CoMPANY Films–the production company headed by EPs Ron Cicero and Richard Goldstein–has signed British director Chris Fowles, marking his first representation in the U.S. market. Fowles is best known in the U.K. for his poignant storytelling for Google, Land Rover, Xbox and the Alzheimer’s Society.
“I came across Chris’ work and felt it showed a really sophisticated approach to storytelling,” said Cicero. “His spot for Xbox, ‘Beyond Generations,’ was a solid idea clearly elevated by the filmmaker. As Richard and I expand CoMPANY’s offerings, Chris represents an exciting opportunity to dive more into the worlds of emotional storytelling, big visuals and even automotive–worlds in which we’ve shared prior success.”
Fowles added, “I’d been following CoMPANY for a while before Ron [Cicero] reached out to me. After a few calls it was clear to me that he and Richard [Goldstein] really understand my work. Simple stories that resonate with people. Being represented in the U.S. market is a big step in any director’s career, so this is a huge time for me. CoMPANY is a unique place with a great reputation. A rare boutique that doesn’t have a million names on it; every director has a specific place.”
Fowles started his filmmaking career doing documentary-style work before shifting into commercials and promos. He feels it was his psychological bent that brought him great insight into storytelling. “I studied psychology for a few years, having always been fascinated by human emotions and behavior, about why we think and feel the way we do,” said Fowles. “My work can be traced back to a core emotion or motivation. Once I’ve found that anchor, everything becomes clear, how the actors should move, where the camera should be.”
One of Fowles compelling spots–“Hesitation” for PrideinLondon, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting the LGBTQ community–features a lesbian couple debating whether or not to frequent a nightclub, not because of fear of COVID but rather the fear of being harassed. “When you can’t tell if it’s an actor or a real person, you’ve done a pretty good job,” commented Fowles. “I used actors, yes, but they’re also a real couple. This was so important to me, having to believe their humor, chemistry and shared pain.”
In an uplifting spot for “Diabetes UK,” Fowles shows the daily ups and downs of diabetics balancing daily living while managing the chronic condition. “I started working with real people, understanding their stories, then moved into traditional casting. There’s a line a director walks between truth and performance. It’s a delicate balance, but when you get it right, it’s really impactful. I love working with creatives to help tease these moments out in a natural way when writing a treatment.”
First-Time Feature Directors Make Major Splash At AFI Fest, Generate Oscar Buzz
Two first-time feature directors who are generating Oscar buzz this awards season were front and center this past weekend at AFI Fest in Hollywood. Rachel Morrison, who made history as the first woman nominated for a Best Cinematography Oscar---on the strength of Mudbound in 2018--brought her feature directorial debut, The Fire Inside (Amazon MGM Studios), to the festival on Sunday (10/27), and shared insights into the film during a conversation session immediately following the screening. This came a day after William Goldenberg, an Oscar-winning editor for Argo in 2013, had his initial foray into feature directing, Unstoppable (Amazon MGM Studios), showcased at the AFI proceedings. He too spoke after the screening during a panel discussion. The Fire Inside--which made its world premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival--tells the story of Claressa “T-Rex” Shields (portrayed by Ryan Destiny), a Black boxer from Flint, Mich., who trained to become the first woman in U.S. history to win an Olympic Gold Medal in the sport. She achieved this feat--with the help of coach Jason Crutchfield (Brian Tyree Henry)--only to find that her victory at the Summer Games came with relatively little fanfare and no endorsement deals. So much for the hope that the historic accomplishment would be a ticket out of socioeconomic purgatory for Shields and her family. It seemed like yet another setback in a cycle of adversity throughout Shields’ life but she persevered, going on to win her second Gold Medal at the next Olympics and becoming a champion for gender equality and equitable pay for women in sports. Shields has served as a source of inspiration for woman athletes worldwide--as well as to the community of... Read More