By Sigal Ratner-Arias
NEW YORK (AP) --Pedro Almodóvar is a master of cinema who has found international acclaim with 21 films he's shot in his native Spain. Now he's setting his sights on making his first film in North America.
Almodóvar said the film is set in Texas and would be mostly in English, with some bilingual scenes shot in Mexico.
The director said he has the story mapped out in a first draft of the script and while some work still needs to be done, he's planning that it will be his next film. "I can't say the title yet, but I can say it is based on five stories by an American female author and that it happens partly in Texas and partly in Mexico," he told The Associated Press. "It would be the first time that I get out of Spain," he said.
Almodóvar's latest feature, "Pain and Glory," was released Friday in the U.S.
The highly autobiographical drama stars Antonio Banderas as an aging film director who flirts with drugs and has to confront his own past while reflecting on his life and career. It has been hailed as one of his best movies in recent years and won Banderas the best actor award at the Cannes Film Festival in May .
It is also Spain's submission to the Oscars for best international feature film, the category formerly known as best foreign language film. If it wins, it would be exactly 20 years after Almodóvar's "All About My Mother" received the award. (The filmmaker also won the best original screenplay Oscar in 2003 for "Talk To Her.")
"This will force me to come a few times in the next months because (the distributor) Sony is making a big campaign — and this is something good — because they have a lot of faith in the movie. And also the first reactions it is getting are incredibly positive," he said. But "this doesn't mean anything other than there's going to be a big campaign to be able to be among the five nominees. I will do everything possible, which will be to come, to cross the Pond as many times as they tell me, and the rest is a mystery.
"It's a very long road and it's not in my hands, but… I would love to be" back at the Oscars, he said.
He also hopes to see Banderas nominated, like his muse Penélope Cruz was in 2007 for her starring role in "Volver." Cruz won an Oscar two years later for her supporting role in Woody Allen's "Vicky Cristina Barcelona".
"It makes me very happy to see Antonio among the first five (in many media pools,) and I hope it continues this way", said Almodóvar. "Right now we can only speak about prospects, and the prospects are good. Reality will eventually place each of us wherever we belong."
The Many Hires Jeremiah Wassom As Group Creative Director
Independent agency The Many has added Jeremiah Wassom as group creative director.
Wassom most recently worked a decade at Deutsch LA where, as SVP/creative director, he led the Taco Bell account and won new business for the agency. His agency past also includes AKQA and TBWAChiatDay. His creative work has touched the QSR, video games, automotive, fashion, and culture brand sectors. He also served eight years with the United States Marine Corps.
“Throughout his career, Jeremiah has helmed work that has not only made me personally jealous but has consistently pushed brands to show up in memorable and innovative ways,” said Josh Paialii, head of creative at The Many. “One look at his body of work and you will see his passion for storytelling and craft has raised the bar for entire categories, driving participation with many brands’ most loyal fans. Beyond being a world-class creative director and maker, Wassom is a proven team player and strategic thought leader. He’ll be a great addition to the leadership team at The Many working across all accounts. His role will be immediately felt as he guides and supports each of the creative leads in the department.”
A 20-year creative with agency, brand, and freelance experience, Wassom has forged a creative approach which focuses on crafting engaging connections rather than simply make ads. He sees the need for advertising to mean more, not simply do more.
The Many believes that true business growth is made possible by harnessing the power of participation and partners with brands to forge deeper connections with consumers, cultivate trust and loyalty, and maximize marketing spend and execution. The agency is built around a flexible model that offers a suite of capabilities, including... Read More