Papaya Films, a creative production company based in Warsaw, Poland, recently completed a major international expansion with new offices in London and New York City. Founded in 2006 by Kacper Sawicki, Papaya established itself in Europe with more than 650 commercial campaigns spanning broadcast, online, mobile, and virtual reality (VR), and receiving accolades from Cannes Lions, Golden Drum and Promax BDA. Sawicki will continue in his role as executive producer in the Warsaw office with managing director roles in London and New York. Wojtek Skiba will serve as executive producer in London, and Tomek Kulesza as executive producer in New York. The London directors roster includes Brent Bonacorso, Marc Wilkins, Juan Flesca, and Matt Eastman; the New York talent lineup includes Antoni Nykowski, Bartosz Dombrowski, Maria Makowska, and Julia Rogowska. The company has produced campaigns for brands including Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Heinz, MTV, HBO, Nike, Adidas, Samsung, Nestle and Ikea, as well as agencies such as Grey, DDB, Y&R, Saatchi & Saatchi, TBWA, and BBDO. Through the Papaya Films Original Series, the company curates original made-for-social content from directors from across the globe; it also supports up-and-coming talent through the Papaya Young Directors competition. Papaya-produced short films have screened at dozens of international film festivals…
Brooklyn-based production company tinygiant, headed by founder/EP Veronica Diaferia, has added director Kal Karman to its roster. After nearly two decades soaking up the fashion and atmosphere of Milan, U.S.-born Karman brings to tinygiant his American work ethic with a global feel. His work behind the camera began as an assistant cinematographer before transitioning to postproduction at Industrial Light & Magic. Karman’s move to Italy brought another career change when he began directing numerous music videos, commercials, and documentaries. His growth continued when he sought out renowned photographers and self-started a career based in still photography. Karman describes his DNA as being built of the dual strands of the post production/special effects and fashion/beauty worlds. Karman’s credit list includes work with such brands as Armani, BVLGARI, David Yurman, Debeers Jewelry, Ferrero, Gucci, Konika Minolta, Lux, and Pepsico. He has worked with such agencies as JWT Singapore, DDB Dubai, Ogilvy Madrid, JWT Barcelona, Saatchi & Saatchi Milan and Grey Manila….
Industry veteran Zak Thornborough has launched bicoastal production company BestFriend. The new venture opens with a directorial lineup which includes the Snorri Brothers, Jonathan Nyquist and Manuel Werner. Max Fink has been named head of production. Over his 20-year career Thornborough has had a hand in the production of high-profile campaigns at such shops as Smuggler, RSA and Anonymous Content. He also helped to structure Digital Domain’s live action department. Thornborough’s experience producing live action and CG-driven content across various platforms led him to his most recent endeavor as EP of MPC Creative USA. BestFriend officially opens its doors with several projects already in the can, including multi-spot campaigns for Hyundai, John Hancock, and Buffalo Wild Wings. The conclusion of the mysterious Buffalo Wild Wings “What the Favre?” campaign, featuring NFL legend Brett Favre, was revealed on Super Bowl Sunday….
Jennifer Kent On Why Her Feature Directing Debut, “The Babadook,” Continues To Haunt Us
"The Babadook," when it was released 10 years ago, didn't seem to portend a cultural sensation.
It was the first film by a little-known Australian filmmaker, Jennifer Kent. It had that strange name. On opening weekend, it played in two theaters.
But with time, the long shadows of "The Babadook" continued to envelop moviegoers. Its rerelease this weekend in theaters, a decade later, is less of a reminder of a sleeper 2014 indie hit than it is a chance to revisit a horror milestone that continues to cast a dark spell.
Not many small-budget, first-feature films can be fairly said to have shifted cinema but Kent's directorial debut may be one of them. It was at the nexus of that much-debated term "elevated horror." But regardless of that label, it helped kicked off a wave of challenging, filmmaker-driven genre movies like "It Follows," "Get Out" and "Hereditary."
Kent, 55, has watched all of this — and those many "Babadook" memes — unfold over the years with a mix of elation and confusion. Her film was inspired in part by the death of her father, and its horror elements likewise arise out of the suppression of emotions. A single mother (Essie Davis) is struggling with raising her young son (Noah Wiseman) years after the tragic death of her husband. A figure from a pop-up children's book begins to appear. As things grow more intense, his name is drawn out in three chilling syllables — "Bah-Bah-Doooook" — an incantation of unprocessed grief.
Kent recently spoke from her native Australia to reflect on the origins and continuing life of "The Babadook."
Q: Given that you didn't set out to in any way "change" horror, how have you regarded the unique afterlife of "The... Read More