Global production house Partizan has brought on Laura Jones as executive producer of music videos. UK import Jones steps into the role at Partizan’s Los Angeles office with a history of producing at companies such as The Directors Bureau, Blink, Iconoclast, and RSA, along with Partizan in London. Over the past decade, Jones has collaborated with such high-profile artists as Pharrell Williams, Sam Smith, Kanye West and Desiigner, Disclosure, Foals, Lorde, 2 Chainz, London Grammar and Rae Sremmurd.
Music has long been an important part of Partizan’s legacy. Partizan’s vault contains countless productions for stars like Taylor Swift, Usher, Beyoncé, Björk, Daft Punk, Kanye West, Madonna and The Rolling Stones.
Partizan founder Georges Bermann noted that Jones is “a Partizan baby” who did well in her first tour of duty at the company. “She’s been fed with our music video culture, which has brought so many incredible directors to the best artists in the world.”
Jones shared, “Partizan is where I started so I’m thrilled to be back and at such an exciting time. Creativity and cultivating talent have always been at the forefront of Partizan and music videos are a huge part of that, which makes an inspiring culture for both artists and directors to work within.”
Founded in 1991, Partizan maintains offices in Paris, London, New York, Los Angeles, Berlin, São Paulo and the Middle East.
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