London Alley has added director Luke Monaghan to its roster for commercial and music video representation in the U.S. He was previously handled by RSA Films in the American ad market. Black Dog Films, a sister shop to RSA, had been his prior roost for music videos in the U.S. but continues to handle him for music clips in the U.K.
Monaghan hails from London and now calls Los Angeles, where London Alley is based, home. From his beginnings as an intern at MTV, Monaghan hit his stride directing music videos for the likes of Disclosure, Nick Jonas, and Sam Smith. Monaghan’s storytelling and his understanding of how to compel an audience with visual narrative led to collaborations with A$AP Rocky and the Channel 4 UK, and other highly impactful documentary-style shows. His versatility and distinctive cinematic perspective are evidenced in his successful collaborations with Smith, including “Writing’s On The Wall” and “Not The Only One,” both of which received nominations from the Brit Awards and the UK Music Video Awards, and his latest “Too Good At Goodbyes.” The videos have garnered well over 2 billion combined views.
Monaghan’s film State of Play for HBO, about the Mexican boxer Ray Beltran, earned him a Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Short Sports Documentary. His two episodes for the docu-series Why We Fight were nominated at the Emmys for Outstanding Sports Series last year. In addition to Monaghan’s short films, his many commercial clients include Beats By Dre, Nike, Adidas, Fox Sports, Crown Royal, Stella Artois, and Levi’s.
Monaghan has a docu-series with Smith currently in production and is also developing several other documentary projects releasing in 2020.
Monaghan said, “I’m delighted to be joining such an exciting group of directors and a company pushing boundaries in all areas of film. We’ve got lots to make.”
“Luke’s versatility as an accomplished visual storyteller as well as a documentary filmmaker are undeniable,” said executive producer Jordana Freyberg. “He’s able to connect with his subjects without ever compromising beauty and intrigue. His addition to our team is the perfect culmination of a huge year for commercials for London Alley.”
Rom-Com Mainstay Hugh Grant Shifts To The Dark Side and He’s Never Been Happier
After some difficulties connecting to a Zoom, Hugh Grant eventually opts to just phone instead.
"Sorry about that," he apologizes. "Tech hell." Grant is no lover of technology. Smart phones, for example, he calls the "devil's tinderbox."
"I think they're killing us. I hate them," he says. "I go on long holidays from them, three or four days at at time. Marvelous."
Hell, and our proximity to it, is a not unrelated topic to Grant's new film, "Heretic." In it, two young Mormon missionaries (Chloe East, Sophie Thatcher) come knocking on a door they'll soon regret visiting. They're welcomed in by Mr. Reed (Grant), an initially charming man who tests their faith in theological debate, and then, in much worse things.
After decades in romantic comedies, Grant has spent the last few years playing narcissists, weirdos and murders, often to the greatest acclaim of his career. But in "Heretic," a horror thriller from A24, Grant's turn to the dark side reaches a new extreme. The actor who once charmingly stammered in "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and who danced to the Pointer Sisters in "Love Actually" is now doing heinous things to young people in a basement.
"It was a challenge," Grant says. "I think human beings need challenges. It makes your beer taste better in the evening if you've climbed a mountain. He was just so wonderfully (expletive)-up."
"Heretic," which opens in theaters Friday, is directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, co-writers of "A Quiet Place." In Grant's hands, Mr. Reed is a divinely good baddie — a scholarly creep whose wry monologues pull from a wide range of references, including, fittingly, Radiohead's "Creep."
In an interview, Grant spoke about these and other facets of his character, his journey... Read More