U.K. production studio KODE has signed director Josh Sondock for commercials and music promos. Having gained popularity as a freelance director and producer, Sondock now embarks on the next stage of his career evolution at KODE. Sondock’s commercial credits span such clients as Golden Goose, Knickerbocker MFG and Next Gen. The director’s humanistic yet cinematic style is evident throughout his work, particularly in the music video arena. Among his music clip credits are: “A Holiday Night” for American singer/songwriter Ashe, which has a vintage filmic aesthetic while telling a small, heartfelt story; Orion Sun’s “Coffee for Dinner”; and Gavin Turek’s “Madame Gold.” The latter reflects Sondock’s storytelling acumen along with his ability to combine a mid-century style with a modern filmic approach. Prior to working as a director, Sondock was an accomplished producer, creating content for brands such as BMW, Pantene, Calvin Klein, Google and UNICEF, as well as music promos for global artists including The Strokes, Glass Animals and A$AP Rocky. Sondock worked for 10-plus years as a producer for directors including Roman Coppola, rubberband, Jared Knecht and Kirby Jean-Raymond….
RadicalMedia has added visual art studio and directing trio sportscar to its roster for representation in the U.K. and Germany. Spanning commercials, music videos, branded content, and photography, the trio–founded in L.A. by visual artists and storytellers Ariel Fish, Lucy Sandler and C Prinz–has worked on a diverse range of projects for brands including Nike, Hennessey, GQ, and Givenchy, as well as with musicians such as Kanye West, Billie Eilish, Chloe x Halle, Tinashe, and Dan Deacon….
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