Commercial and film production company Washington Square Films has signed director/DP/photographer Erik Curtis for his first commercial representation. With a diverse skillset spanning a multitude of on-set roles, Curtis brings a distinct ability to elicit authentic performances in his work, from both actors and real people alike. His directorial credits span such brands as Universal Orlando, Spectrum, Publix, Visit Florida and Hertz, among numerous others. Having previously worked in a freelance capacity with Washington Square Films for a number of years, he officially joins the company’s directorial roster with a number of projects already in production.
Jonathan Schwartz, Washington Square Films’ director of marketing & sales/managing director, said, “You would be hard pressed to find anyone who works harder on set than Erik. Having worked on many projects together over the years there is a strong level of trust. The fact that Erik is a Director/DP/Stills guy–he really brings a lot to every project.”
Curtis added, “Having had the opportunity to work with Washington Square Films many times over the past several years, I could not be more excited to make it my first official home as a director. Jonathan and the entire team are so dedicated to their directors and closely collaborating with them to continue to reach for what’s next, which is something that I truly value.”
Florida native Curtis got the filmmaking itch early on. As a notably enterprising teenager, he cold-called every production company in a 50-mile radius until he got the opportunity to get on set. Ten years later, that same location was where he filmed his first-ever commercial as a director. Eager for any and all on-set experience, he started off in front of the camera picking up work as an extra as well as a youth correspondent for a local news show. Fascinated with the entire production process, he transitioned behind the camera spending stints as a camera assistant and camera operator before finding his groove as a DP. He has worked as a DP across commercial and film projects, including second unit DP roll work on the Harmony Korine-helmed feature Spring Breakers and the dramatic feature Sunlight Jr. starring Naomi Watts and Matt Dillon, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. Heightened interest from repeat clients ushered in an organic transition to work as a director.
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