Ridley Scott has brought together all RSA Films affiliated companies in a multi-business restructure to form the Ridley Scott Creative Group.
The Ridley Scott Creative Group strengthens the network across the affiliated companies to take advantage of emerging opportunities across all entertainment genres as well as their existing work in film, television, branded entertainment, commercials, VR, short films, documentaries, music video, design and animation, and photography.
Luke Scott will assume the role of global CEO, working with founder Ridley Scott, and partners Jake and Jordan Scott, to oversee the future strategic direction of the Ridley Scott Creative Group.
“We are in a new golden age of entertainment,” Ridley Scott said. “The world’s greatest brands, platforms, agencies, new entertainment players and studios are investing hugely in entertainment. We have brought together our talent, capabilities and creative resources under the Ridley Scott Creative Group, and I look forward to maximizing the creative opportunities we now see unfolding with our executive team.”
The Ridley Scott Creative Group’s capabilities provide bespoke solutions in an evolving media landscape. The companies will continue to operate autonomously, but now offer clients synergy under the Group offering. The Group includes commercial production company RSA Films, the venerable shop behind ads such as Apple’s iconic “1984,” Budweiser’s Super Bowl favorite “Lost Dog,” and more recently, Adidas Originals’ “Original Is Never Finished” campaign, as well as acclaimed branded content for Johnnie Walker, HBO, Jaguar, Ford, Nike and the ground-breaking BMW Films series; the Jake Scott-founded music video production company Black Dog Films (Justin Timberlake, Maroon 5, Nicki Minaj, Beyoncé, Coldplay, Björk and Radiohead); entertainment marketing company 3AM, honored this year with inclusion in Fast Company’s annual list of the Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in Advertising and Marketing; commercial production company Hey Wonderful founded by Michael Di Girolamo; newly founded UK commercial production company Darling Films; and film and television production company Scott Free (Gladiator, Taboo, The Martian, The Good Wife), which continues to be led by David W. Zucker, president, US Television, Kevin J. Walsh, president, US Film, and Ed Rubin, managing director, UK Television/Film.
“Our Scott Free Films and Television divisions are producing their best ever work and have an unprecedented number of movies and shows in production,” said Luke Scott. “We are also seeing a huge appetite for branded entertainment from our brand and agency partners to run alongside high quality commercials. Our entertainment marketing division 3AM is extending its capabilities to all our partners, while Black Dog is moving into short films and breaking new, world-class talent. It is a very exciting time to be working in entertainment.”
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