MKG–a woman-owned and operated creative agency specializing in brand action, including live experiences, digital and virtual events, employee engagements and social impact actions–has hired Tricia Desjardins as executive creative director and Matthew Conley as head of production.
Desjardins, who marks her return to MKG where she will report to chief creative officer Lauren Austin, recently served as director of creative strategy at Camp, the family retail experience company. She was previously creative director at MKG, where she worked on such projects as Target’s “Favorite Day Product Launch,” Google’s “Be Internet Awesome” and in-store experiences for Gucci.
Conley served as executive producer at the Participation Agency, where he helped the company grow and increase client revenue by more than 220%. He previously served as producer at Art + Commerce, working on high-end luxury brands. He too reports to MKG CCO Austin.
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