Cadence Films, Paris and New York, has added London-based director Saam Farahmand for representation in France. Farahmand made his first mark in music videos for such artists as Soulwax, The Klaxons, Tom Vek and The xx. The director then diversified into commercials, his work spanning such brands as Absolut Vodka, Alexander McQueen, Apple, Audi, and U.K.’s Channel 4. Farahmand’s filmic explorations of contemporary culture have been viewed on a global scale, including his thought-provoking ode to female body hair commissioned by NOWNESS to kick off their #DefineBeauty film series….
Eric Balfour has signed on to direct the indie feature Walk to Vegas. Best known for his acting roles in Six Feet Under, 24 and Haven, Balfour will be making his feature-length directorial debut with Walk To Vegas. The script is based on true events written by Vincent Van Patten (World Poker Tour) and Steve Alper about Hollywood heavyweights who make a high-stakes bet while in the Vegas desert. The comedy will star Van Patten and Eileen Davidson, with further casting by J.C. Cantu to start next week. Production begins April 28. Walk To Vegas is being produced by Scott Prisand, Jamie Bendell, Kenny Solomon and Stacey Wilson of Big Block Media Holdings, Michael Speyer of Big Block Canada, Kim Waltrip (Hit & Run), Mark R. Harris (Crash), James Van Patten (SAW IV) and Dylan Vox. The film’s executive producers are Joe Siprut, Adam Weinraub and Bruce Bendell….
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