Multidisciplinary director Jake Banks has joined PRETTYBIRD. A leading artisan and entrepreneur in motion graphics–having earlier in his career been at Fuel Creative, Razorfish and Brand New School–Banks in 2003 was a founder of the creative studio Stardust where he served as creative director and designer while diversifying into the live-action portions of its productions, making a name for himself with films for the likes of Apple, AT&T, Coca-Cola, EA Sports and IBM.
After a 10-year run at Stardust, Banks sold the company to focus on directing.
At PRETTYBIRD, Banks will develop and produce a range of projects and integrated multi-platform campaigns that build upon his reputation as a visual innovator and his love of design, storytelling and emerging technologies. He will continue to create, design and execute ideas in both the live-action and digital sectors. Banks remains committed to exploring new perspectives and media platforms to share his stories. He recently debuted the mobile app, Hater, at the 2013 SXSW Tech Festival, which earned a slot on Mashable’s list of seven “can’t miss apps.”
Directing and Editing “Conclave”; Insights From Edward Berger and Nick Emerson
It’s been a bruising election year but this time we’re referring to a ballot box struggle that’s more adult than the one you’d typically first think of in 2024. Rather, on the industry awards front, the election being cited is that of the Pope which takes front and center stage in director Edward Berger’s Conclave (Focus Features), based on the 2016 novel of the same title by Robert Harris. Adapted by screenwriter Peter Straugham, Conclave stars Ralph Fiennes as the cardinal leading the conclave that has convened to select the next Pope. While part political thriller, full of backstabbing and behind-closed-door machinations, Conclave also registers as a thoughtful adult drama dealing with themes such as a crisis of faith, weighing the greater good, and engaging in a struggle that’s as much about spirituality as the attainment of power.
Conclave is Berger’s first feature after his heralded All Quiet on the Western Front, winner of four Oscars in 2023, including for Best International Feature Film. And while Conclave would on the surface seem to be quite a departure from that World War I drama, there’s a shared bond of humanity which courses through both films.
For Berger, the heightened awareness of humanity hit home for him by virtue of where he was--in Rome, primarily at the famed Cinecittà studio--to shoot Conclave, sans any involvement from the Vatican. He recalled waking up in Rome to “soak up” the city. While having his morning espresso, Berger recollected looking out a window and seeing a priest walking about with a cigarette in his mouth, a nun having a cup of coffee, an archbishop carrying a briefcase. It dawned on Berger that these were just people going to... Read More