Mixed-media production studio Roger–under the aegis of founder/creative director Terry Lee–has hired Dane Macbeth as creative director and promoted producer Brandon Stevenson to head of production. The appointments come as Roger continues expanding its creative footprint in broadcast while adding content creation to its menu of services.
Macbeth started his career as an animator/designer at Framework LA, where he worked on film titles, trailers, production logos, broadcast design and reality show packages. He went on to freelance for creative agencies Big Star, Laundry, King and Country, Metaphrenie, Troika, Big Block Design Group, Digital Domain, Buck, and Roger.
From design and animation to creative direction and art direction, Macbeth has assumed many roles contributing to award-winning and noteworthy projects: the main titles for “X-Men: The Last Stand” and “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer;” trailers for “Spider-Man” and “Spider-Man 3;” and network rebrands for Lifetime and Nickelodeon, among scores more film and TV clients. His lengthy list of advertising clients include BMW, Sony, Toyota, Honda, Burger King, and Xbox, to name a handful.
Macbeth says he was initially drawn to Roger after seeing its “Kids’ Choice Awards” promo for Nickelodeon, which featured host Jack Black and “just about every animation technique known at the time.” Fittingly, his first project with Roger was for Nickelodeon.
Stevenson began his industry career at Roger, starting as an entry-level coordinator before moving up to produce smaller jobs. As the company grew, so did Stevenson, who has since produced many large-scale projects via Roger. His notable commercial jobs include campaigns for UTA and Constant Contact; and Stevenson’s broadcast credits includes the Lifetime network rebrand, as well as the “Chopper” and “SnoBots” promos for Disney XD.
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