Directing duo Aircastle, comprised of Will Beauchamp and Jamie Cussen, has signed with division7 for U.S. representation. Aircastle will be looked after by Smuggler in the U.K.
The work of Aircastle has found its home in a sweet spot of comedic storytelling; marrying an elevated and refined visual aesthetic with characters and environments that are fully realized–never giving in to the absurd but willing to take you right up to the edge. Aircastle had previously been repped in the U.S. and U.K. by Rattling Stick. The directorial team continues to be repped in Canada by production house Soft Citizen.
In their formative years, Beauchamp, an aspiring magician, lined his teenaged pockets by performing at kids’ birthday parties, while Cussen tended to ostriches at the local fair. Since combining their eclectic set of skills, the unlikely pair has consistently moved from strength to strength, building a reel and creative brand for clients and partners such as TD Ameritrade, Volkswagen, Tide, Renault and Walmart. Their work has garnered accolades and awards at Cannes Lions, TIFF, The One Show, Webby Awards, Clios and D&AD’s (among other competitions).
After first meeting in film school, Beauchamp and Cussen made waves with their first project together by heading to Florida with some 16mm film in an ’83 Buick LeSabre. The short film that emerged went on to screen at major festivals around the world and was recognized as one of TIFF’s Top Ten. And since their first foray into the ad world with “Catvertising” (which Time Magazine named in its Top Ten of Everything list in 2011), they’ve continued to approach every project with passion. Their partnership has outlasted most marriages. They still share a couple’s cell phone plan. And in their spare time they enjoy hanging out at the local roller disco.
David Richards and Kamila Prokop, managing directors at division 7, jointly stated, “We’ve been big fans of Aircastle for years now, and watching their growth as filmmakers and world builders has been incredible to see. Their dedication is clear in everything that they do, and their work is a joy to see because of it. We’re thrilled they put their trust in us to join them as they continue to evolve and become even more ubiquitous.”
In a joint statement, Beauchamp and Cussen shared, “We’re tickled to be joining forces with the immensely talented, and always-impeccably-dressed, team at division7. David and Kamila’s passion for storytelling and their commitment to the incredibly talented group of directors they represent is second to none. Their ability to produce memorable and award winning work, all while managing to have a laugh along the way, makes us proud to call division7 home. We’re honored and excited for all the adventures ahead!”
SCHROM x Yacht Club and Be Electric Studios Launch Electric XR for Virtual Production
SCHROM x Yacht Club, a full-service live-action, tabletop, and postproduction company, has teamed with Be Electric Studios, a soundstage, equipment rental, and virtual production company, to launch Electric XR, a virtual production collective.
Industry veteran Thomas Rossano will lead the new venture, which provides advanced virtual production solutions across multiple facilities. He brings over 25 years of experience in live-action, tabletop, postproduction and talent curation to enhance Electric XR’s offerings as a resource for brands and agencies, as well as other production companies in need of virtual production solutions. Additionally Rossano continues to serve as EP at XR New York (XR-NY), a role he’s held since December 2022. SCHROM x Yacht Club originally established XR-NY to help provide XR services for third-party rentals. While XR-NY will continue to function independently for SCHROM X Yacht Club, it now operates under the Electric XR umbrella.
Rossano’s expertise spans producing live-action commercials, branded content, interactive and experiential content. In addition to leading Electric XR, he holds responsibilities at SCHROM x Yacht Club which include driving business development, collaborating with sales reps and expanding the company’s creative talent network. Rossano’s career includes serving as an exec producer at Hungry Man for about 11 years, right from that company’s inception. He then went on to become a partner at Station Film where he also had a lengthy tenure. Later he was a partner at PRISM. Then after the pandemic hit, he became a freelance EP for nearly two years, looking into opportunities in virtual production, which led him to XR NY and now Electric XR. Over the years, he has produced high-profile... Read More