Director/writer James Gray has come aboard biscuit filmworks for commercial representation worldwide except for France where he continues to be handled by Les Telecreateurs, Paris. Gray wrote and directed The Immigrant, a film starring Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Renner and Joaquin Phoenix, set to debut at the Cannes Film Festival this month. His most recent commercial effort, Citro�n’s “Impossible” starring Ewan McGregor and Vinessa Shaw–and produced by Les Telecreateurs–broke on air earlier this month; he has also directed for Martell Cognac and a L’Oreal campaign starring Patrick Dempsey.
Gray made his directorial debut in 1994 with Little Odessa, a critically acclaimed film, which received the Critics Award at the Deauville Film Festival as well as the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival. That same year, he received nominations from the Independent Spirit Awards for Best First Feature and Best First Screenplay. In 2000 Gray wrote and directed The Yards, his second feature and his first with Joaquin Phoenix who would become a frequent collaborator, going on to star in his next three films. The drama premiered in competition at the Cannes Film Festival in 2000. Gray’s New York crime drama We Own the Night, (2007) stars Phoenix, Mark Wahlberg, Eva Mendes and Robert Duvall. The film received a Cesar nomination in 2008 for Best Foreign Film and screened in competition at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival.
Gray’s feature Two Lovers, (2008) then received nominations at the Independent Spirit Awards for Best Director and Best Female Lead. The Brooklyn-set drama stars Phoenix opposite Gwyneth Paltrow, Vinessa Shaw and Isabella Rossellini. The film premiered in competition at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival and went on to receive a Cesar nomination for Best Foreign Film in 2009.
Born in New York City, Gray grew up in Queens and attended the University of Southern California School of Cinema-Television.
“Storytelling is mostly about economy, especially in features,” said Gray. “I love making commercials because you have to hone in on storytelling with even greater discipline and focus on the visual message and still communicate an idea with great speed, accuracy and effectiveness.”
Prior to biscuit, Gray was repped by Anonymous Content. He now joins a biscuit directorial roster that includes company co-founder Noam Murro, Andreas Nilsson, Aaron Ruell, Aaron Stoller, Christopher Riggert, Clay Weiner, Jeff Low, Malcolm Murray, Mike Maguire, Philippe Andre, Steve Rogers and Tim Godsall.
Gene Hackman Died Of Heart Disease; Hantavirus Claimed His Wife’s Life About One Week Prior
Actor Gene Hackman died of heart disease a full week after his wife died from hantavirus in their New Mexico hillside home, likely unaware that she was dead because he was in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease, authorities revealed Friday. Both deaths were ruled to be from natural causes, chief medical examiner Dr. Heather Jarrell said alongside state fire and health officials at a news conference. "Mr. Hackman showed evidence of advanced Alzheimer's disease," Jarrell said. "He was in a very poor state of health. He had significant heart disease, and I think ultimately that's what resulted in his death." Authorities didn't suspect foul play after the bodies of Hackman, 95, and Betsy Arakawa, 65, were discovered Feb 26. Immediate tests for carbon monoxide poisoning were negative. Investigators found that the last known communication and activity from Arakawa was Feb. 11 when she visited a pharmacy, pet store and grocery before returning to their gated neighborhood that afternoon, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said Friday. Hackman's pacemaker last showed signs of activity a week later and that he had an abnormal heart rhythm Feb. 18, the day he likely died, Jarrell said. Although there was no reliable way to determine the date and time when both died, all signs point to their deaths coming a week apart, Jarrell said. "It's quite possible he was not aware she was deceased," Jarrell said. Dr. Michael Baden, a former New York City medical examiner, said he believes Hackman was severely impaired due to Alzheimer's disease and unable to deal with his wife's death in the last week of his life. "You are talking about very severe Alzheimer's disease that normal people would be in a nursing home or have a nurse, but she was taking care... Read More