Director Will Wightman has joined Blinkink for global representation. He has already made his commercial project debut as a director for animal rights charity PETA, which this week earned a slot in SHOOT’s The Best Work You May Never See gallery.
Wightman came to Blinkink’s attention during last year’s BFI Future Film Fest where he took home Best Director distinction for his Falmouth University graduation piece Heart Failure. The short film was also showcased at Cannes Lions and has been widely acclaimed for its unique narrative, electric expressionism and banging original soundtrack.
Heart Failure is a fresh take on dating today with an episodic plot that follows Frank & Lizzie from the first one night stand to the inevitable breakup. It’s an "EDM musical" with an original soundtrack to justify the tagline: “This is a musical for the cinema…and the nightclub.”
Wightman said, “I love dance music, I love the energy it brings and think it ultimately has a lot more emotional resonance than people give it credit for.”
The film is dynamic, kept meticulously on track by the beat-driven metronome that affords Wightman complete control over the emotional tempo. This is often used as a blueprint to guide his viewer through some exceptional visual comedy. Music always plays a key role in Wightman’s work. He’s been producing music for years and consistently incorporates it into his projects, giving each piece its own audiovisual identity including his latest project for PETA.
Last year Wightman joined Blinkink as a director’s assistant. Since then he’s moved up to the studio’s directorial roster with PETA’s “Red River Farm” for which he served not only as a director but also lyricist and co-music composer. The PETA short, part of its “Shop To Save Lives” campaign, also marked Wightman’s first time working with puppets, which performed in tandem with actress and comedian Jessie Cave.
Wightman sees himself as an “uncompromisingly Gen-Z filmmaker,” wanting to provide a sympathetic look at his own generation. Other inspirations stem from a love for “the high energy storytelling language of music videos and commercials,” reflected in the development of his own unique style.
Blinkink executive producer Josef Byrne said, “We saw Heart Failure and fell in love. Will’s the kind of live-action, mixed-media polymath we love to have in the studio. He’ll be working on music vids and commercials with Blinkink and programs and film with our long form division Blink Industries.”
James Bretton, head of Blink Industries, said of Wightman, “We’re already cooking up some amazingly exciting projects with him at Industries and have been genuinely blown away by his brain and what it can do. He’s a disturbingly talented man.”
Oscar and Emmy-Winning Composer Kris Bowers Joins Barking Owl For Advertising, Branded Content
Music, audio post and sonic branding house Barking Owl has taken on exclusive representation of Oscar and Emmy-winning composer Kris Bowers for advertising and branded content.
Bowers’ recent film scores include The Wild Robot and Bob Marley: One Love, alongside acclaimed past works such as The Color Purple (2023), King Richard and Green Book. His contributions to television are equally impressive, with scores for hit series like Bridgerton, When They See Us, Dear White People, and his Daytime Emmy Award-winning score for The Snowy Day.
In addition to his work as a composer, Bowers is a visionary director. He recently took home the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject for his directorial work on The Last Repair Shop. The emotionally touching short film spotlights four of the people responsible for repairing the musical instruments used by students in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). The Last Repair Shop reflects the positive influence that musical instruments have on the youngsters who play them, and the adults in the LAUSD free repair service who keep them working and in tune.
Barking Owl CEO Kirkland Alexander Lynch said of Bowers, “His artistry, diversity of style and depth of storytelling bring an unparalleled edge to the work we create for global brands. His presence on our roster reflects our continued commitment to pushing the boundaries of sound and music in advertising.”
Johanna Cranitch, creative director, Barking Owl, added, “Kris first caught my attention when he released his record ‘Heroes + Misfits’ where he fused together his jazz sensibility with a deeply ingrained aptitude for melody, so beautifully.... Read More