Director Tom Schlagkamp has signed with Saville Productions for exclusive commercial representation in North America. His breakthrough short film Rock ‘n’ Roll Manifesto was awarded first place at the Cannes Young Director Awards 2013. Written and directed for the German music magazine VISIONS, Rock n’ Roll is a vignette storytelling piece narrated by Pantera’s Phil Anselmo. The film was lauded as visual ode to the “blood, sweat and tears” behind the rock lifestyle.
Based in Berlin, Schlagkamp began his career as a sound and light technician. He transitioned from music into film through RTL Germany. From editing and motion graphics design, he began shooting commercials, shorts and music videos, including campaigns and movie trailers for films such as The Bourne Conspiracy, Borat and X-Men. Schlagkamp went on to study directing at Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg. He was quickly singled as a rising director in showcases around Germany for his authentic kinetic style.
Schlagkamp joins a Saville roster that includes leading feature directors Martin Campbell (Casino Royale), Bryan Singer (X-Men), Gavin O’Connor (Warrior), James McTeigue (V for Vendetta) and Paul Haggis (Crash), and commercials directors such as Alex & Steffen, Ben Richardson, David Harner, Morgan Neville and Richard de Aragues.
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