ONE at Optimus, the production arm of Optimus, has added Tim Mason to its directorial roster. This marks Mason’s first formal production company affiliation as a director. Mason, who’s also a writer and actor, recently directed No Other Way To Say It in collaboration with ONE and Optimus. The comedic short film has earned wide recognition, including Best Short Film at the Best of the Midwest Awards Film Fest and a screening at the SlamDance Film Fest this January.
“Tim’s experience as a writer and creative director will be invaluable to clients looking to bring their concepts to fruition,” said ONE executive producer/managing director Lisa Masseur. “And, his work as a comedic actor helps him bring out more nuanced performances from other actors. As part of our roster, Tim has already collaborated with Downtown Partners and Golin on campaigns for Illinois Lottery and New Ocean, respectively.”
Mason is a veteran of the Second City Mainstage, where he appeared in numerous shows including the critically acclaimed revue, “Southside of Heaven.” In 2014, he performed in and served as head writer on “The Art of Falling,” a groundbreaking collaboration with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Mason has won two Gold Lions from the Cannes Festival of Creativity for his work in advertising. He also directed several Kmart pieces for FCB, including the 60-minute “Joe Boxer Lounger Games.” Mason will continue working with Hog Butcher, a content creation collective also based out of ONE.
“I’ve had the pleasure of partnering with ONE numerous times over the past few years as an actor and a writer,” said Mason. “Now that my career path has expanded into directing, there is no group of people I would rather work with than the folks here at ONE. They’ve been invaluable in helping me build my directing experience and find my own comedic voice and style.”
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