The newly minted directing team We The Grimshaws–consisting of Craig Brownrigg and Brenna Horrocks–has signed with bicoastal Ruckus Films for commercial representation. The husband-and-wife team has partnered on another level by combining their creative expertise to create graphically striking, sly comedic films.
Independently, Brownrigg has directed several award-winning and hilarious commercials for brands like Progressive, McDonald’s, and Amazon. Horrocks began her career as an award-winning agency creative at Arnold, then later pivoted to freelance copywriting and designing for major brands. Additionally, she’s a published poet and essayist. Together, they masterfully meld Brownrigg’s signature grounded comedic tone and graphic visual style with Horrocks’ laser-focused eye for detail to create their own cinematic and playful brand of weirdness.
Brownrigg said, “When we shot our first spot together, I bought Brenna a card that said, ‘we’re better together’ and before you think I’m amazing, it was from the discount rack at the gas station. But the card was right and we are lucky to have such a seamlessly creative dynamic.”
Horrocks elaborated, “Yeah, it’s a weird thing to know someone this well–to talk about production design while they’re still ripping off their nasal strip. We consider it an odd little gift, especially on set. Even when we’re not working, we’re constantly bouncing ideas off one another, and we look forward to bringing that energy to our work at Ruckus.”
Ruckus co-founder and director JJ Adler remarks: “I asked them what a ‘Grimshaw’ was since that’s neither of their last names and I was treated to a truly adorable story about Brenna’s great grandpa Duckworth, how she and Craig met, and how We The Grimshaws’ creative philosophy involves treating everyone they work with like family. The functional kind! And they really do have that energy. Working with them so far has felt like a warm and fun family party. It’s infectious and I can’t wait for it to permeate through their work here.”
Brownrigg had been previously repped in the U.S. as a solo director by Hobby. Now he will direct only as part of the Grimshaws duo.
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