Global production house Partizan has hired Lisa Tauscher to head up its U.S. operation as managing director/executive producer.
Tauscher arrives from Smuggler where as EP she played an integral role in the creation of iconic campaigns. Her collaborations with notable filmmakers there have earned a clutch of awards including numerous Cannes Lions, Clios, AICP Show honors and a 2015 Emmy nomination for director Henry-Alex Rubin’s Gatorade “Made in NY” spot featuring Derek Jeter out of TBWAChiatDay.
“Lisa Tauscher’s level of taste and expertise producing leading high-quality work across the production landscape makes her the perfect fit to run our U.S. operation. Her history is right in line with the Partizan culture, which has always been dedicated to finding, developing, and managing directors,” said Georges Bermann, founder of Partizan. “Innovation and creativity is what matters the most for us and Lisa’s experience thoroughly complements our vision.”
On joining Partizan, Tauscher related, “I’m thrilled at the opportunity to oversee the directors on the current roster, as well as cultivating new talent. Working alongside such an inspired and cutting-edge international group opens the door to a world of creative possibilities for this industry.”
Over the years, Partizan has won assorted honors, including the coveted Palme d’Or at Cannes as well as Cannes Lions, Clios, MTV VMAs, Grammy Awards, and a #1 Production Company of the Year ranking by The Gunn Report. Partizan projects have racked up more than 2 billion views in total, with over 100 million views just in 2015. Partizan maintains offices in Paris, London, New York, Los Angeles, Berlin, São Paulo and the Middle East.
Tauscher succeeds Sheila Stepanek at the helm of Partizan in the U.S.
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