Curious Pictures, headquartered in New York, has signed director Brian Drucker whose background is as an animator and VFX artist. Drucker has worked at a number of top N.Y.-based motion graphics, animation and VFX houses, most recently Freestyle Collective.
He is already at work on his first Curious project, a animated sequence for a feature film being produced by Focus Features.
Drucker is a director/designer with an extensive animation resume that includes art direction, 3D animation/visual effects and compositing. He’s worked as a set designer for live action and theater, and as an exhibit/media designer for museums and live events. His film work combines his background in architecture, design, illustration and photography to create stylized environments and characters.
While at Freestyle Collective, which has since been merged into Nice Shoes, Drucker worked on projects for such brands and media properties as Office Depot, Syfy, Nickelodeon and Fuel TV. As a freelance designer he’s also worked at Rhino, Charlex, Tröllback, Psyop and Loyal Kaspar, among other studios.
“What I like most about Curious is that it’s able to tackle any animation aesthetic–from 3D to stop-motion to traditional to everything in between,” said Drucker. “They’re not afraid of experimenting, and I’m excited about that.”
While he’s had the opportunity to direct some projects prior to joining Curious, this move represents what he calls the next step in his growth as a director. “My goal is to integrate live action and stop motion into my 3D work in unexpected ways, and this is the perfect place from which to do that,” he related. “This is an opportunity for me to let people peer into my imagination, and I’m looking forward to that.”
Robert Eggers and Willem Dafoe Reunite For “Nosferatu”
When Willem Dafoe enjoys working with a filmmaker, he'll often jump at the chance to do it again.
The list of directors with whom the 69-year-old has worked with more than once is extensive, including Wes Anderson,Yorgos Lanthimos,Paul Schrader,Lars von Trier and, now for a third time, Robert Eggers. "If it's good, you come back," Dafoe said plainly.
The pair spoke about Eggers' adaptation of "Nosferatu" that hits theaters Wednesday, some of the challenges they faced making "The Lighthouse" — their first project together released in 2019 — and the unique relationship that exists between actors and directors.
The interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
Q: Willem, I read that you called Robert after you saw "The Witch." What did you say?
DAFOE: I want to meet you and I want to know who this filmmaker is.
Q: What is it about him that keeps bringing you back?
DAFOE: Well, if it's good, you come back. When I saw "The Witch," I thought, "Wow, this is a film about a period that I'm not particularly knowledgeable about, but I enter it so easily. This is relevant. It's rooted. It's my story. I'm with these people."
That's quite an incredible trick because a lot of period films, they're always pointing to themselves. They're always sending messages. They're always showing. This had a kind of energy and the kind of physicality and sensuality that I thought, "Who does this? I gotta see this guy." And then I had a wonderful experience in "The Lighthouse" and I played a part that was really fun in "The Northman." So, when he wants to do this passion project and offers me this beautiful role of Professor Von Franz, I say,... Read More