Director Jeff Low, who’s handled in Canada by production house OPC, has gained U.S. representation by joining the roster of Biscuit Filmworks. The move marks his breaking out as a solo director. Up to this point, Low’s most notable directorial credits–including the recent Skittles “Touch The Rainbow” campaign for BBDO Toronto–have been done in tandem with Chris Woods of the duo Woods+Low. While the two will continue to work together on select projects via OPC, Woods too has branched out and is repped as an individual helmer stateside by The Sweet Shop.
The Skittles campaign enables computer users to play a participatory role in video fare as it unfolds on the Internet–just through the simple placement of a finger on a strategically positioned dot on the computer screen. In one online video, for example, a cat licks your finger. The feline is then succeeded by an offbeat guy in a cat costume who too licks your extended finger. The video opens with an invite for us to “Touch the Rainbow” and ends with a declaration that we have licked the rainbow.
In another video, a well placed finger stops an oncoming getaway car, allowing a winged cop to cage a would-be Skittles bandit. Turns out the cop–who is little more than a head with wings attached, as well as a police cap–knew the culprit years ago when they were fellow summer campers. The video’s parting slogan is an earnest “Reunite the Rainbow.”
Woods & Low’s other credits include campaigns for WWF, BMW Mini, Baskin-Robbins, Brita and Habitat for Humanity. Various pieces of the work have been recognized and honored in the Communication Arts Design and Advertising Annual, The One Show, London International Awards and The Bessies.
Shawn Lacy, managing director of Biscuit, described Low’s work as spanning “both comedic and visual storytelling, and we are happy to be the first to bring his talents to the U.S. market.”
Review: Director Jon M. Chu’s “Wicked”
It's the ultimate celebrity redemption tour, two decades in the making. In the annals of pop culture, few characters have undergone an image makeover quite like the Wicked Witch of the West.
Oh, she may have been vengeful and scary in "The Wizard of Oz." But something changed — like, REALLY changed — on the way from the yellow brick road to the Great White Way. Since 2003, crowds have packed nightly into "Wicked" at Broadway's Gershwin Theatre to cheer as the green-skinned, misunderstood Elphaba rises up on her broomstick to belt "Defying Gravity," that enduring girl-power anthem.
How many people have seen "Wicked"? Rudimentary math suggests more than 15 million on Broadway alone. And now we have "Wicked" the movie, director Jon M. Chu's lavish, faithful, impeccably crafted (and nearly three-hour) ode to this origin story of Elphaba and her (eventual) bestie — Glinda, the very good and very blonde. Welcome to Hollywood, ladies.
Before we get to what this movie does well (Those big numbers! Those costumes!), just a couple thornier issues to ponder. Will this "Wicked," powered by a soulful Cynthia Erivo (owner of one of the best singing voices on the planet) and a sprightly, comedic, hair-tossing Ariana Grande, turn even musical theater haters into lovers?
Tricky question. Some people just don't buy into the musical thing, and they should be allowed to live freely amongst us. But if people breaking into song delights rather than flummoxes you, if elaborate dance numbers in village squares and fantastical nightclubs and emerald-hued cities make perfect sense to you, and especially if you already love "Wicked," well then, you will likely love this film. If it feels like they made the best "Wicked" movie money could buy — well, it's... Read More