Love Song has brought Bristol, U.K.-born director Will Dohrn aboard its roster for representation in the U.S. and internationally, including the U.K., for commercials, branded content and music videos. Largely self-taught, Dohrn has won numerous awards for his commercial and creative work. This marks his first U.S. spot signing.
Having spent his early 20s developing programming for the Natural History Unit of the UK’s historic British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Dohrn cultivated an expert broadcaster’s appreciation for design, cinematography, and storytelling before setting out as an independent filmmaker. Fittingly, his recent work is both visually experimental and narratively accessible.
As a music video director, he has worked with a diverse range of critically acclaimed contemporary artists including Bonobo, Club Kuru, and Slowthai. His video for “War” by post-punk darlings IDLES garnered him a Cannes Young Director Gold Screen, a 2020 UKMVA for best rock music video, a 2021 Design and Art Direction Wood Pencil, a silver medal at the 1.4 Awards, and a slot in the 2021 Saatchi & Saatchi New Directors Showcase. His technically stunning video for Jeshi’s “3210” (featuring a simulated zoopraxiscope consisting of 4,000 still photos) was selected as a 2022 Vimeo Staff Pack. Dohrn’s recent commercial work includes collaborating with Stella McCartney on an ad for her Falabella Bag (a backpack made of recycled marine plastic), as well as 2021 and 2022 campaign films for high-end streetwear brand A Cold Wall.
“I want to provoke thought and stimulate through the use of innovation in filmmaking, creating new and unseen perspectives on the ubiquitous and mundane,” said Dohrn. On signing with Love Song, he shared, “‘I immediately felt empowered by Love Song’s approach when it came to collaboration. Putting the craft and vision of their directors at the forefront of the company is a concept I really admire and respect.’
Love Song co-founder Daniel Wolfe said of Dohrn, “I love how he combines super technical execution with a lot of heart; he has a unique way of seeing the world that feels very fresh and exciting.”
Love Song was founded by Wolfe and managing partner/EP Kelly Bayett.
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