Bicoastal The Famous Group has signed director Dan Addelson for spots and branded content….
Brooklyn-based director/cinematographer Daisy Zhou has signed with production company Great Guns for branded content and music video representation in the U.K., India, Asia, the Middle East, Germany and Eastern Europe. Zhou has helmed major campaigns in collaboration with top artists and brands, such as Prada and Playstation. Her 2017 spot for Nike’s “BETRUE campaign,” featuring transgender international vogue dancer Leiomy Maldonado, garnered much acclaim. Over the years she directed for such brands as Lincoln, W Magazine, Chanel, Victoria’s Secret, and Vox, as well as music videos for artists such as Margaret Zhang, Banks, Mykki Blanco, Boston Manor, Cai Guo Qiang, and James Blunt….
Portland, Ore.-based creative agency Swift has hired creative director Paul Bjork who’s behind numerous award-winning campaigns from Taco Bell, including “Blackout” and “Breakfast Phones.” Notably, his leadership helped shape the brand into a culturally relevant social media powerhouse known for innovative work. He brings that expertise to Swift’s roster of global technology, consumer goods and financial services accounts….
Shawn B. Mishra has joined Isobar Commerce Practice as SVP, global managing partner. He will focus on driving Isobar’s global growth in experience-led, omni-channel commerce. Mishra will bring localized, transformative solutions through Isobar’s global commerce centers of excellence, which includes more than 1,000 commerce specialists around the world. Mishra will report to Jean Lin, Isobar Global CEO, and be based in Isobar’s Chicago office. Mishra comes to Isobar after spending 14 years at Cognizant Technology Solutions, where he was a VP and led the digital commerce practice. Prior to that, Mishra held eBusiness/commerce leadership positions at EDS and MCI Systemhouse….
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