Director Renée Mao has joined Tool of North America for U.S. representation spanning commercials and branded content.
Having lived in Australia, China and the U.S., Mao is a writer and director who brings a unique global perspective and visual power to her narrative driven stories. A graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts for film and TV production, Mao has directed emotional anthem spots for Woman’s Hospital of Texas, March of Dimes, Meals on Wheels, and Make-A-Wish.
Prior to coming aboard the Tool roster, Mao was repped by Greenpoint Pictures.
Mao’s short films have been featured in the Huffington Post, The Hammer Museum, and earned Vimeo Staff Pick distinction. Mao’s award-winning LGBTQ+ documentary, The Making of Panthera, is a love letter for creativity, freedom, and personal identity. The film has been featured in the Palm Springs LGBTQ Film Festival and is a Webby Award honoree.
“As a director who is passionate about pushing creative boundaries and developing strong, emotional impact with my work," said Mao, “I’m excited to have this opportunity to work with a company like Tool that will support the groundbreaking work I want to deliver.”
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