Light Iron, the postproduction creative services division of Panavision, has promoted Ethan Schwartz to sr. colorist. Based out of Light Iron’s Los Angeles facility, Schwartz will continue to support clients globally.
Schwartz’s recent credits include the series What We Do in the Shadows and MacGruber and the features Pink Skies Ahead and Palm Springs. He joined Light Iron in 2013, serving initially as a dailies engineer in support of the company’s Outpost near-set dailies systems. With a deep understanding of the technology underpinning Light Iron’s creative workflows and a passion for the art and craft of cinematography, Schwartz began his transition into color grading by assisting Light Iron supervising colorist Ian Vertovec and sr. colorist Corinne Bogdanowicz. Soon thereafter, he began notching solo credits on short-form projects, series, and features, and in the years since, he’s put together a vast body of work for an array of distributors, including Netflix, Amazon, Apple, Hulu, OWN, and Peacock.
“It’s been wonderful to watch Ethan’s career develop,” said Seth Hallen, managing director at Light Iron. “From his early role as a dailies engineer through his mastery of multiple grading systems, he’s immersed himself in the technology that enables Light Iron’s innovative workflows. Beyond his technical expertise, he brings an artist’s eye and a genuine passion for collaboration to every project, which resonates with all of the clients he supports.”
“Light Iron continues to be an amazing place to grow in my career,” said Schwartz. “It’s been really special to have all of these opportunities here. This job is about combining the always-evolving technical side with the creative, abstract side, and that challenge is endlessly rewarding. There are new ideas, techniques and approaches to discover on every project. I’m excited to continue collaborating with and being inspired by cinematographers and directors, who are always so passionate about elevating their work.”
In addition to Schwartz’s promotion, Light Iron has announced that colorist Katie Jordan, who was previously based in Los Angeles, is now working out of the company’s New York facility. Since joining Light Iron in early 2021, Jordan has notched credits on the series The Chi, the feature A House on the Bayou, and the Sundance 2022-premiering projects Palm Trees and Power Lines, Am I OK? and Huella. Her earlier credits include the feature Promising Young Woman and the series The Dark Crystal: The Age of Resistance.
Jordan’s presence in New York strengthens Light Iron’s foothold across North America and bolsters the company’s local talent available for the East Coast market. Furthermore, thanks to Light Iron’s best-in-class remote-collaboration capabilities, Jordan will continue to serve clients wherever they’re located.
Additionally Pat Fitzgerald, who was previously sr. online editor, and Keith Jenson, who was previously sr. online finishing artist, have each been promoted to colorist. Fitzgerald and Jenson are based in Los Angeles and New York, respectively, with the ability to collaborate with clients globally.
Light Iron maintains facilities in in Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, Albuquerque, Chicago, New Orleans, Toronto and Vancouver.
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