Limey, the production house headed by exec producer/owner Andrew Denyer, has signed director Nick Jones for U.S. representation. A Brit known for his work in comedy, Jones continues to be handled in the rest of the world by London-based Another Film Company.
No stranger to the American ad market, Jones has to his credit humorous Burger King campaigns for Crispin Porter+Bogusky. His recent endeavors, primarily in the U.K., span such clients as KIA automobiles, Aunt Bessie’s, Subway, Southern Trains, EGG Bank, Heineken, Sugar Puffs and Uswitch.
Jones studied theatre design, film, and photography at London’s prestigious Central St. Martin’s. Following university, he dove headlong into directing and editing music videos, before immersing himself in the world of television and commercial production. In the years that followed, Nick honed his directing chops, sharpened his comedic timing and developed a penchant for connecting with actors. His eye for comedic talent paved the first steps for such actors as Ricky Gervais, Simon Pegg, Martin Freeman, and many more breakout English performers.
Denyer sees Jones’ directorial sensibilities and knack for natural comedic dialogue as translating well into the U.S. marketplace. Jones comes aboard a Limey directorial roster that includes Scott Weintrob, Graeme Joyce and the team known as KN+SAW.
Additionally Limey has secured Mary Ford of indie firm Mary Ford & Co. for representation on the East Coast. Limey continues to be handled by reps Jeanie DiMaggio of DiMaggio on the West Coast and in Texas, and partners Jim Robison of Jim Robison Reps and Janice Harryman Wagdy of Barker! in Detroit and the Midwest.
Steve McQueen Shows Wartime London Through A Child’s Eyes In “Blitz”
It was a single photograph that started Oscar-winning filmmaker Steve McQueen on the journey to make "Blitz." As a Londoner, the German bombing raids on the city during World War II are never all that far from his mind. Reminders of it are everywhere. But the spark of inspiration came from an image of a small boy on a train platform with a large suitcase. Stories inspired by the evacuation are not rare, but this child was Black. Who was he, McQueen wondered, and what was his story? The film, in theaters Friday and streaming on Apple TV+ on Nov. 22, tells the tale of George, a 9-year-old biracial child in East London whose life with his mother, Rita ( Saoirse Ronan ), and grandfather is upended by the war. Like many children at the time, he's put on a train to the countryside for his safety. But he hops off and starts a long, dangerous journey back to his mom, encountering all sorts of people and situations that paint a revelatory and emotional picture of that moment. SEARCHING FOR GEORGE AND FINDING A STAR When McQueen finished the screenplay, he thought to himself: "Not bad." Then he started to worry: Does George exist? Is there a person out there who can play this role? Through an open casting call they found Elliott Heffernan, a 9-year-old living just outside of London whose only experience was a school play. He was the genie in "Aladdin." "There was a stillness about him, a real silent movie star quality," McQueen said. "You wanted to know what he was thinking, and you leant in. That's a movie star quality: A presence in his absence." Elliott is now 11. When he was cast, he'd not yet heard about the evacuation and imagined that a film set would be made up of "about 100 people." But he soon found his footing, cycling in and out of... Read More