Washington Square Films has signed director/DP Joshua Z Weinstein for his first U.S. commercial representation. He directed the feature film Menashe which was released theatrically by A24, received a 97% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes and was nominated for a Gotham Award for Breakthrough Director and an Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature.
Weinstein’s work delivers gritty realism infused with a sense of humor and pathos. He has a unique eye for portraying multidimensional characters and narratives that can be seen in docu-style and narrative branded pieces for such clients as Lyft, Tylenol, Facebook and Bai.
“Washington Square Films is a staple of New York City and some of my favorite filmmakers have come through their doors,” noted Weinstein. “It’s an honor to work with a team that cares so much about cinema and storytellers.”
A filmmaker inspired by the exploration of culture and people from all walks of life, Weinstein has worked closely with celebrities like Ben Stiller to help tuberculosis victims in the slums of Delhi. Weinstein’s film projects have been shown at Sundance, Berlin and Camerimage. Pictures of the Year (POY) awarded Weinstein’s work with The New York Times first place for “Multimedia Project of the Year.” He is a graduate of Boston University’s College of Communication Film department, an alumnus of the CPB/PBS Producers Academy at WGBH, an IFP Filmmaker Labs fellow, and a two-time recipient of the NEA-funded Southern Circuits Arts Tour.
Washington Square Films managing director/director of sales and marketing Jonathan Schwartz said, “We all loved Menashe. When we saw the short form work and found out he was a Mets fan we knew he had to be at Washington Square.”
Sinners and Saints Adds Apple Pie To Its Branded Menu
Bicoastal Sinners and Saints--the multidisciplinary studio overseen by managing director/executive producer Heather Heller, and partners/EPs Yann Henric and Thomas Carroll--has added Apple Pie Tabletop to its roster for branded content. Known for its food and beverage content creation, Apple Pie comprises the husband-and-wife team of director/DP Gene Dubin and director/art director Alisa Volodina. In addition to representation, the move expands Apple Pie’s production capabilities through the combination of its centrally located full-service studio in New York and a newly established mobile studio in Los Angeles. Apple Pie recently teamed with Sinners and Saints on a Wienerschnitzel project created by Innocean.
“We believe that our dual studio strategy positions us uniquely in the competitive landscape of food and beverage storytelling,” said Heller. “By blending the artistry of the New York studio with the flexibility of our Los Angeles location, we can tailor our productions to meet the unique demands of each project, regardless of geography.”
“Working with Sinners and Saints in the demanding field of tabletop was an absolute pleasure,” shared Apple Pie Tabletop in a joint statement. “Warm welcome, unwavering support and dedication--everything a director can ask for. The entire experience was both enjoyable and rewarding. We will not miss an opportunity to collaborate with them again.”
“The first thing you notice is that Apple Pie has beautiful work,” Heller observed. “Having worked with them, I can say that Gene and Alisa are extremely meticulous and detail-oriented; their combination of talent and agility appeals to agencies and clients.” Also appealing to Heller is Apple Pie Tabletop’s brisk international... Read More