BRW FILMLAND Los Angeles has signed director Axel Laubscher for U.S. commercial representation. Coming to BRW from Hungry Man, the German-born director has helmed campaigns for international brands such as Volkswagen, E*Trade, PlayStation, Mercedes, Allstate, McDonald’s and Coca-Cola. After earning a Film degree from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, Laubscher settled down in Stockholm, Sweden, and launched commercial production company Social Club with fellow director Henrik Lagercrantz in 2002. Laubscher’s international commercial work has earned honors from Cannes Lions, D&AD, Epica, LIA and Eurobest. Recently, he worked on a project for BYGGMAKER that followed the company’s history in film from the 1890s to present day, based on a variety of archived footage. Rather than shooting on digital and attempting to recreate the film look of different eras in postproduction, he chose to film with the equipment of each era including crank-up cameras, 16mm, 35mm, reversal, positive and VHS….Integrated production company ACNE has signed international comedy director Nicolas Iyer. Iyer’s work also has some daring elements–his AICP Show-honored spot for Oxygene Perfume was filmed completely underwater, and his 2014 World Cup campaign for Samsung took him to the slums of Rio de Janeiro. His credits also span campaigns for such brands as Snickers, Sprite, Big Red, McDonald’s, Seat and Time Warner. Iyer began his career creating visual treatments for feature film directors including Martin Campbell, Pierre Morel, Vincent Ward, James McTeigue, and Marcus Nispel….The NY office of global creative agency Sid Lee has promoted Dan Brooks and Daniel Chandler to co-executive creative directors. Over the past five years, Brooks and Chandler have been one of Sid Lee’s most prominent creative teams. At present they are leading creative for Sid Lee NY’s clients including Absolut, Facebook and Intel….
Review: Director Jon M. Chu’s “Wicked”
It's the ultimate celebrity redemption tour, two decades in the making. In the annals of pop culture, few characters have undergone an image makeover quite like the Wicked Witch of the West.
Oh, she may have been vengeful and scary in "The Wizard of Oz." But something changed — like, REALLY changed — on the way from the yellow brick road to the Great White Way. Since 2003, crowds have packed nightly into "Wicked" at Broadway's Gershwin Theatre to cheer as the green-skinned, misunderstood Elphaba rises up on her broomstick to belt "Defying Gravity," that enduring girl-power anthem.
How many people have seen "Wicked"? Rudimentary math suggests more than 15 million on Broadway alone. And now we have "Wicked" the movie, director Jon M. Chu's lavish, faithful, impeccably crafted (and nearly three-hour) ode to this origin story of Elphaba and her (eventual) bestie — Glinda, the very good and very blonde. Welcome to Hollywood, ladies.
Before we get to what this movie does well (Those big numbers! Those costumes!), just a couple thornier issues to ponder. Will this "Wicked," powered by a soulful Cynthia Erivo (owner of one of the best singing voices on the planet) and a sprightly, comedic, hair-tossing Ariana Grande, turn even musical theater haters into lovers?
Tricky question. Some people just don't buy into the musical thing, and they should be allowed to live freely amongst us. But if people breaking into song delights rather than flummoxes you, if elaborate dance numbers in village squares and fantastical nightclubs and emerald-hued cities make perfect sense to you, and especially if you already love "Wicked," well then, you will likely love this film. If it feels like they made the best "Wicked" movie money could buy — well, it's... Read More