Commercial and feature filmmaker Ashley Avis has joined Backyard’s directorial roster for spot and branded content representation in the U.S. Backyard’s managing director Roy Skillicorn brought Avis over from his ongoing indie shop Seed Media Arts which had previously handled her in the ad arena.
Avis has written and directed for blue chip brands including Mercedes-Benz, Pfizer, Red Bull, Coca Cola, Envya, Lone Ones, and most recently, Chevrolet.
Avis’ latest film, a troubled teen romance, Adolescence, edited by Oscar nominated Douglas Crise (Birdman, Babel) and starring Tommy Flanagan and Elisabeth Rohm, is expected to hit theaters this fall. Avis has recently signed on to write and direct a $20M modern day adaptation of Anna Sewell’s classic novel, “Black Beauty.”
In between feature projects Avis loves the challenge of shorter form commercialmaking and branded entertainment. ”Backyard’s long-standing presence and experience in the commercial ad world, plus their recent expansion into digital/branded content, are a great fit for the direction I want to pursue and I welcome the many opportunities they seek,” said Avis who added that she’s excited over the prospects of “working with Roy and his highly regarded, talented and enthusiastic troupe of producers at Backyard.”
Kevin Allodi, president of Backyard assessed, “Ashley is a wonderfully talented director who brings the same narrative sensibility to her commercial work as she does to her film projects, and she edits the vast majority of her commercial work herself —she’s the whole package.”
Skillicorn said of Avis, “With her success in the feature world, Ashley sets the stage to help foster that interdisciplinary culture that we seek. Ashley’s presence will also positively impact the company because of her caring attitude and her willingness to both share and receive knowledge.”
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