Comedy director Barton Landsman has joined Superlounge for exclusive U.S. spot representation. Landsman’s spot work for ESPN, Sony, Anheuser-Busch, McDonald’s, Taco Bell, AT&T, and FedEx, among others, runs the gamut from observational to larger-than-life humor. A current Avocados From Mexico campaign (Arnold Boston) shows his knack for shining a light on human eccentricities, depicting a soccer mom whose loyalty to her child comes up against an insatiable passion for avocado wraps. Other recent Landsman-directed work includes a Gorilla Glue campaign (Possible, Cincinnati).
Landsman has won multiple Cannes Lions and other honors for his accomplishments both as a director and agency creative. He served as creative director/copywriter at BBDO New York and associate creative director/copywriter at Kirshenbaum and Bond (now KBS+) before stepping behind the camera. Prior to joining Superlounge, he was represented as a director by production houses Untitled, Third Street Mining Company and @radical.media.
“Barton’s experience on the agency side shows in his work, in that he knows how to craft a funny ad,” said Superlounge partner/director Jordan Brady. “Comedically, he’s not right in the head, making him a welcome addition to roster.”
Landsman related, “I directed a bunch of Time Warner spots a while back starring the Sklar Brothers, and Jordan had them on his podcast [Respect The Process]. “We met, and became familiar with one another’s work. I was impressed by Superlounge’s recent United Way and Discovery SharkFest projects.”
Landsman began as an agency copywriter in Chicago. Writing and creative-directing jobs eventually took him to San Francisco and New York City. His work was recognized by several national and international award shows and he won multiple Cannes Lions and One Show pencils for his work on Pepsi, Dreyer’s Ice Cream, Frito Lay and more. Landsman next tried his hand at directing. Again, his work garnered national and international awards, including a Gold Lion at Cannes for Nestle “Zoo” (Lowe Strateus, Paris). Indulging his interest in darker comedy, Landsman wrote and directed Banana Bread, a short film about a man whose neurotic mother has no idea how dangerous his job really is. The film screened at more than 50 festivals throughout the country, winning numerous awards.
“I appreciate comedy built on an element of truth, but sometimes flat-out freaky or strange works nicely too,” said Landsman, who considers Portman Group’s “Drunken Monkey” (M&C Saatchi, London) an all-time favorite among the spots he’s directed. “I try not to impose one specific sensibility on the work, and let the script guide me,” said Landsman whose body of work also includes longer form branded fare, such as a client-direct web film he recently directed for the Reluctant Trading Experiment.
Landsman comes aboard a Superlounge directorial roster which includes Brady, Daniel Sheppard, Brett Wagner, Dane Hanson, Jeff Aron Lable, Patrik Bergh, Paul Stone, and directing duo Jacob Slade.
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