The READY Initiative, an apprenticeship for young people who have experienced homelessness and are suited to a creative career, has been launched. The initiative is a partnership among RAPP UK, youth homelessness charity Centrepoint and education specialist Creative Pioneers to find and develop these individuals. The 15-month salaried apprenticeship includes working on live briefs, the ongoing support of a bespoke mentor network, an agency starting salary and the same benefits as other full-time employees. After providing them with a brief to test their creative potential, candidates are shortlisted by RAPP UK to take forward to spend time in the agency. The candidates will spend three weeks working across different parts of the creative department and present back what they have learnt at the end. One will be taken forward to the apprenticeship and the remaining candidates will receive career coaching and support. The successful apprentice will be enrolled in the Creative Pioneers Junior Content Producer course. This involves spending a day each week learning about art direction, copywriting, video production, social media, blogging, and content creation skills…..
U.K. director Barney Cokeliss has joined Toronto production company Someplace Nice for Canadian representation. He continues to be handled by THEM in the U.S. and by Dark Energy in the U.K. His credits include Macmillan Cancer Support’s “Falling,” ongoing fare for the National Health Service, a large campaign for CIC Bank, NHTSA’s “No Good Excuse” and MiWay’s “Live Your Way.” Cokeliss’ stereoscopic short The Foundling, commissioned by Philips, tells the tale of an exceptional boy’s life in the circus. It received gold at the British Arrows advertising awards. His film Night Dancing premiered at TIFF and is currently completing a festival run in which it has won over 10 international awards and was chosen for Lincoln Center’s “Dance on Camera” dance film festival. His other short film work has been selected by festivals including Sundance and Venice…..
“Heretic” and “Maria” Set As Red Carpet Premieres At AFI Fest
The American Film Institute (AFI) has announced that Heretic, the psychological thriller starring Hugh Grant, and Maria, based on the life of opera singer Maria Callas starring Angelina Jolie, will round out the Red Carpet Premieres section at this year’s AFI Fest. The Heretic Gala Screening will take place on Thursday, October 24, and the Maria Gala Screening will be held on Saturday, October 26. The complete Red Carpet Premieres section includes the world premieres of Music By John Williams, Robert Zemeckis’ Here, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl and Clint Eastwood’s Juror #2. All Red Carpet Premieres will take place at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre. The full lineup for AFI Fest 2024 will be unveiled on October 1.
“At the heart of AFI Fest is an unwavering dedication to celebrating the best in global cinema--together,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI president and CEO. “We look forward to uniting artists and audiences once again to be inspired by the art form in a powerful sense of community.”
Heretic follows two young missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) who are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed (portrayed by Grant), becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse. The film is directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods and produced by Stacey Sher, Beck, Woods, Julia Glausi and Jeanette Volturno. The film will be released nationwide by A24 on November 8.
Directed by Pablo Larraín, Maria presents a tumultuous and beautiful depiction of one of the world’s most renowned artists and reimagines the legendary soprano in her final days in Paris, as Callas (Jolie)... Read More