Washington Square Films has signed director Rudolf Peter Kiss for his first U.S. commercial representation. Harnessing a background in cinematography to discover beauty in stolen moments through visually rich narratives, Kiss has worked with international brands such as Telekom, Vodafone, Telenor, Nespresso, Tesco and Audi. His most recent project is a powerful short film for World Down Syndrome Day that opens viewers’ eyes to the need for educational advocates for the Down syndrome community.
“When I saw Rudolf’s World Down Syndrome Day spot I was blown away,” said Jonathan Schwartz, director of sales and marketing for Washington Square Films. “It had strong visuals and great performances in the service of a powerful message. Then I dug into his work and loved it. It’s filled with humanity, a great visual sensibility and consistently wonderful storytelling.”
Kiss added, “Washington Square Films has such a prestigious reputation in both the commercial and feature film spaces. I’m looking forward to partnering with Jonathan and the entire team there to continue to grow in the U.S. market.”
Kiss’ passion for film was ignited early on, voraciously taking in as many films as possible under the counter in his mother’s video store as a child. After beginning his studies in philosophy at the University of Szeged in Hungary, he went on to graduate from the prestigious University of Theatre, Film and Television in Budapest as a director and DP. He got his start shooting and directing music videos, organically making his way into the commercial space working with such brands as McDonald’s, Tesco and Vodafone.
Review: Writer-Director Coralie Fargeat’s “The Substance”
In its first two hours, "The Substance" is a well-made, entertaining movie. Writer-director Coralie Fargeat treats audiences to a heavy dose of biting social commentary on ageism and sexism in Hollywood, with a spoonful of sugar- and sparkle-doused body horror.
But the film's deliciously unhinged, blood-soaked and inevitably polarizing third act is what makes it unforgettable.
What begins as a dread-inducing but still relatively palatable sci-fi flick spirals deeper into absurdism and violence, eventually erupting — quite literally — into a full-blown monster movie. Let the viewer decide who the monster is.
Fargeat — who won best screenplay at this year's Cannes Film Festival — has been vocal about her reverence for "The Fly" director David Cronenberg, and fans of the godfather of body horror will see his unmistakable influence. But "The Substance" is also wholly unique and benefits from Fargeat's perspective, which, according to the French filmmaker, has involved extensive grappling with her own relationship to her body and society's scrutiny.
"The Substance" tells the story of Elisabeth Sparkle, a famed aerobics instructor with a televised show, played by a powerfully vulnerable Demi Moore. Sparkle is fired on her 50th birthday by a ruthless executive — a perfectly cast Dennis Quaid, who nails sleazy and gross.
Feeling rejected by a town that once loved her and despairing over her bygone star power, Sparkle learns from a handsome young nurse about a black-market drug that promises to create a "younger, more beautiful, more perfect" version of its user. Though she initially tosses the phone number in the trash, she soon fishes it out in a desperate panic and places an order.
The one rule to follow is that... Read More