The Directors Network (TDN), a talent agency for commercial freelance directors, directors of photography, and director/DPs, has signed director/DP Aaron Platt and director/photographer Dean Freeman. Independent Spirit Award nominee Platt (for his cinematography on Wild Tigers I Have Known) has made his mark as a director and cinematographer in commercials, music videos, and films for a plethora of artists and brands including Beyonce, Pepsi, Target, Range Rover, H&M, Bloomingdale’s, Mercedes-Benz, and fashion designers Alexander Wang, Diane Von Furstenberg, and Tory Burch. Platt is an alum of SHOOT’s New Directors Showcase, having earned inclusion into its 2009 lineup unveiled at the DGA Theatre in New York. Platt currently moves between Los Angeles, New York City and Seattle. Meanwhile Freeman brings to the TDN roster his expertise in performance-driven filmmaking, and an intimate but energetic style. Freeman’s black-and-white work for Axis Bank with Deepika Padukone and the worldwide campaign for Haagen-Dazs starring Bradley Cooper are both as poetic as they are playful, advancing the celebrity-driven advertising genre. Freeman recently traveled to Cuba to direct an experimental “The Movement for Movement” campaign. In these vibrant shorts, Freeman chronicles Cuban artists and athletes while creating a stirring anthem for action. Freeman splits his time between Barcelona, London, and Los Angeles…..
Design, animation and production studio Laundry has signed independent rep firm Side Hustle for commercial representation on the East Coast. Laundry will work closely with Andrew Michaeloff, partner at Side Hustle, which specializes in marketing and strategy for design-driven studios and niche live-action production offerings. Side Hustle launched in November 2018 as part of the bicoastal Hustle network, founded by Anya Zander and Jake Neske. Launched in 2005 by partners/executive creative directors PJ Richardson and Anthony Liu, Laundry is a Los Angeles- and San Francisco-based design, animation and live-action studio specializing in commercials, film, and digital content. Recent clients include Uber, Honda, AT&T, Facebook, Nike, Airbnb, EA, Instagram, and MTV…..
Production designer Shane Richardson has joined talent agency Innovative Artists for commercial representation. Richardson is a member of the local 800 Union and based in Los Angeles. He has worked with major artists such as Calvin Harris, Sam Smith, and professional athletes including NBA’s Kevin Love and NFL’s Julian Edelman. Richardson has designed cutting edge commercials for brands such as Bose, Samsung, and Adidas….
eTribez, the company behind the cloud-based production management platform called eTribez Production Management, as well as a cloud-based Casting and Audience Engagement solution, has named Laura Grange as its new sales manager for the U.K., France and Italy. Grange will be based in the company’s London office. Working under the guidance of Andrew Jackson, eTribez’ V.P. of Sales for EMEA, Grange will focus her efforts on introducing the benefits of the company’s products to producers and creators of content across the mediums of broadcast, feature film, documentary, streaming, advertising, and promo….
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