Creative studio Psyop has taken on Shotopop–the London studio founded by Casper Franken and Carin Standford–for U.S. representation spanning varied forms of content including commercials, branded entertainment, music videos and short films.
Known for its expertise in design, animation and illustration–with visuals grounded in storytelling, hands-on collaboration and thoughtful problem solving–Shotopop, which is nestled in the East London neighborhood of Haggerston, has lent its creative eye to brands such as Nike, Adidas, Spotify, Pepsi and KFC. The studio’s endeavors range from creating a visual language for Nike to bringing cyber-villains to life for Adidas, and rebranding a local brewery’s latest batch of pale ale. Prior to connecting with Psyop, Shotopop was most recently represented by Brand Articulations globally.
Psyop’s chief executive producer Justin Booth-Clibborn said, ”We’ve known Casper and Carin for years. We’ve worked together a few times and they really embody what Psyop is all about–you can’t put them in a box. Their work, whatever form it might take, has a certain attitude and is endlessly inventive and evolving.”
In a joint statement, Franken and Standford shared, “When we started out 15 years ago, we could not have imagined what the future held for us. Being represented by Psyop is no longer a dream but an opportunity that we are so excited to embrace. We can’t wait to see what lies ahead and grow with our studio while making cool shit with cool-ass people.”
“Heretic” and “Maria” Set As Red Carpet Premieres At AFI Fest
The American Film Institute (AFI) has announced that Heretic, the psychological thriller starring Hugh Grant, and Maria, based on the life of opera singer Maria Callas starring Angelina Jolie, will round out the Red Carpet Premieres section at this year’s AFI Fest. The Heretic Gala Screening will take place on Thursday, October 24, and the Maria Gala Screening will be held on Saturday, October 26. The complete Red Carpet Premieres section includes the world premieres of Music By John Williams, Robert Zemeckis’ Here, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl and Clint Eastwood’s Juror #2. All Red Carpet Premieres will take place at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre. The full lineup for AFI Fest 2024 will be unveiled on October 1.
“At the heart of AFI Fest is an unwavering dedication to celebrating the best in global cinema--together,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI president and CEO. “We look forward to uniting artists and audiences once again to be inspired by the art form in a powerful sense of community.”
Heretic follows two young missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) who are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed (portrayed by Grant), becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse. The film is directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods and produced by Stacey Sher, Beck, Woods, Julia Glausi and Jeanette Volturno. The film will be released nationwide by A24 on November 8.
Directed by Pablo Larraín, Maria presents a tumultuous and beautiful depiction of one of the world’s most renowned artists and reimagines the legendary soprano in her final days in Paris, as Callas (Jolie)... Read More