Directorial trio JEAN has joined L.A.-based Community Films for U.S. representation. JEAN, pronounced like the pants that are made of denim, is comprised of Eric Eckelman, Armand Prisco and Natalie Prisco. Known for their comedy chops, and pulling believably odd performances out of their actors, they have created comedy-driven work for Lifetime, Delta, AT&T, Honda, TBS and Visa.
Natalie Prisco and Armand Prisco got their start in advertising at McCann Erickson and eventually moved over to MTV where they met Eckelman. The three hit it off immediately and wrote and directed many comedic spots for MTV from 2007 to 2010. Upon leaving MTV, they transitioned their comedic sensibilities to directing commercials, short films, writing promos for Conan and selling a television series they created for HBO.
Prior to joining Community, JEAN had been with Decon.
Executive producer Carl Swan–who heads Community with EP Lizzie Schwartz–said of JEAN, “They have a super fresh talent for comedy and know just how to strike the balance between quirk, edge and relatability in their work. It’s those very funny human moments which are true in all of us that makes JEAN’s brand of comedy so sharp and distinct.”
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