Sanctuary Content, the L.A.-based production house headed by founder/EP Preston Lee, has added Mindcastle–the directing team of Danielle Krieger and Casey Warren–to its roster for spots and branded content in the U.S. This marks the duo’s first formal production company roost in that Mindcastle was previously freelancing under its own brand name.
Mindcastle’s work, which is characterized by powerful emotional storytelling, has won numerous honors, including the One Club’s Young Guns award, Cannes’ Young Director’s Award, One Screen Festival’s Emerging Writers award, and a Sports Emmy. Additionally, the directorial duo recently earned a Bronze Clio for a piece promoting the NHL’s New York Rangers.
Mindcastle got its cinematic eye from a foundation in photography. While still in college, Warren and Krieger were approached by ESPN to create a spot for the NFL Draft, which led to future collaborations with athletes and celebrities including Derek Jeter, Floyd Mayweather, Russell Wilson, and Richard Sherman. In the ensuing years, Mindcastle went on to crate films for global brands including Patrón, Canon, Facebook, and Fujifilm.
Krieger and Warren are known for creating a “world” for their films where they build scenes with layered character and texture, often designing and creating unique props and elements for their films–––such as more than 100 hand-created basketball team branded mixtapes for their film “Mixtape” for ESPN. They worked with ARRI on the development of the ALEXA Mini, providing feedback on the design and functionality. This led them to create the successful and award winning launch film “The Journey.”
EP Lee said, “I first noticed Danielle and Casey’s work from their ESPN Mixtape piece and became an immediate fan. They bring a fresh, cinematic signature to all of their projects, regardless of the genre.”
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