Creative music company MAS (Music & Strategy) has appointed Nora Dabdoub as producer and music supervisor.
Dabdoub joins MAS from Dentsu Creative, where she handled music supervision and production. There, she worked on U.S. Tennis Association’s US Open 2023 campaign, “Spectacular Awaits,” scouting a rising hip hop artist who could provide the music and voiceover, and landing on Cookie Kawaii and her hit song “Violin.” Prior to this, Dabdoub was a creative producer at Bannerboy while also freelancing for companies like KR Consults, among others.
Outside of the advertising realm, Dabdoub has worked at the interdisciplinary arts space Knockdown Center as an events and music producer, and assisted music supervisor Joe Rudge. She has also acted as programming director and managing partner at a New York music venue, Shea Stadium, and was the day to day manager for indie artists such as The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, The Drums, and Alex Winston.
Dabdoub said, “I always had a good vibe about MAS. What appealed to me most about joining the team are the people who I, simply put, clicked with deeply; equally key is the quality of the work and balance of creativity, professionalism and having a good time doing it!”
James Alvich, co-founder and president at MAS, added, “As MAS continues to grow in different markets, we’re always looking for unique personalities and perspectives from each person we bring on. Since we work in a lot of spaces within music, Nora’s extensive background–spanning artist management, music supervision, agency work, event coordination, and production–will prove an invaluable asset.”
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