Director Jonathan Herman, known for his comedic storytelling and strong visual narrative, has come aboard the roster of The Corner Shop for U.S. representation. Herman, who was formerly handled in the American ad market by Rattling Stick, continues to be repped in the U.K. by Blink.
Herman’s long-time collaboration with the Dutch beer brand Bavaria has produced several high profile spots with provocative celebrities such as Mickey Rourke, Hugh Hefner, KISS and Charlie Sheen.
The director’s work has gained recognition on the awards show circuit, including: a pair of spots for the French newspaper L’Equipe which won a Gold Lion at Cannes, a Dutch Lottery ad which garnered a Cannes Bronze Lion, a silver ADCN Lamp in the Netherlands and a Gold Eurobest honor in London.
Anna Hashmi is executive producer at The Corner Shop. The company’s sales force consists of Dana Balkin and Frank Antonoff at Resource on the West Coast, Mary-Kate Hatfield in the Midwest, and Peter Ziegler and Jonathan Jacubowicz at Ziegler/Juacubowicz on the East Coast.
Rom-Com Mainstay Hugh Grant Shifts To The Dark Side and He’s Never Been Happier
After some difficulties connecting to a Zoom, Hugh Grant eventually opts to just phone instead.
"Sorry about that," he apologizes. "Tech hell." Grant is no lover of technology. Smart phones, for example, he calls the "devil's tinderbox."
"I think they're killing us. I hate them," he says. "I go on long holidays from them, three or four days at at time. Marvelous."
Hell, and our proximity to it, is a not unrelated topic to Grant's new film, "Heretic." In it, two young Mormon missionaries (Chloe East, Sophie Thatcher) come knocking on a door they'll soon regret visiting. They're welcomed in by Mr. Reed (Grant), an initially charming man who tests their faith in theological debate, and then, in much worse things.
After decades in romantic comedies, Grant has spent the last few years playing narcissists, weirdos and murders, often to the greatest acclaim of his career. But in "Heretic," a horror thriller from A24, Grant's turn to the dark side reaches a new extreme. The actor who once charmingly stammered in "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and who danced to the Pointer Sisters in "Love Actually" is now doing heinous things to young people in a basement.
"It was a challenge," Grant says. "I think human beings need challenges. It makes your beer taste better in the evening if you've climbed a mountain. He was just so wonderfully (expletive)-up."
"Heretic," which opens in theaters Friday, is directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, co-writers of "A Quiet Place." In Grant's hands, Mr. Reed is a divinely good baddie — a scholarly creep whose wry monologues pull from a wide range of references, including, fittingly, Radiohead's "Creep."
In an interview, Grant spoke about these and other facets of his character, his journey... Read More