NY and Brooklyn-based production company Hornet has opened a shop in London. Hornet’s partnerships and long running history in the U.K. made London a fitting choice, as the studio has produced numerous award-winning campaigns and noteworthy adverts there over the past 10 years. Hornet’s new venture will lend greater support to its international roster while also laying the foundation to seek out and develop new talent in the U.K. Veteran producer Lisa Hill (most recently of Passion Pictures) will take the reins of Hornet London as EP. Hornet London will represent directors Yves Geleyn, Dan & Jason, Peter Sluszka, Julia Pott, Gabe Askew, Eran Hilleli and Parallel. London-based director David Luepschen will join the roster in February….L.A. production company DUCK Studios has signed Milan-based creative studio Dadomani for representation. Dadomani’s team consists of four members whose talents combine into one singular creative vision: Donato Di Carlo (postproduction), Leonardo Ponzano (set design), Francesco De Meo (set design) and Faio Cirilli (animation). They develop and manage projects from the initial idea up to the delivery of the finished product. For stop motion, Dadomani animates a range of mediums including paper cut-outs, clay, and found objects. They enjoy the juxtaposition of colored sets with minimalist characters. Dadomani has completed work for clients including Coach, Lavazza, McDonald’s, Barilla and Vodaphone….Rob Meltzer, director of Dove Men+Care’s 2015 Super Bowl spot “Calls for Dad” (a version repurposed from his original Father’s Day ad), has launched L.A.-based production company RINGER along with EP Sven Shelgren. Already under the RINGER banner, Meltzer has directed projects for Coca-Cola, AT&T, the NBA, Bravo and Nickelodeon. In addition to his spot work, Meltzer is a prolific director of TV promos, turning out campaigns for NBC, ABC, CBS, TBS, Discovery, Food Network and Bravo….
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