Ben Hampshire has joined Rogue Films in London as managing director/executive producer. Hampshire brings 18 years of advertising and production experience in both the U.S. and UK, most recently as managing director of The Mill Los Angeles where over seven years he helped the L.A. studio grow from 12 employees to 220, following five years heading production at The Mill London. Hampshire delivers a well honed mix of creative, technology and business acumen to Rogue, and will focus on creating new opportunities for its leading directors, developing young talent, recruiting new directors and managing day to day operations with company partners/executive producers David Van Der Gaag and Charlie Crompton.
Rogue has been one of London’s top creative boutiques for the past 15 years, building its reputation on the high craftsmanship, quality and originality of its work across commercials, music videos, digital content, documentary and film. This year alone, Rogue has taken home multiple honors at Cannes, British Arrows and the APAs. Cannes Lion wins include Gold for Guinness’ “Made of Black,” directed by Sam Brown; Silver for Channel 4’s promo “Prototype,” featuring amputee model Viktoria Modesta and directed by Saam Farahmand; and two Bronze for Department of Transport’s “Celebrate,” directed by Mark Zibert. Zibert is part of the Imperial Woodpecker roster, including director Stacy Wall, represented by Rogue for the UK and European markets.
A native of London, Hampshire’s career began there, then took him to Los Angeles and back across the Pond to London again. His perspective extends borders and continents, and reflects collaborations with the globe’s finest directors, visual artists, agency creatives, producers and brand clients.
“I’ve always really enjoyed working with directors, and the opportunity to join a boutique London company like Rogue with A-list talent and a strong focus on the client experience was very enticing,” Hampshire said. “We are also in a time where the creative execution is heavily reliant on existing and emerging technology, something I was fortunate to be involved in for many years at The Mill. Saam Farahmand and other Rogue directors have a strong grasp of these new frontiers in a way that Gondry and others did years before them. I couldn’t be more pleased to help shape these types of new and exciting opportunities for Rogue.”
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