The Traveling Picture Show Company (TPSC) has signed director Julian Pugsley for exclusive representation. He was formerly handled by greatguns. Pugsley’s credits span such clients as VW, MTV, Nokia, Black & Decker, and Eastpak.
Pugsley made his first industry mark as an ad agency creative, initially at BBH London. He later served as an art director at McCann-Erickson in Singapore. This was followed by stints in Thailand and Hong Kong at McCann and DMB&B, respectively. He then returned to McCann Singapore as regional creative director on Coca-Cola and Sony. Next he moved to NY as a group creative director at kirshenbaum bond, working on brands like Target and Coca-Cola. He next took on the same role at Mullen in Wenham, Mass. A year later, he returned to New York as group creative director at Berlin Cameron Red Cell and was instrumental in winning the Coca-Cola account.
Pugsley transitioned to director on the strength of spots for Time Out’s London On Screen Film Festival, honoring the best British movies. From there, his directorial career progressed with tenures at Skunk in the U.S. and the aforementioned greatguns.
“I was drawn to TPSC because of [partner/exec producer] John Noble,” related Pugsley. “His reputation precedes him in the ad industry as a solid, smart guy, not to mention, he’s extremely nice. He has huge ambitions and great understanding of both advertising and production. At the helm of a great shop is a visionary EP.”
Pugsley added that he likes “the idea of joining a company where my style of comedy will stand out. TPSC also works in long form, which I am interested in, in terms of shorts, TV and features. It’s important in this ever-changing industry to have these options.”
TPSC is represented by MoButler Reps in the Midwest, It’s Karen! on the West Coast, Asprodites Reps in the Southeast/Southwest, and Matchmaker Media on the East Coast.
Review: Writer-Directors Scott Beck and Bryan Wood’s “Heretic”
"Heretic" opens with an unusual table setter: Two young missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are discussing condoms and why some are labeled as large even though they're all pretty much a standard size. "What else do we believe because of marketing?" one asks the other.
That line will echo through the movie, a stimulating discussion of religion that emerges from a horror movie wrapper. Despite a second-half slide and feeling unbalanced, this is the rare movie that combines lots of squirting blood and elevated discussion of the ancient Egyptian god Horus.
Our two church members — played fiercely by Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East — are wandering around trying to covert souls when they knock on the door of a sweet-looking cottage. Its owner, Mr. Reed, offers a hearty "Good afternoon!" He welcomes them in, brings them drinks and promises a blueberry pie. He's also interested in learning more about the church. So far, so good.
Mr. Reed is, of course, if you've seen the poster, the baddie and he's played by Hugh Grant, who doesn't go the snarling, dead-eyed Hannibal Lecter route in "Heretic." Grant is the slightly bumbling, bashful and self-mocking character we fell in love with in "Four Weddings and a Funeral," but with a smear of menace. He gradually reveals that he actually knows quite a bit about the Mormon religion — and all religions.
"It's good to be religious," he says jauntily and promises his wife will join them soon, a requirement for the church. Homey touches in his home include a framed "Bless This Mess" needlepoint on a wall, but there are also oddities, like his lights are on a timer and there's metal in the walls and ceilings.
Writer-directors Scott Beck and Bryan Wood — who also... Read More