s core strengths: Marandi’s work as a fashion/beauty director sits squarely in a niche where Grand Large first made its reputation, and just like Grand Large, Ferré is based in both New York and Paris and considers both cities to be home.
“Producing a select group of talent with a modern aesthetic while collaborating with visionary partners and clients is the way we want to move forward,” said Horton, explaining how these new signings fit into Grand Large’s existing lineup of directors.
Marandi started out in graphic design, developing high-concept title sequences for film and television after graduating from the Art Center School of Design. Her ability to conceive detailed visceral worlds and imaginative creations won her acclaim and opened the path for her directing career. Although best known for her work in fashion and beauty for clients such as Pantene, Olay, and Garnier, Marandi has also turned out tabletop, pharma, and celebrity fare. Marandi has also been the on-set photographer for many recent projects, bringing the same level of vision and style to that component.
It is her ability to elicit natural performances that Horton sees as Marandi’s standout strength. “I have long been a fan of Sara’s work, because she always brings a unique point of view to each project. Sara has the full support of our team to take it to the next level and we are all very excited.”
Now living in Vancouver, where she moved from New York City during the pandemic, Marandi said she was drawn to Grand Large’s reputation as a boutique high-end production company.
“There’s great camaraderie at the company, and being part of their collaborative team is fantastic–especially given that their style and approach to creative problem solving aligns with mine,” said Marandi. “These days female directors have a lot to say, and Grand Large really fosters their voices. And as important as ever, experience and finesse are something Steve and his team truly bring to the table.”
As for Ferré, he and Horton met in Paris, where Grand Large also has an office. Although a French comedy director is something of a unique selling proposition in America, Ferré speaks fluent English and is particularly adept at physical comedy with universal appeal.
“Côme is a multidisciplinary talent being a writer and director. His vision and sensibility are exactly in tune with the mood of today,” said Horton. “His attention to detail on casting and performances contain all the emotion, humanity and authenticity you would find in a feature film.”
For his part, Ferré–who also is represented by Wanda in Paris-—has never been afraid of big moves in his career. He left film school in France to join a local TV station as an editor and cameraman. While there he started to write and direct parody videos that went viral and earned him a position at France Televisions, where his daily humorous videos aired to millions of viewers.
Ferré’s European clients have included Renault, McDonald’s, and Kinder. Last year his short film, Book Smart, which he wrote in English, was admitted to several Oscar-qualifying film festivals in cities including New York, London, San Diego, and the LA Shorts.
“I feel incredibly fortunate to have met Steve, an exceptionally talented and experienced producer who truly understands my creative vision,” said Ferré. “With his extensive background in France and our shared passion for excellence, I have no doubt that we will achieve great work together with a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’ that will set us apart.”
Marandi and Ferré, along with the rest of the Grand Large roster, are represented by Minerva (Shauna Seresin and Mary Knox) on the East Coast, Sonia Reps (Sonia Blum) in the Midwest, and Blush Creative (Deirdre Rymer Rivard and Lisa Gimenez Toliver) on the West Coast.
