Global content studio Pulse Films and transatlantic comedy production outfit Merman have launched Merman X Pulse. Headquartered in L.A. and London with Pulse’s Kira Carstensen and Merman’s Jeremy Rainbird at the helm as EPs, the new shop will produce branded content, utilizing its roster of comedy filmmakers. Merman X Pulse has access to a roster of leading comedy creators, writers, directors and performers, including David Cross (Arrested Development for Fox, The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret for IFC); Sharon Horgan (Catastrophe for Amazon, Divorce starring Sarah Jessica Parker for HBO); Chris O’Dowd (Moone Boy for BBC, Bridesmaids); comedy creators Upright Citizens Brigade; New Zealand collective The Downlow Concept; and a collection of commercial directors from around the world. Merman X Pulse will work directly with brands and agencies creating branded content and commercials. In addition the company will also offer access to its talent and creative teams through script-development, workshops, brainstorms, appearances and promotion…..Live action production company Traction Ave. Films has launched in the heart of L.A.’s downtown arts district. The new venture opens with a roster of eight directors: Shane Drake, Christopher Leone, Nick Losq, Michael Norman, Jerry O’Flaherty, Toben Seymour, Ben Tedesco, and design collective StarBeast. Their slate of work includes broadcast spots for Toyota, Disney, Nike, Lenovo, and Chevrolet; videogame content for EA, 2K Games, and Facebook Games; music videos for Taylor Swift, Timbaland, and Moby; sci-fi and comedy pilots on Netflix and SyFy; and branded content for Kia Motors and Southern Comfort. Heading up Traction Ave. Films are creative director/director Losq, EPs Scott Gemmell and Lloyd D’Souza, and VFX supervisor Chris Clyne. The partners are launching Traction out of StarBeast, their digital design and production company….
Michael Gracey Delves Into The Evolution of “Better Man”
Michael Gracey’s feature directorial debut--The Greatest Showman, released in 2017--garnered assorted honors, including a Golden Globe nomination for Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy, followed shortly thereafter by an Oscar nod for Best Original Song (“This is Me”). During the making of that film, Gracey got a chance to connect with a real-life showman, British pop superstar Robbie Williams, who lent some musical support and morale boosting to its star, Hugh Jackman.
Gracey and Williams developed a rapport with one another on The Greatest Showman and kept in touch. They swapped life experiences and Gracey, who clearly knows a worthwhile story when he hears it, became intrigued by Williams--and how entertaining his tales were. Gracey found it remarkable that despite drug and alcohol abuse, Williams vividly remembered so many details of his life.
Given that Williams had a recording studio at his home, Gracey implored him to commit those memories to audio. With that, a routine was born. Whenever Gracey visited Los Angeles, he’d come to Williams’ home where they’d kibitz in the studio and Williams would talk into the microphone, recollecting different aspects and stages of his life. While the original intent was just to get Williams to share and preserve his story, Gracey began chronologically rearranging these audio clips collected over a year and a half, patching together an a spoken mosaic of William’s life. It was during that process that Gracey realized he had the framework for an engaging narrative film.
That narrative took a seemingly bizarre turn as Gracey sought a departure from the traditional musical biopic. What struck Gracey was Williams referring to himself repeatedly as “a performing... Read More