Production company UNHEARD/OF has signed Chris Volckmann and Aaron Brown to its directorial roster. The two join a talented team that consists of several commercial and film festival notables including Daniel Brown, Matthew J. Clark, and Joe Vanhoutteghem. Prior to joining UNHEARD/OF, Volckmann spent the better part of the past two decades working as a producer and executive producer on both coasts of the US. With a career that spans live-action, design, VFX, and interactive projects, he began to shift towards directing during his time at design studios, such as Superfad and We Are Royale–environments that allowed for a lot of experimentation with techniques and aesthetics. As a director, he has to his credit content for such brands as Adidas, Groupon, Nike, Oculus, Chevy, and Amazon. Brown got his start filming music videos for his friends’ bands in San Francisco, and then began shooting documentaries with Vice before moving into branded content. From there, Brown directed lifestyle commercial work for food and youth culture. His collaborative nature and ability to capture a sincere portrait of his subjects has translated into notable work for such clients as Levi’s, Converse, Sony and Vice, and such bands as Arctic Monkeys, Girls, Trash Talk and King Krule….
Global brand engagement network Havas Sports & Entertainment (HSE) USA, a division of Havas Media, has named Daniel Dao as its new EVP, managing director. In his new role, Dao will lead HSE to deliver insight and innovative ideas to its portfolio of clients that includes The Coca-Cola Company, LVMH, Harley-Davidson and Delta. This news comes as Mikey Hersom steps down as president of HSE. Hersom played a key role in defining experiential marketing by leading pioneering execution of some of the world’s most coveted and logistically challenging sports and entertainment activations. Dao will collaborate closely with Hersom to ensure a seamless transition at HSE….
Abrams Artists Agency (AAA), under the aegis of founder and CEO Harry Abrams, has further grown its Alternative Programming, Licensing and Digital Media Department with its newly upgraded digital studio and the signing of key new clients. The expanded studio is part of the doubling of the agency’s existing space at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood. The studio will service the agency’s influencer clients, brands and other third parties who are seeking a new and centrally located facility to produce and distribute content. AAA has added a variety of new clients, including such talent as Guava Juice, Nabela Noor, and Liane Valenzuela, to its influencer roster….
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