Guillermo Navarro–an Oscar winner for his cinematography of the Guillermo del Toro-directed feature Pan’s Labyrinth–has joined the directorial roster of Believe Media for exclusive commercial representation. Believe will oversee Navarro’s commercial projects and work with him on a non-exclusive basis for the development of select television projects.
This marks the first time Navarro has been officially represented by a production company in the ad arena. Via Believe, Navarro is looking to direct his first spots. However, Navarro is no stranger to the director’s chair, having helmed episodes of such TV series as Narcos (Netflix), Hannibal (NBC), Preacher (AMC) and American Gods (Starz).
In addition to the Best Cinematography Oscar back in 2006, Pan’s Labyrinth earned DP Navarro an Independent Spirit Award, Camerimage’s coveted Golden Frog honor, and a New York Film Critics Circle Award. The film also garnered him Best Cinematography nominations from the BAFTA Film Awards and the British Society of Cinematographers.
Navarro’s other notable credits as a cinematographer include the features Jackie Brown (directed by Quentin Tarantino), Pacific Rim, Hellboy and Hellboy II (all three helmed by del Toro), The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 and Part 2 (both directed by Bill Condon), Night at the Museum and Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (both directed by Shawn Levy), and Desperado (directed by Robert Rodriguez).
Luke Thornton, partner at Believe Media, said, “We are extremely excited to be working with Guillermo to apply his narrative and visual storytelling creativity to the advertising genre. His ability to oversee a project and have a strong creative impact on the story, lighting, and photography is unique among directors.”
Navarro’s career began when he moved to Paris and DP Ricardo Aronovich took him under his wing and became his mentor. It wasn’t until 10 years later when Navarro served as DP on his first feature. Since then Navarro has become an accomplished cinematographer. His transition to television started as the DP on Bryan Fuller’s pilot Mockingbird Lane which led to Navarro directing several episodes of the NBC series Hannibal.
Navarro said of embarking on a commercial directing career, “It is a thrilling privilege to enter the Believe creative community. Together we share a common vision of a rich and diverse world.”
Believe maintains offices in Los Angeles, New York, London and Prague.
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