Director Darren Statman has joined Yard Dog for U.S. work in commercials and branded content. Based in London, Statman has won admirers among agencies and brands across Europe for his work. Among Statman’s best-known projects is Hades, a black-and-white film for British custom motorcycle company Untitled. Credited with reinventing UK motorcycle advertising, the film presents a haunting, noir-ish vision as it follows a lone rider through grimy London streets to a cheap coffee shop. It won acclaim from motorcycle aficionados and fashionistas, and was named Best Art Haus Short Film at the Portland Motorcycle Film Festival. Other credits include Bentley, Ted Baker, Adidas, Lawler Duffy and EA Sports.
Statman, who began his career as an assistant to director Tony Kaye, has been directing advertising on his own for more than a decade. In work spanning genres from luxury goods to sports to cars, he has developed a signature style that is filmic, subtle and idiosyncratic. His short film for Bentley Motors, for example, beautifully evokes the craftsmanship behind custom barber chairs that the automaker built for London’s posh men’s salon Pankhurst.
“Darren is a unique talent and visual storyteller who has produced some memorable, groundbreaking commercials and short films,” said Yard Dog executive producer Beth Pearson. “We feel that his work will resonate with agencies eager for someone with a fresh vision.”
For his part, Statman said that he has been busy with European projects and wasn’t actively seeking work in the U.S. until he was contacted by Yard Dog. “I had several conversations with Joe (EP Piccirillo) and Beth and found them instantly likable,” he recalled. “They had a handle on me as a director…where I’ve been, where I’m heading…it was the first time I felt that. They got me. That’s a great foundation to build on.”
“Overnight Success” Has Been More Than A Decade In The Making For Meghann Fahy and Eve Hewson
Meghann Fahy and Eve Hewson, two of the stars of Netflix's whodunit "The Perfect Couple," have news for you if you want to call them breakouts: They've been working in this business for more than a decade.
Fahy made her TV debut in 2009 in an episode of "Gossip Girl." Hewson's first big film role was in 2011's "This Must Be the Place." They do concede, however, that it's recent TV roles — "The White Lotus" for Fahy and "Bad Sisters" for Hewson — that have led to new frontiers of opportunity.
Susanne Bier, who directed "The Perfect Couple," says both Fahy and Hewson are "going to be big stars."
"They certainly have proper, profound star quality, Both of them in very different ways," Bier says. "Both are incredibly creative, incredibly smart, and also have a impressive insight as to who they are. You can be a great actor or actress and not necessarily really know who you are yourself. And they do."
Hewson, 33, whose dad is U2 front man Bono, may have grown up in a famous family but she's now in demand in her own right. She will next be seen in a second season of "Bad Sisters, " out in November. She's in Noah Baumbach's next film, alongside Adam Sandler, George Clooney and Riley Keough. She's also been cast in Steven Spielberg's next production and is set to star opposite Murray Bartlett in a racing series for Hulu.
Fahy, 34, is in production on a limited series with Julianne Moore and Milly Alcock called "Sirens," written by Molly Smith Metzler ("Maid") for Netflix. She also has two films in the can with Josh O'Connor ("The Crown," "Challengers") and Brandon Sklenar ("It Ends With Us").
The two actors spoke candidly about this phase of their careers. This interview has been condensed for clarity and... Read More