Human, which maintains shops in NY, L.A. and Paris, has now extended its reach to Chicago with a new West Loop studio and office under the aegis of veteran composer/producer Justin Hori.
As the principal creative for the Chicago market, Hori will bring out the very best artistry from Human’s team of composers. Hori’s track record for pairing the client’s visuals with the perfect audio identity has resulted in the creation of transformative narratives across advertising, film and digital.
“Justin’s artistic output in the commercial space is prolific,” said partner Gareth Williams. “There’s equal parts poise and fun behind his vision for Human Chicago. He’s got a strong kinship and connection to the area.”
From learning to DJ at age 13, to working at Gramaphone Records, to studying music theory and composition at Columbia College, Hori’s has been immersed in the Chicago music scene. He began his career at com/track and Comma Music, before moving to open Comma’s Los Angeles office. From there, Hori joined Squeak E Clean, where he served as creative director for the past five years.
Returning to Chicago in 2016, Hori didn’t miss a beat. As he said, “There’s an amazing community of independent artists and musicians in Chicago that are interested in working with brands, and I’m in a prime position to make that happen.”
Hori ad credits include his head-bobbing track “Da Diddy Da,” which was used in the four-spot summer 2018 Apple iPad campaign. His work has won top industry honors including D&AD Pencils, The One Show, Clio and AICP Awards, and the prized Cannes Gold Lion for Best Use of Original Music.
“Human has always championed the power of music to inspire and provoke emotion, and that’s the result of being led by true artisans and visionaries. It’s evident when you watch a reel.”
The launch of the Chicago studio comes during a period of significant growth for Human. In New York, senior producer Craig Caniglia has added head of sonic branding to his title, having honed distinctive audio content for clients such as National Geographic, IKEA, Visa, GE Appliances and Brighthouse Financial.
Meanwhile, Post Human, the audio post sister company run by award-winning sound designer and engineer Sloan Alexander, continues to build momentum with the addition of a second 5.1 mixing suite in NYC. Plans for similar build-outs in both LA and Chicago are currently underway.
On May 17, Human Label releases the self-titled debut album from Penny Engine, comprised of producer/composer Matt O’Malley and vocalist Heather Ogilvy from Grammy-nominated The Silver Lake Chorus. Teased with the single “Fool’s Run,” the LA duo’s sound combines a light pop sensuality with the dark themes of old Hollywood.
Jennifer Kent On Why Her Feature Directing Debut, “The Babadook,” Continues To Haunt Us
"The Babadook," when it was released 10 years ago, didn't seem to portend a cultural sensation.
It was the first film by a little-known Australian filmmaker, Jennifer Kent. It had that strange name. On opening weekend, it played in two theaters.
But with time, the long shadows of "The Babadook" continued to envelop moviegoers. Its rerelease this weekend in theaters, a decade later, is less of a reminder of a sleeper 2014 indie hit than it is a chance to revisit a horror milestone that continues to cast a dark spell.
Not many small-budget, first-feature films can be fairly said to have shifted cinema but Kent's directorial debut may be one of them. It was at the nexus of that much-debated term "elevated horror." But regardless of that label, it helped kicked off a wave of challenging, filmmaker-driven genre movies like "It Follows," "Get Out" and "Hereditary."
Kent, 55, has watched all of this — and those many "Babadook" memes — unfold over the years with a mix of elation and confusion. Her film was inspired in part by the death of her father, and its horror elements likewise arise out of the suppression of emotions. A single mother (Essie Davis) is struggling with raising her young son (Noah Wiseman) years after the tragic death of her husband. A figure from a pop-up children's book begins to appear. As things grow more intense, his name is drawn out in three chilling syllables — "Bah-Bah-Doooook" — an incantation of unprocessed grief.
Kent recently spoke from her native Australia to reflect on the origins and continuing life of "The Babadook."
Q: Given that you didn't set out to in any way "change" horror, how have you regarded the unique afterlife of "The... Read More