Aaron Ruell
Aaron Ruell
Isoldit “Horsies”
Agency: Big Bang, Seattle
Production: Area 51 Films, Santa Monica
DP: Doug Chamberlain
Editor: Yuka Ruell
Napoleon Dynamite main title sequence
Affiliation: Area 51 Films
How did you get into directing? It started with photography in high school, which progressed into filmmaking in my late teens.
Why do you want to direct commercials? I like the challenge of creating commercials that I would like to watch. And I’m told the money isn’t too shabby.
What’s your most recent spot project? iSold It.
Do you have plans to work in other areas–e.g. shorts films or features or TV? Have you ever done any of that in the past? I just had two of my short films, Mary and Everything’s Gone Green premiere at Sundance. Mary went on to screen theatrically across the country at Landmark theatres. Both continue to do the festival rounds. I’m currently in pre-production on my first feature film, Warm Blue Day, which I wrote and will direct in the fall.
What do you think is the best part about being a director? The best part is being able to see what starts as an idea materialize into something that others can experience. What’s the worst part? I don’t know that there is a bad side to being a director, but I suppose it would be that you end up taking all the credit for something when it turns out great–and when it turns out not so great.
Not counting your own work, what’s your favorite recent ad? Why? I really like THe Pepsi Mini spots from Mark Gilbert [of Reginald Pike, Toronto, and Biscuit Filmworks, Los Angeles]. I love the simplicity behind them.“Overnight Success” Has Been More Than A Decade In The Making For Meghann Fahy and Eve Hewson
Meghann Fahy and Eve Hewson, two of the stars of Netflix's whodunit "The Perfect Couple," have news for you if you want to call them breakouts: They've been working in this business for more than a decade.
Fahy made her TV debut in 2009 in an episode of "Gossip Girl." Hewson's first big film role was in 2011's "This Must Be the Place." They do concede, however, that it's recent TV roles โ "The White Lotus" for Fahy and "Bad Sisters" for Hewson โ that have led to new frontiers of opportunity.
Susanne Bier, who directed "The Perfect Couple," says both Fahy and Hewson are "going to be big stars."
"They certainly have proper, profound star quality, Both of them in very different ways," Bier says. "Both are incredibly creative, incredibly smart, and also have a impressive insight as to who they are. You can be a great actor or actress and not necessarily really know who you are yourself. And they do."
Hewson, 33, whose dad is U2 front man Bono, may have grown up in a famous family but she's now in demand in her own right. She will next be seen in a second season of "Bad Sisters, " out in November. She's in Noah Baumbach's next film, alongside Adam Sandler, George Clooney and Riley Keough. She's also been cast in Steven Spielberg's next production and is set to star opposite Murray Bartlett in a racing series for Hulu.
Fahy, 34, is in production on a limited series with Julianne Moore and Milly Alcock called "Sirens," written by Molly Smith Metzler ("Maid") for Netflix. She also has two films in the can with Josh O'Connor ("The Crown," "Challengers") and Brandon Sklenar ("It Ends With Us").
The two actors spoke candidly about this phase of their careers. This interview has been condensed for clarity and... Read More