Gregory Jacobs has joined the directorial roster of bicoastal production company Chelsea Pictures for exclusive representation in the U.S. In addition to directing, Jacobs is an accomplished writer and producer whose experience spans high-profile credits on the feature and TV fronts.
Most recently Jacobs directed summer hit Magic Mike XXL starring Channing Tatum, and also created, wrote and executive produced this year’s Amazon series, Red Oaks. Jacobs produced Behind the Candelabra, HBO and Steven Soderbergh’s biopic look at the life of Liberace, which won the 2013 Emmy for Outstanding Movie. Jacobs directed the horror thriller Wind Chill, starring Emily Blunt, Ashton Holmes and Martin Donovan. Jacobs made his writing and directorial debut on Criminal, starring John C. Reilly, Diego Luna and Maggie Gyllenhaal.
Jacobs has produced with director Steven Soderbergh films including Side Effects, Magic Mike, Contagion, and The Informant! Soderbergh also called upon Jacobs to executive produce his two part biopic epic Che, about the life of Che Guevara. Jacobs also executive produced Ocean’s Twelve, Ocean’s Thirteen, and Solaris. The Cinemax/HBO series The Knick, now in its second season, was also created through the joint minds of Soderbergh and Jacobs.
Jacobs was first assistant director on Ocean’s Eleven; the Academy Award-winning Traffic; Erin Brockovich, nominated for an Academy Award; The Limey; Out of Sight; The Underneath; and King Of The Hill.
“We are thrilled to get to work with Greg and launch him commercially. The range of his creative influence in Film and TV is pretty staggering and we look forward to see what he does in the branded space,” said EP Lisa Mehling who is partnered in Chelsea with fellow owner Allison Amon.
“I am drawn to the commercial world and its culture, and it will give me the opportunity to work on a range of short form projects allowing me to bring my experience as a director, writer and producer in TV and film into the mix,” said Jacobs. [Filmmaker] David Gordon Green [who’s also on the Chelsea roster], a friend and collaborator, thinks the world of Lisa, Allison and the whole Chelsea team which meant a lot to me when making a decision.”
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