Filmmaker Walid Labri has signed with Love Song–the production house founded by Kelly Bayett and Daniel Wolfe–for U.S. representation spanning commercials and branded content.
Labri, who was previously repped by Division’s U.S. branch, has a diverse body of work. His visually hypnotic ad for Nike Cortez masterfully executes visual and scripted jokes. Louis Vuitton’s “Virgil Was Here” showcases Labri’s ability to evoke sentimentality while effectively representing a high fashion brand. Labri’s other commercial collaborators include OVO, Stüssy, Aimé Leon Dore, and the British streetwear brand Corteiz. His fashion-forward sensibilities effortlessly translate to the music industry, with Labri helming trend-forward music videos for up-and-coming artists Raye, Big Zuu, cityboymoe, and Jeshi.
Labri’s filmmaking career began as a teenager borrowing a camera to make music videos with his friends. Labri would go on to cut school to spend his adolescence on film sets and later joined the Mark Lebons Studio before breaking out on his own to forge his path.
“The way I like to work is to grow with people around me and create an ecosystem, and I saw an opportunity to grow with Love Song,” said Labri. “Also, I believe the relationship between a producer and director is super important, and Daniel and I see eye to eye on things outside of film, which in return will help us make better films.”
“Walid is fantastic,” said Bayett. “He’s truly brilliant, completely hilarious, and absolutely one of a kind. Daniel and I are so excited to welcome him to the Love Song family.”
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