Directorial duo The Vortex has joined the roster at Chromista, a creative content company with bases of operation in Los Angeles and New York. This is the first commercial representation for The Vortex, which consists of Emiliano Granado and Austin M. Kearns.
Born in Argentina, Granado relocated to the U.S. as a child and attended Amherst College before moving to NYC. As the fates would have it, his first job in advertising led him to attend courses at the International Center of Photography and to pursue photography as a hobby. Cultivating his own visual voice, Emiliano quit his day job and was quickly named to PDN’s The 30 in 2008. His clients include The New Yorker, GQ, T Magazine, Nike, Adidas, Smirnoff, Converse, Google, and Meta. Granado is the co-creator of Manual for Speed, F**ck Gatekeeping, and babyqueso.
In his youth, Kearns developed a dark comedic voice, which runs throughout his unique visual expression. Austin graduated from the School of Visual Arts, where he studied under virtuoso cinematographer Dejon Georgevich. Early in his career, Austin directed music videos for myriad artists, including comedic personality Tim Heidecker, before transitioning into cinematography.
Granado and Kearns–who came together as a directing team in 2020–deliver a sophisticated edge and irreverence. The Vortex’s recent commercial work includes films and stills for Outlier, Goldsport, Sperry, Under Armour, Puma, Arc’teryx and a film for Lowd Cannabis, which garnered a 2021 Silver Clio.
Adina Birnbaum, executive producer/new business development at Chromista, said, “The Vortex truly lives up to their moniker. Their verve, charisma, and artistry are a sight to behold, and we are looking forward to charting new territory with them.”
Granado and Kearns shared in a joint statement, “It’s an absolute dream to be working alongside the talented folks at Chromista. It’s an honor and we are so excited to start making content for clients.”
Rom-Com Mainstay Hugh Grant Shifts To The Dark Side and He’s Never Been Happier
After some difficulties connecting to a Zoom, Hugh Grant eventually opts to just phone instead.
"Sorry about that," he apologizes. "Tech hell." Grant is no lover of technology. Smart phones, for example, he calls the "devil's tinderbox."
"I think they're killing us. I hate them," he says. "I go on long holidays from them, three or four days at at time. Marvelous."
Hell, and our proximity to it, is a not unrelated topic to Grant's new film, "Heretic." In it, two young Mormon missionaries (Chloe East, Sophie Thatcher) come knocking on a door they'll soon regret visiting. They're welcomed in by Mr. Reed (Grant), an initially charming man who tests their faith in theological debate, and then, in much worse things.
After decades in romantic comedies, Grant has spent the last few years playing narcissists, weirdos and murders, often to the greatest acclaim of his career. But in "Heretic," a horror thriller from A24, Grant's turn to the dark side reaches a new extreme. The actor who once charmingly stammered in "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and who danced to the Pointer Sisters in "Love Actually" is now doing heinous things to young people in a basement.
"It was a challenge," Grant says. "I think human beings need challenges. It makes your beer taste better in the evening if you've climbed a mountain. He was just so wonderfully (expletive)-up."
"Heretic," which opens in theaters Friday, is directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, co-writers of "A Quiet Place." In Grant's hands, Mr. Reed is a divinely good baddie — a scholarly creep whose wry monologues pull from a wide range of references, including, fittingly, Radiohead's "Creep."
In an interview, Grant spoke about these and other facets of his character, his journey... Read More