Spears & Arrows, a Santa Monica, Calif.-based production company headed by EP Jason Wolk, has added director Michael Shapiro to its roster….
Barbarian, a digital creative agency backed by Cheil Worldwide, has opened an office in Warsaw, its first global outpost outside the U.S. The Warsaw shop will serve as a launchpad for European clients as well as a major extension of Barbarian’s technology and creative capabilities, including a staff of back-end developers, UX specialists and production designers. Barbarian Warsaw is currently working on multiple projects for Samsung and is collaborating with Barbarian New York on select clients. The Warsaw operation will be led by managing director Slawek Wala, who most recently served as head of digital for Cheil Poland. Barbarian Warsaw will have a broad range of capabilities, including 24/7 content creation and management, data-driven retail marketing and a full-service ensemble of seasoned creatives with a strong background and understanding of the creative industry within the European market. The Warsaw debut is subsequent to the overall agency’s recent executive appointments of Steven Moy to CEO and Lamar Hines to CTO, as well as its introduction of Barbarian Labs. The new offering curates senior teams bespoke to brand clients’ business challenges as the DTC model continues its trajectory. Barbarian has also announced new business wins, including Emergent Holdings and EKA Software Solutions…..
Usama Al-Qassab has joined Moving Picture Company in the newly established position of chief growth officer. He comes aboard MPC’s sr. management team and will report to CEO Mark Benson. MPC has created this position to accelerate growth and innovate MPC’s services for brands and agencies. Since 2012 Al-Qassab was VP of marketing for Sony Interactive Entertainment where he transformed the PlayStation Marketing group across EMEA and Australasia, repositioned PlayStation as “For The Players,” delivered growth, breakthrough results and market leadership in 100+ countries. Prior to PlayStation he worked at P&G leading several brands and the Marketing Innovation team…..
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