Ben Davies has been promoted to VP of Furlined, a global production company with offices in Los Angeles, New York and London. After two-and-a-half years as executive producer and director of development, Davies takes on a new leadership role working alongside founder and president Diane McArter, spearheading talent management and driving the growth and development of the company in the U.S. and U.K.
Davies’ passion for craft and creative excellence as well as his extensive agency experience as head of film production at Droga5 and EP at BBH London add new dimensions to Furlined’s capacity to best serve its directors and clients, from agencies to brands directly.
Recent Furlined work includes: an acclaimed campaign for The New York Times directed by Martin + Lindsay with Droga5 New York, Pepsi’s 2019 Super Bowl film featuring Steve Carell and Cardi B with Goodby Silverstein & Partners, a film for NY Lotto that channels La La Land out of McCann directed by Speck and Gordon, a campaign for Realtor.com directed by Torben Kjelstrup, several films for Apple helmed by Dougal Wilson, and work for Dove by newly signed director Erin Heidenreich.
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