Bing Liu–who in January won the Sundance Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Filmmaking on the strength of his feature documentary Minding the Gap–has joined the directorial roster of L.A.-based Nonfiction Unlimited for commercials and branded content. Nonfiction is a mainstay company known for bringing notable documentarians into the ad arena for select projects.
In Minding the Gap, three young men–including Liu–bond with one another via skateboarding to escape volatile families in their Rust Belt hometown. As they face adult responsibilities, unexpected revelations threaten their decade-long friendship.
Liu developed the film over the past several years in collaboration with Chicago-based Kartemquin Films, and as a co-production of POV and ITVS. He not only directed and co-starred in Minding the Gap but was also its DP, co-producer (with Diane Moy Quon) and co-editor (along with Joshua Altman).
Additionally, Liu had a hand in another project at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, serving as a segment director and DP for America to Me, a 10-part limited series chronicling a year at one of Chicago’s most progressive and diverse public schools, located in suburban Oak Park. The series–under the aegis of director Steve James (Hoop Dreams and this year’s Best Documentary Feature Oscar-nominated Abacus: Small Enough to Jail)–is both intimate and epic in its storytelling, exploring America’s charged state of race, culture and education. America to Me made its world premiere as part of the Sundance Fest’s Indie Episodic lineup. A Kartemquin Films project produced in partnership with Participant Media, America to Me was picked up for distribution by Lionsgate’s Starz network ahead of the series’ Sundance debut.
James and Liu share a connection on different fronts beyond America to Me. For example, James was an exec producer on Minding the Gap and his spot/branded content representation is also at Nonfiction. James’ affiliation with Nonfiction goes all the way back to the company’s inception. He was the very first director signed by Nonfiction partner/exec producer Loretta Jeneski, aka LJ, back in 1995 when she established the company.
A 2017 Film Independent Fellow and Garrett Scott Development Grant recipient, Liu said he was attracted to Nonfiction Unlimited by Jeneski’s “enthusiasm for my creative voice and her willingness to work with me to develop it for the commercial realm. It was also comforting to know that she has an understanding of my scattered schedule as a filmmaker actively working on and developing new projects. She has worked with my trusted advisor Steve James since his Hoop Dreams days. With his introduction and recommendation, LJ and I are now off and running.”
Jeneski was drawn to and inspired by Liu’s work. “We take a lot of pride in the opportunities we are given to work alongside leading creatives and brand marketers to create breakthrough commercials, content and films,” said Jeneski. “After seeing Bing’s film at Sundance, I knew he belonged with us. He has a very fresh style; his blend of artful, character-driven verite storytelling with beautiful cinematography is really special and totally engaging, and I anticipate it being in high demand beginning very soon.”
Rom-Com Mainstay Hugh Grant Shifts To The Dark Side and He’s Never Been Happier
After some difficulties connecting to a Zoom, Hugh Grant eventually opts to just phone instead.
"Sorry about that," he apologizes. "Tech hell." Grant is no lover of technology. Smart phones, for example, he calls the "devil's tinderbox."
"I think they're killing us. I hate them," he says. "I go on long holidays from them, three or four days at at time. Marvelous."
Hell, and our proximity to it, is a not unrelated topic to Grant's new film, "Heretic." In it, two young Mormon missionaries (Chloe East, Sophie Thatcher) come knocking on a door they'll soon regret visiting. They're welcomed in by Mr. Reed (Grant), an initially charming man who tests their faith in theological debate, and then, in much worse things.
After decades in romantic comedies, Grant has spent the last few years playing narcissists, weirdos and murders, often to the greatest acclaim of his career. But in "Heretic," a horror thriller from A24, Grant's turn to the dark side reaches a new extreme. The actor who once charmingly stammered in "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and who danced to the Pointer Sisters in "Love Actually" is now doing heinous things to young people in a basement.
"It was a challenge," Grant says. "I think human beings need challenges. It makes your beer taste better in the evening if you've climbed a mountain. He was just so wonderfully (expletive)-up."
"Heretic," which opens in theaters Friday, is directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, co-writers of "A Quiet Place." In Grant's hands, Mr. Reed is a divinely good baddie — a scholarly creep whose wry monologues pull from a wide range of references, including, fittingly, Radiohead's "Creep."
In an interview, Grant spoke about these and other facets of his character, his journey... Read More