Postproduction/digital media company Utopic has hired Christopher Elliott as director of finishing. He served in the same capacity at Red Car for 10 years. Prior to that, he was on the staff at Optimus where he worked with Tim Kloehn, Utopic’s co-owner and editor.
Elliott’s move to Utopic also reunites him with fellow Red Car alumnus, Kevin O’Rourke, Utopic’s motion graphics designer who came on board in June. O’Rourke is a two-time AICE nominee for Best Motion Graphics Design.
Elliott’s credits include assorted national spots, such as McDonald’s Super Bowl 2013 ad “All American,” and McDonald’s Mighty Wings’ “Play Offs” (both directed by Joe Pytka of PYTKA), as well as Reeses Puffs’ “Ultimate Sessions,” and Miller Light “See and Say” and “Dating.”
Additionally Elliott has lent his talent to a number of short films and documentaries, including the NEA Big Read Series directed by Larry Bridges. Also, Elliott edited the animated short Stubble Trouble for Calabash Animation, which earned an Oscar nod in the Best Animated Short Category in 2001.
“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