Director Max Fisher has joined ROGUE for representation in the U.K. He continues to be handled in the U.S. by Minted Content. Fisher started directing a decade ago, initially for long-form projects before moving into commercialmaking. Before all this he was a youth worker, an experience that enhanced his natural ability to connect with people from all walks of life and extract effortless performances from the most unlikely subjects. In 2012 Fisher‘s documentary The Wrestlers: Fighting with My Family followed the career of professional wrestler Paige, as she made her way to WWE and her brother Zak Zodiac as he struggled to achieve similar success. The story was picked up by Dwayne Johnson and formed the basis of Stephen Merchant’s debut hit feature Fighting with My Family in 2019. Fisher has recently directed major campaigns for such brands as Nike, Volkswagen, Samsung, AmEx, Lloyds Bank, Tesco and The Royal Navy….
1stAveMachine has added multi-hyphenate comedic talent David Ebert to its directorial roster. A writer, director, creative director, and actor, Ebert has showcased his versatility and humor both in front of and behind the camera for over a decade. While TV audiences may recognize him from ads for the likes of Geico, Checker’s, and New York Lotto, and appearances on shows such as MTV’s Guy Code, Ebert has also co-written the Emmy-nominated Netflix series It’s Bruno!, created, wrote, produced, and starred in the TruTV series Ghost Story Club, and directed notable campaigns including Google’s 2021 Pixel Fall Launch, YouTube’s Brandcast 2021 starring Hasan Minhaj, and the recent Dunkin’/NFL cross-promotion. Most recently, Ebert directed and starred in 1stAveMachine’s “Real Mayo” campaign for Kraft, using his (non-accredited) astrology knowledge to deliver personalized readings via TikTok and Twitter that tell people their fortunes based on the way they spread their mayo. Additionally, Ebert was the creative director for “GroupHug,” a 1stAveMachine-created TikTok channel aiming to help explain and amplify the impact and utility of TikTok for brands. Featuring over 80+ pieces of content made with 30+ creators, including sustainable product designer Thomas Peterberns and more, “GroupHug” is a deep dive into how creators and brands are finding success on TikTok. The series has been so well-received that Ebert and 1stAveMachine are currently in the process of planning a second season….
London-based BITE Food Film Collective–which specializes in the world of food and telling stories that connect to it–has added British cinematographer and director Jonathan Jones to its roster. Jones is a four-time Emmy winner–a primetime Emmy for cinematography on Planet Earth II, a News & Documentary Emmy for cinematography on Great Migrations, and two Daytime Emmy Awards–for cinematography and Outstanding Travel, Adventure and Nature Program–on the strength of Tiny Creatures. His body of work also spans such shows as Nature’s Elephant for Disney (narrated by Meghan Markle), National Geographic’s One Strange Rock (Will Smith) and more recently Apple TV+’s Prehistoric Planet. Jones and his producer wife Emmy Jones run the production studio Ember Films, which collaborates with major studios, television networks, streaming platforms and independent producers. Their facilities outside of London have the latest in motion control robotics, high speed and 8K resolution cameras, tracking vehicles, drones, lighting and postproduction, and these resources will now form a key part of BITE’s offering. BITE was formed in 2021 by directors Niall Downing, Charlie Stebbings, Gus Filgate and EPs Dom Seymour and Alex Katz…..
Review: Writer-Director Coralie Fargeat’s “The Substance”
In its first two hours, "The Substance" is a well-made, entertaining movie. Writer-director Coralie Fargeat treats audiences to a heavy dose of biting social commentary on ageism and sexism in Hollywood, with a spoonful of sugar- and sparkle-doused body horror.
But the film's deliciously unhinged, blood-soaked and inevitably polarizing third act is what makes it unforgettable.
What begins as a dread-inducing but still relatively palatable sci-fi flick spirals deeper into absurdism and violence, eventually erupting — quite literally — into a full-blown monster movie. Let the viewer decide who the monster is.
Fargeat — who won best screenplay at this year's Cannes Film Festival — has been vocal about her reverence for "The Fly" director David Cronenberg, and fans of the godfather of body horror will see his unmistakable influence. But "The Substance" is also wholly unique and benefits from Fargeat's perspective, which, according to the French filmmaker, has involved extensive grappling with her own relationship to her body and society's scrutiny.
"The Substance" tells the story of Elisabeth Sparkle, a famed aerobics instructor with a televised show, played by a powerfully vulnerable Demi Moore. Sparkle is fired on her 50th birthday by a ruthless executive — a perfectly cast Dennis Quaid, who nails sleazy and gross.
Feeling rejected by a town that once loved her and despairing over her bygone star power, Sparkle learns from a handsome young nurse about a black-market drug that promises to create a "younger, more beautiful, more perfect" version of its user. Though she initially tosses the phone number in the trash, she soon fishes it out in a desperate panic and places an order.
The one rule to follow is that... Read More