Global creative studio MPC has added to its U.S. roster, securing Eduardo “Alvin” Cruz as creative director in the New York office while Morten Vinther joins MPC Los Angeles as head of 2D.
Cruz joins from Method with an extensive portfolio in the VFX space. His work spans such brands as Coca Cola, Target, Crown Royal, BMW, Volvo, Adidas and GE. He has worked alongside directing talent such as Peter Thwaites, Roman Coppola and Christopher Riggert,
Most recently, Cruz successfully supervised the “Milk Life” campaign with director Geordie Stephens, and also worked on the popular AT&T “Everywhere” spot directed by Tom Kuntz. He was also sole creative director on the feature Swiss Army Man which earned Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert–aka the Daniels duo of production house PRETTYBIRD–the U.S. Dramatic Directing Award at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival. Swiss Army Man starred Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe.
Vinther joins MPC from Glassworks in Amsterdam, where he was head of 2D, in addition to holding a variety of posts. Following a string of international award-winning projects, Vinther has recently worked with directors like Derek Cianfrance, Martin Krejci and Tomas Mankovsky on ad content for top brands such as Nike, Samsung, Adidas, Netflix, Louis Vuitton, Smirnoff and Heineken.
Justin Brukman, managing director for MPC US, said of Cruz and Vinther, “We look forward to welcoming them and their creative approach to the craft, as well as their ability to develop and nurture talent.”
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