Creative production studio Flavor has brought Jason Cook aboard its Los Angeles staff as creative director.
An L.A. native, Cook is an award-winning creative director and graphic designer who has spent more than 10 years working for some of the top design companies in the advertising industry. For the past two years, he has been freelancing as a creative director/director for Arsenal FX, Rabbit Content, Stardust, Troika, We Are Royale and others. Prior to that, he spent three years as a creative director for the LA office of Superfad, contributing to campaigns for the likes of Coca-Cola, Pella Windows and Visa Olympics while directing spots for Fiat, THQ, and League of Legends on the Mac. Cook was also partner/creative director for NYLON for three years, and that followed more than seven years working as a freelancer after a stint as Brand New School’s very first intern. Cook earned his degree in graphic design from Art Center College of Design in 2001, and subsequently taught there as well.
According to Flavor EP Darren Jaffe, Cook’s extensive background in traditional and motion graphic design also includes work in narrative in the 3D realm, as well as live-action direction. “Jason always looks to solve the issues that are most appropriate for a project without being constrained by specific techniques,” said Jaffe. “He brings so much to the group in terms of leading teams, building client relationships and building brands.”
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