Framestore has added Gareth Smy as creative director to its growing global immersive team. He brings to his new roost more than a decade of experience in the themed entertainment industry.
Prior to joining Framestore, Smy served as sr. creative manager of Location Based Experiences (LBE) at Moonbug Entertainment, where he led global creative development for LBE and themed attractions, working on projects such as Blippi and Cocomelon Family Entertainment Centres. Additionally, Smy worked at Scruffy Dog Creative Group and the LEGO Group. With a degree in architecture from the University of Plymouth, Smy specializes in storytelling and concept development, with a focus on narrative treatments, scriptwriting, storyboarding and design direction.
In his new role, Smy will be focused on leading and developing client relationships for new projects as Framestore expands its footprint in the immersive entertainment and theme park sectors.
Framestore’s global head of Immersive Karl Woolley, commented, “Since its inception, our immersive division has consistently focused on how we extend our clients’ stories and IP beyond the traditional screen, reframing expectations for both IP owners and their guests with creative technology, LBE, and mind-blowing theme park rides. Our exceptional team of artists in all disciplines has meant we’ve realized some incredible projects from the ground up, so it is with great excitement and honor that we welcome Gareth to the team, recognizing this achievement and bringing with him a depth of client-side experience in the LBE and Attractions field.”
On joining Framestore, Smy added, “I’m super excited to be part of the team as a creative director for Immersive. I have always been impressed by Framestore’s innovation and excellence in visual storytelling and how they have been behind some mind-blowing theme park attractions, and some of my all-time favorite movie moments. This role fits my love for creating immersive experiences, and I can’t wait to contribute to Framestore’s pioneering legacy.”
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