Looking Glass Films, an L.A. shop under the aegis of executive producer June Guterman, has gained an infusion of international filmmaking talent, entering into an alliance with London-based Tomboy Films, overseen by managing directors Glynis Murray and Barnaby Spurrier. Per the deal, Looking Glass will handle U.S. representation for Tomboy’s roster of filmmakers. Conversely, Tomboy gains U.K. representation for the Looking Glass ensemble of directorial talent.
Looking Glass thus gains for stateside projects such notable Tomboy filmmakers as Stephen Frears (The Queen, The Grifters), John Madden (Shakespeare In Love, The Debt, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel) and Kirk Jones (Waking Ned Devine, Nanny McPhee, Everybody’s Fine, What To Expect When You’re Expecting). Meanwhile Tomboy will look to procure select U.K. assignments for Looking Glass filmmakers including David Mamet and Jean Jacques Annaud.
Tomboy and Looking Glass feature a mix of filmmaking talent who span multiple disciplines, including features, TV and commercials. The Tomboy Films roster–now available in the U.S. via Looking Glass–is comprised of directors Frears, Madden and Jones, Andrea Arnold, Andrew Gaynord, Ben Caron, Ben Miller, Benjamin Till, Clio Barnard, Dominic Brigstocke, Fez, Gregory Rood, Hugh O’Conor, Jeremy Jeffs, Joe Cornish, John Carney, John Crowley, Justin Chadwick, Karan Kandhari, Lenny Abrahamson, Marcus Tomlinson, Mark Mylod, Matthew Huntley, Oliver Smyth, Patrick Cadell, Paul Walker, Peter Capaldi, Richard Loncraine, Sandra Goldbacher, Shane Meadows, Simon Cheek, and Zam Salim.
The Looking Glass directorial lineup includes Annaud, Mamet, Alfonso Arau, Suzuya Bobo, Laurent Briet, Kerry Conran, Renny Harlin, Lesli Linka Glatter, Fatima Andrade Koehler, Andy Dugan, Barbara McDonough, Francine McDougall, Paul McGuigan, Dito Montiel, Marine Panossian, Chris Rock, Mark Simmons, Cliff Watts and Marlon Wayans.
Many of the directors have successfully crossed over from features and other long-form fare to commercials and branded content. For example, on the Tomboy side, Jones’ ad endeavors include directing spots for McDonald’s and Werthers. Chadwick (The Other Boleyn Girl, The First Grader) helmed digital content for the London Olympics. Walker (Shameless) recently directed Wieden+Kennedy’s initial work for Tesco. And Sandra Goldbacher (Emmy nominated for the BBC series The Hour) has directed spots for Special K and Ferrero Rocher.
As for the multiple disciplinary exploits of the Looking Glass directors, prime examples include Mamet (The Spanish Prisoner, Heist, House of Games) who has helmed for Ford), McGuigan (Wicker Park and TV shows such as Smash and Sherlock) who directed a Radio One spot, and Montiel (Empire State, A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints) with ad fare for NKLA.
Guterman said that Looking Glass Films has been producing a lot of work internationally, noting, “Commercial production is a world market today. In addition to our US.. jobs, we’ve been working with London, Brazil, Singapore, and the rest of Europe.” She mused that she’s “begun to feel like a production company/travel agent – luckily we all love to travel , and both companies’ rosters are equally comfortable shooting in the U.S., U.K. and anywhere else in the world.”
In terms of UK representation for her directors, Guterman sought a very specific fit. “I wanted people who could properly rep A-list directors and do a great job executing production, as well as partnering with us in the process–a hands-on approach is critical when dealing with major talents,” she said. “Also, production is different in every country. Tomboy Films has great relationships with U.K. agencies and an exceptional understanding of that market.” In addition to their respective rosters, both Looking Glass Films and Tomboy Films have off-roster relationships with directors available for special projects that expand options for brands and agencies.
Tomboy’s Murray observed that the production house has “an unusually eclectic roster and finding a partner who is attuned to the way we work and the caliber of directors we represent was very important for us. We are confident that Looking Glass Films and Tomboy will be a very successful combination.”
Recent work produced by Looking Glass Films includes the SK-II launch campaign with Kate Bosworth (via Leo Burnett) helmed by Cliff Watts, who also photographed 2012 Sexiest Woman Alive Mila Kunis for the November cover of Esquire. Tomboy Films’ recent work includes projects for Churchill Insurance, Tesco, 02 and Ferrero Rocher. Tomboy was one of the official digital content providers for the London Olympics.
The Looking Glass Films and Tomboy Films rosters are repped in the U.S. by Sarah Holbrook on the East Coast, Chris Breneman in the Midwest, and Marla Mossberg on the West Coast.
Hwang Dong-hyuk On Season 2 of “Squid Game,” Wrapping Production on Season 3; What’s Next?
Viewers may gasp, cringe or cry out watching characters die on Netflix's "Squid Game," but those simulated deaths have a different effect on its creator, writer and director. Instead, Hwang Dong-hyuk feels happiness seeing them go.
The show has a huge cast and Hwang says it was "really difficult" to manage everyone on set.
As characters would die, Hwang recalls saying to the actors on their last day, "'Oh no! How sad! I won't see you tomorrow,' but I was always smiling inside."
"Squid Game" season two premieres Thursday. It once again stars Lee Jung-jae and centers around a secret competition in South Korea that targets people in debt and the winner gets a big cash prize. What they don't know is that losing the game is deadly.
Hwang originally conceived of the show 15 years ago as a two-hour film but it failed to gain traction with financiers or even interested actors. He put it aside and worked on other films instead. He then had the idea to make it a TV series instead and took the project to Netflix. There, it could reach a wide audience.
"I never in my wildest dream thought it was going to be this huge," said Hwang, who spoke about the show and what comes next. Answers have been edited for clarity and length.
Q: What have you learned from "Squid Game"?
HWANG: I learned that I shouldn't give up. If you love something and if you want to create something, it might not work now, but the time might come later. Or that idea could be the source of inspiration for something else.
Q: You've already finished filming season three of "Squid Game." Have you thought about what your next project will be?
HWANG: I'm afraid to talk... Read More