Commercial director Alex Anderson has made his feature debut with the streaming release of Fambly.
Both darkly dramatic and comedic, the character-driven live action film was shot and directed pre-pandemic by Anderson, from his own script, with a mixed cast of 20 first-time film actors and non-actors. Fambly was finished during quarantine.
The film’s story revolves around a quirky young family torn asunder after the big brother is tormented by a neighborhood girl. The mom attempts to put an end to the bullying by following the girl home to speak with her mother. The ensuing family fallout involves finger pointing, unrequited love and a young son who runs away from home with his much-maligned cat.
“We set out to make something fun, poetic and simple that the audience could enjoy in one sitting,” said Anderson. “The pacing is fast and plays as a stream of consciousness experience. A flowing dream. We worked to craft, extend, and protect for a lyrical feeling.”
Anderson is an accomplished commercial writer/director/producer who has created content for clients such as Apple, AT&T, Coca-Cola, Ford, Frito-Lay, Foster Farms, Google, Hyundai, In-N-Out, KFC, McDonald’s, Microsoft, Nike, Nintendo, Nissan, Procter & Gamble, Smashbox Cosmetics, Subaru, Taco Bell, Target, Toyota, Under Armour and Walmart.
Fambly was shot in Chesaning, Michigan and produced by Anderson’s longtime friend and creative colleague, Reza Rasoli.
In the commercial world, Anderson and Rasoli are award-winning multidisciplinary writer/director/producers known as ALEXREZA. In the ad arena they have created whimsical, upbeat stories across broadcast, web, social, print, live events, and entertainment, with emphasis on animation, design, CGI, collage and VFX. Production house Partizan represents ALEXREZA worldwide.
Civil rights groups call on major corporations to stick with DEI programs
A broad group of civil rights organizations called on the CEOs and board members of major companies Thursday to maintain their commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives that have come under attack online and in lawsuits.
An open letter signed by 19 organizations and directed at the leaders of Fortune 1000 companies said companies that abandon their DEI programs are shirking their fiduciary responsibility to employees, consumers and shareholders.
The civil rights groups included the NAACP, the National Organization for Women, the League of United Latin American Citizens, Asian Americans Advancing Justice and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.
"Diversity, equity and inclusion programs, policies, and practices make business-sense and they're broadly popular among the public, consumers, and employees," their statement read. "But a small, well-funded, and extreme group of right-wing activists is attempting to pressure companies into abandoning their DEI programs."
Companies such as Ford, Lowes, John Deere, Molson Coors and Harley-Davidson recently announced they would pull back on their diversity, equity and inclusion policies after facing pressure from conservative activists who were emboldened by recent victories in the courtroom.
Many major corporations have been examining their diversity programs in the wake of a Supreme Court decision last year that declared race-based affirmative action programs in college admissions unconstitutional. Dozens of cases have been filed making similar arguments about employers. Critics of DEI programs say the initiatives provide benefits to people of one race or sexual orientation while excluding others.
In their letter, the civil rights organizations, which also included... Read More