Production company B-Reel Films has signed L.A.-based Gevorg Karensky, a VR and traditional director who comes over from Outsider/Unit 9, with projects under his belt for Jaguar out of Spark 44, London, Nissan out of Digitas LBI, Paris and a stunning VR experience for O2 out of MC Saatchi, London.
Karensky’s remarkable grasp of the future of storytelling was solidified most recently in Real Memories, a narrative VR film for Mini/BMW. The film takes a one-of-a-kind look at how the mind copes with the unknown, as seen through the chilling story of a manipulative psychotherapist.
Karensky initially became well known for his groundbreaking short film based on the popular Grand Theft Auto series that integrated a third person perspective and became a viral sensation that has racked up over 13 million views.
Karensky is the founding partner of Bipolar Id, a VR production company. B-Reel and Bipolar Id will co-produce all VR projects with Karensky. Bipolar Id is represented by ICM in the U.S.
Karensky joins a B-Reel Films’ directorial roster which includes Tom Malmros, Jeffery Plansker, Steven Tsuchida, Anders Hallberg, Johan Perjus, Simon Cole, Jon+Torey, Eivind Holmboe, Russell Brownley, Will Mayer, Jesper Hiro, Jens Sjögren, Mikael Marcimain and Anders Forsman.
B-Reel Films maintains offices in Los Angeles, New York, London, Barcelona, Berlin and Stockholm.
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