Odelay Films, established in the U.K., has expanded internationally with its first outpost in the U.S., led by co-founder and director Peter Lee Scott alongside fellow co-founders Prudence Beecroft and Ed Arthur, and with East Coast sales representation by The Family NYC. Odelay’s U.S. directorial roster, alongside Scott, includes Lavender & Ravenscroft (Kaia Lavender and Gary Ravenscroft), The Masons (Maruska and Donna-Marie Mason), Marcus Storm, Bohdan Rohulskyi, Miranda Bowen, Tobias Pekelharing, Ben Falk, and Joakim Behrman.
This marks the first U.S. representation for all of these directors, except for Lavender & Ravenscroft who have done some work for the American market via their production company LiveTribe.
“It’s always been paramount for us at Odelay to provide a level of service and innovation that’s as considered in front of the camera as it is behind the scenes, and that has resonated deeply with our clients,” shared Scott. “For nearly a decade now, we’ve been growing our network, expanding our horizons and creativity to deliver the best results, and nurturing a roster of incredible talent–and we’ll continue to do this as we bring our skills and experience to the U.S. market. As we progress, we hope to continue building relationships with brands and agencies who are equally as excited as we are about making standout work in a conscious way.”
Founded in London nine years ago, Odelay has worked with international brands including Samsung, Coca-Cola, Dyson, Adidas, Ikea, Thomas Cook, Toyota, eBay, and many others. Guided by the principle of “creativity driven by action, action driven by creativity,” Odelay brings a collaborative approach to its work with brands and agencies. The company is deeply committed to sustainability and diversity alongside ambitious craftsmanship. Odelay’s 10-point environment policy enables them to operate as a fully carbon-neutral production company, and they are nearing completion of B-Corp certification–one of few production companies to meet these high standards for environmental performance and transparency. Odelay’s roster has long championed women and underrepresented communities, and each production undergoes diversity monitoring to ensure that the crew accurately reflects the broader population.
“Discovering Odelay Films has been a highlight this year,” said Diane Patrone, owner and president of The Family NYC. “When I met Pete, I knew I wanted to work with him. Then I met the rest of the team and found them all to be smart and savvy, with a strong sense of who they are as a company. What Odelay offers in terms of talent and experience is unique, and they have a refreshingly modern and distinctive roster. I’m excited to introduce them to the East Coast market.”
Building upon its broad range of creative expertise, Odelay also recently expanded into feature film and television production. Odelay’s first feature film is the documentary The Road of Excess, directed by BAFTA winner Jamie Jones, which was recently named Best Documentary Feature at the 2023 Manchester Film Festival. The film follows ex-MTV UK star Matt Pritchard as he grapples with everything from the peaks of stardom to the depths of addiction on his pursuit of inner peace.
Director Scott’s body of work spans commercials and film. His accolades include the Creative Circle Awards (including the Grand Prix, Best Film and Best of Craft), Best Director and Best Film at the British Independent Film Festival, a Special Commendation Award from The Royal Television Society, and multiple nominations at Cannes Lions, the One Show and the 1.4 Awards. He was also recently selected to become a BAFTA Connect member as a writer-director, an initiative designed to support the next generation of creatives in film and television.
Lavender & Ravenscroft has been active across commercials, independent film, interactive projects, music videos, and documentaries. The duo’s brand clients include Ford, Merrell, Ram Trucks, Hyundai, Microsoft, Target, PepsiCo/Mountain Dew, Vans, ESPN, NBC, Discovery, and BET.
Maruska and Donna-Marie Mason are partners in both life and creative pursuits. They have worked extensively with global fashion and beauty brands on both photography and video projects, with a range of clients that includes Chanel, Hugo Boss, Stella McCartney, L’Oréal, NYX Professional Make Up, Vogue, Vanity Fair, Elle, Teen Vogue, The New York Times, and Coco de Mer.
Originally from Sweden, Storm has a background in documentary filmmaking which gives him a refined skill in capturing powerful, organic emotions alongside creative storytelling instincts. His films have won first prize at the Nordic Youth Film Festival in Norway, the Reed Awards in the U.S., and the Uppsala Short Film Festival in Sweden. His latest short film, The 10th of April, had its world premiere at the Fotografiska museum in Stockholm.
Hailing from southern Ukraine, Rohulskyi holds a masters in filmmaking and got his start in advertising at Ukraine’s Senate agency. He has directed projects for McDonald’s, Vans and Puma, among others.
Bown is a director and writer. She has earned accolades for her work directing the hit television series Killing Eve, feature film Gozo which was named Best U.K. Film at the Raindance Film Festival, and has worked with brands including Sainsbury’s, HSBC, Persil and Weight Watchers. She is currently developing the feature film Vamp in collaboration with the BBC and BFI.
Pekelharing began his career in aviation before finding his way to directing, an unconventional background that informs the sense of authenticity in his work. He is skilled at telling varied stories across fashion, automotive, food, and beyond.
Falk is a filmmaker known for his documentary-style storytelling and innovative integration of mixed-media formats. His commercial projects include work with brands such as Adidas, Dyson, Bang & Olufsen, and Nike.
With a background as an award-winning documentary photographer, Behrman has worked with brands including H&M, eBay, Samsung, Unicef, and Ikea.
Review: Malcolm Washington Makes His Feature Directing Debut With “The Piano Lesson”
An heirloom piano takes on immense significance for one family in 1936 Pittsburgh in August Wilson's "The Piano Lesson." Generational ties also permeate the film adaptation, in which Malcolm Washington follows in his father Denzel Washington's footsteps in helping to bring the entirety of The Pittsburgh Cycle — a series of 10 plays — to the screen.
Malcolm Washington did not start from scratch in his accomplished feature filmmaking debut. He enlisted much of the cast from the recent Broadway revival with Samuel L. Jackson (Doaker Charles), his brother, John David Washington (Boy Willie), Ray Fisher (Lymon) and Michael Potts (Whining Boy). Berniece, played by Danielle Brooks in the play, is now beautifully portrayed by Danielle Deadwyler. With such rich material and a cast for whom it's second nature, it would be hard, one imagines, to go wrong. Jackson's own history with the play goes back to its original run in 1987 when he was Boy Willie.
It's not the simplest thing to make a play feel cinematic, but Malcolm Washington was up to the task. His film opens up the world of the Charles family beyond the living room. In fact, this adaptation, which Washington co-wrote with "Mudbound" screenwriter Virgil Williams, goes beyond Wilson's text and shows us the past and the origins of the intricately engraved piano that's central to all the fuss. It even opens on a big, action-filled set piece in 1911, during which the piano is stolen from a white family's home. Another fleshes out Doaker's monologue in which he explains to the uninitiated, Fisher's Lymon, and the audience, the tortured history of the thing. While it might have been nice to keep the camera on Jackson, such a great, grounding presence throughout, the good news is that he really makes... Read More