Accomplice Media has signed German director Lino Russell for exclusive representation in the United States. Russell, who was educated in the U.S. and England, is an automotive and visual specialist known for his technical skill, deft handling of talent and storytelling. His credits include Audi, Ferrari, BMW, Alfa Romeo, Volkswagen, Toyota and Chevrolet.
Russell’s recent work includes a spot for the Ferrari 488 which skillfully weaves performance driving footage with abstract macro-photography. He also directed a campaign launching the Chevy Cruze in China that includes dramatic scenes of a paraglider leaping from a mountain cliff, and street performers in nighttime urban environments.
Accomplice EP Jeff Snyder said he was drawn to Russell’s work, citing such spots as Ferrari’s “Fear,” BMW’s “Don’t Stop” and Alfa Romeo’s “Forget.”
Russell became acquainted with Accomplice Media through the directing duo John Doe, who are also on the company’s roster. “Accomplice is a great fit,” Russell says. “They have a strong track record in automotive, but they’re not limited to that. They also have a great, diverse roster.”
“I see a growing sophistication to Lino’s work where he’ll be even more appealing to our market,” noted Accomplice EP Mel Gragido. “Kia’s ‘Coming Soon’ and Toyota’s ‘Teenager’ are great examples.”
“Car shoots are very technical affairs, but my job is to make it look easy,” Russell says. “Because technology is central to my work, I am involved in all the new developments in equipment and post. I also own my fair share of gear. However, I never use tech as a gimmick. On the contrary, through solid prep and research, I make technical limitations less opposing. Ideally, I let them disappear so I can focus on more important things that make the spot stand out. The narrative and performances are brought into more focus and able to connect with the viewer.”
Russell studied filmmaking at Columbia College in Hollywood and the London Film School. As a student in London, he won a Kodak Student Commercial Award and used it as a springboard to launch his directing career in commercials, music videos and corporate media. He has since won Gold Awards at the New York Festivals World’s Best Advertising, the WorldMedia Festival and the U.S. International Film & Video Festival.
Russell, who has shot in the U.S. on several occasions for European car campaigns, looks forward to working directly with U.S. agencies. “I have always admired U.S. advertising for being so precise and to the point,” he said. “I want to continue to explore new ways to tackle car spots. I am drawn toward car advertising that develops from a very iconic product presentation into something emotional and humanly relatable. I’d also like to branch out into more lifestyle work that focuses on the visual expression of emotion and mood.“
Jennifer Kent On Why Her Feature Directing Debut, “The Babadook,” Continues To Haunt Us
"The Babadook," when it was released 10 years ago, didn't seem to portend a cultural sensation.
It was the first film by a little-known Australian filmmaker, Jennifer Kent. It had that strange name. On opening weekend, it played in two theaters.
But with time, the long shadows of "The Babadook" continued to envelop moviegoers. Its rerelease this weekend in theaters, a decade later, is less of a reminder of a sleeper 2014 indie hit than it is a chance to revisit a horror milestone that continues to cast a dark spell.
Not many small-budget, first-feature films can be fairly said to have shifted cinema but Kent's directorial debut may be one of them. It was at the nexus of that much-debated term "elevated horror." But regardless of that label, it helped kicked off a wave of challenging, filmmaker-driven genre movies like "It Follows," "Get Out" and "Hereditary."
Kent, 55, has watched all of this — and those many "Babadook" memes — unfold over the years with a mix of elation and confusion. Her film was inspired in part by the death of her father, and its horror elements likewise arise out of the suppression of emotions. A single mother (Essie Davis) is struggling with raising her young son (Noah Wiseman) years after the tragic death of her husband. A figure from a pop-up children's book begins to appear. As things grow more intense, his name is drawn out in three chilling syllables — "Bah-Bah-Doooook" — an incantation of unprocessed grief.
Kent recently spoke from her native Australia to reflect on the origins and continuing life of "The Babadook."
Q: Given that you didn't set out to in any way "change" horror, how have you regarded the unique afterlife of "The... Read More