Director and photographer Jess Kohl has joined the talent roster at Love Song, the production house founded by Kelly Bayett and Daniel Wolfe.
Love Song’s incredible roster of talent. Jess’ ability to tell thought-provoking stories with a unique visual identity makes her directorial eye an invaluable asset to any campaign or creative project.
Born in London, Kohl has turned out work often focusing on underrepresented voices, which she seeks to amplify through nuanced and poignant storytelling via a distinctive cinematic lens. She carries her artistic mission to her commercial film work with many global brands, including Nike, Speedo, On Running, Google, WhatsApp, and Carhartt.
After graduating from Central Saint Martins, Kohl completed a Masters in cinematography. Her films and photography have been featured in many renowned publications such as Dazed, Another Magazine, British Journal of Photography, Nowness, The Face, Vogue, i-D, and many more.
Her award-winning short films include A Mouthful of Petrol, a coming-of-age documentary following a father and son who share a passion for banger racing. The film won Golden Frog for Best Documentary Short at Camerimage and premiered at IDFA. In 2019, she won Best Director and Best Documentary at the Milan Fashion Film Festival for Nirvana, a short film about Koovagam Festival, the largest gathering of transgender women in Asia. In addition, Kohl’s films Disciples and Anarchy in the Philippines have also been nominated for numerous awards, including the Grierson.
Kohl said, “I’ve admired the work that Love Song has been creating since their inception. The culture that Daniel and Kelly have created feels original and exciting – their uniquely collaborative approach, diverse roster, and method of nurturing talent is something that I’m so excited to be a part of. The work is creatively bold and distinct, yet very human, which perfectly aligns with who I am as a filmmaker. I can’t wait to start creating together!”
“I love how Jess sees the world,” said director Wolfe. “Her sensitivity to her subjects, her compassionate approach – she captures life in a beautiful way. I’m excited to work with her.”
Prior to joining Love Song, Kohl was repped in the U.S. by PRETTYBIRD, which continues to handle her in the U.K. market.
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