Bicoastal creative content company Chromista has brought Jeff Baron aboard as partner/managing director.
Previously, Baron co-founded Loveboat–a creative content production company with offices in Los Angeles and Paris–alongside indie director Nicolas Winding Refn. There, Baron served as managing partner, leading the Los Angeles office to produce award winning independent projects encompassing advertising and entertainment. Under Loveboat’s banner, Baron oversaw productions helmed by such directors as Tino, Elena Parasco, and Refn himself.
Before co-founding Loveboat, Baron served as managing director for Stink in the U.S.; and was a sr. executive producer at Anonymous Content, where he worked for over 13 years. Baron’s body of work includes steering projects helmed by some of the industry’s most visionary directors, including David Fincher, Traktor, Frank Budgen, and Alejandra G. Iñárritu.
“Jeff’s stellar reputation and well-documented successes reflect our business ethos,” said Ted Robbins, Chromista founding partner and EP. “He’s deeply connected to brands, and agencies, has exquisite taste, and works tirelessly to nurture and support directing talent. His commitment to building trust and communication between clients and creators will be a valuable addition to the Chromista family.”
Chromista is the brainchild of Oscar-nominated director Darren Aronofsky (The Whale, Black Swan).
“My aim is always to build relationships, recognize creative potential, and shepherd the production of groundbreaking new work,” said Baron. “Chromista’s vision as a company is incredibly fertile ground for fearlessness in growing talent and producing work. I look forward to being a part of that process.”
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