Sydney-based director Hamish Rothwell has joined Rattling Stick for representation in the U.K. for spots and branded content. He continues to be commercially represented by Goodoil in Australia and Superprime in the U.S. Rothwell grew up in New Zealand where he lived until he relocated to London for film school. On his return to New Zealand he directed his first feature, Stickmen, which won him Young Filmmaker of the Year from the NZ Screen Producers and Directors Association and Best Direction at the NZ Film Awards. Since then he’s directed campaigns for varied clients including Budget Direct, Toyota, Aldi, Hyundai and Bai. He’s worked with major celebrities and won multiple awards at Cannes Lions, Clio, D&AD One Show, ADC, and LIA….
London-based Rogue has added director Joe Connor to its roster for commercials and branded content representation in the U.K. Connor’s commercials for Land Rover, Volvo, Nike and Puma have been shortlisted at Cannes Lions, D&AD’s and British Arrows. His music videos for Paul Weller, Coldplay, Sam Smith and Placebo have picked up several best music video nominations at the UK MVAs….
Cristiano Muniz replaces Guga Valente as CEO of the holding company Grupo ABC. A founder of the group, Valente will join the board formed by ABC representatives. With an initial seven-year track record at ABC, Muniz has actively participated in the group’s acquisitions since 2010, and of the sale of Grupo ABC twice: firstly, of a minority stake to Kinea in 2014 and then of 100% of the agency conglomerate to U.S.-based giant Omnicom/DDB in 2015. Valente is passing on to Muniz a diverse conglomerate of agencies that includes África, TracyLocke, Interbrand, Track, SunsedDDB, Tribal Worldwide, Morya Sul and CDN. Muniz returned to ABC as CFO last August. In recent years prior to that he was head of Accenture Interactive for Hispanic South America, and global management director of BRF….
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