Rattling Stick has signed Spanish filmmaker Imanol Ruiz de Lara for U.K. representation. Born in Madrid and raised in Gijón by his family of actors, Ruiz de Lara grew up surrounded by performance and storytelling, so his passion for entertainment and powerful imagery comes from both nature and nurture. After studying Communication Studies at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, he continued his education in the International Film and TV School of San Antonio de los Baños, the famous Cuban film school founded by Nobel prize winner Gabriel García Márquez. Ruiz de Lara then moved into the editing room at the Instituto del Cine Madrid, learning filmmaking intricacies that he now cites as vital to his career, creative style and knowledge of directing. After more than seven years of experience as a film and television editor, Ruiz de Lara was ready to direct. He began making fashion films, collaborating with industry giants such as Adolfo Dominguez, Yves Saint Laurent and Vogue, for which his “Europa II” film won Best Director and Best Film at the La Jolla International Fashion Film Festival and his most recent “Haunted by Love” won Best Direction and Best Choreography plus six La Jolla IFFF nominations. He then won Gold and two Silver Promax awards in Best Direction for his Cosmo “Essential Viewing” film. Ruiz de Lara broke into advertising with his “Collisions” film for Heart Ibiza which was shortlisted at Cannes Lions 2016. He has been busy ever since; making commercials for LG, Santander, McDonalds, Movistar and many more….
CYLNDR, Cheil Worldwide’s tech-enabled, end-to-end creative production studio, has appointed Greta Wynn Davies as its U.K. managing director. Davies joins CYLNDR following nearly seven years at VCCP/KIN where she was most recently deputy head of film and content at Girl&Bear. During her time at the ad agency, she oversaw film production for brands including Cadbury, Virgin, O2, TfL, and Nationwide. During her 23 years in the industry, she has held creative and film production and directing roles spanning advertising, music videos and animated series, both in the U.K. and internationally. Reporting to Sam Balderstone, head of CYLNDR Global, she will be tasked with driving the growth of CYLNDR’s production capability alongside developing a service that delivers greater business efficiencies and commercial results. In the role, which was previously held by Balderstone, Wynn Davies will lead the team of producers, directors, editors and post and audio specialists. CYLNDR has produced award-winning work for brands such as LinkedIn, Nike and Samsung. And as a key part of the Cheil’s global network proposition, Cheil Connec+, which gives clients access to bespoke teams and specialism from across Cheil’s 53 offices and six agencies globally, CYLNDR will be central to delivering high-performing, innovative solutions for clients….
Anneliese St-Amour has joined AMV BBDO in London as managing partner. She becomes part of the managing partner team alongside Alex Bird, Alice Kassapian, Nick Andrew, Richard Moloney and Tom Shattock. St-Amour joins AMV from Ogilvy after nearly 10 years running a large part of the global Dove account, where she had the opportunity to drive the creative agenda and grow the business. Under her leadership, the team has won several awards, including a 2018 Euro Effie and a 2020 Global Effie for Dove Deodorants’ “The Big Switch.” At AMV BBDO, she will lead the Bacardi and Rexona accounts….
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