Director Greg Popp has joined the roster of Superlounge for exclusive U.S. spot representation. Popp, who specializes in comedy-dialogue fare, recently helmed “Gasoline,” among the new digital projects created via MullenLowe/Boston for Burger King. The spot has racked up nearly 7 million views, and is the most-viewed spot on Burger King’s YouTube page. Also with MullenLowe, Popp’s recent work includes U.S. Cellular’s “Blown Away” and “Getting Hosed” (with 9 million views between them). Popp transitioned to commercial directing following a tenure at DDB Chicago, where his work with Anheuser-Busch and others won every major advertising honor. He was previously repped as a director by Supply & Demand.
“Interestingly, I found myself bidding against Jordan Brady more often than any other director,” said Popp. “Jordan seemed to be winning more often than not. When I snagged one, he called to congratulate me, and suggested that I be a guest on his podcast. During that 90 minutes together, we hit it off, and subsequently (Superlounge EP) Dave Farrell emailed me, opening the door should I ever be available to come aboard. I recognized the value of being aligned with a comedy-centric shop whose leadership has empathy for what I do.”
Popp’s foray into filmmaking began at Northwestern University where along with a film degree, he earned a Student Academy Award for his narrative-length film, The Lottery Rose. After a brief stint working in features, Popp embarked on his storied tenure at DDB Chicago where he last served in the role of sr. VP/group executive producer. In 2005, he left DDB to direct, and his efforts have won him numerous awards including Gold at Cannes, Clios, Andys, and distinction for humor and talent performance at the AICP Show. He won a Gold Lion in Cannes for "Real Men of Genius" for Budweiser, directed several rounds of spots with Troy Polamalu for Head & Shoulders, worked with Roger Federer and Serena Williams for Wilson, and directed (on skates) recent Stanley Cup winner Alex Ovechkin for Verizon. In 2014, Popp’s short dramatic thriller Last Shot premiered at the Newport Beach Film Festival. Last Shot was a finalist at the Oscar-qualifying USA Film Festival and appeared coast-to-coast in several other festivals as an official selection throughout the year.
Brady assessed, “Greg Popp has a hilarious reel for major brands, plus he is one of the few comedy directors with better hair than me.”
Of the Superlounge team, which–in addition to Farrell, includes executive producer Vicki Williams and reps on the West Coast, East Coast, in the Midwest and in Texas–Popp noted, “Dave, Vicki and their reps are really impressing me with their energy and enthusiasm, and it’s great to have the fresh eyes and perspective. This is a boutique, with really interesting directors and run by ambitious, smart, down-to-earth people, that is embraced by big brands and executes national work, including work with celebrities.” Speaking of celebrities, Popp has worked with numerous high profile, professional athletes including Adrian Peterson, Peyton Manning, Henrik Lundqvist, Danica Patrick, and Venus Williams.
“Ultimately, I prefer laughs that come from ideas that satirize the human condition and behavior,” Popp concluded, “as opposed to ones that come from someone slipping on a banana peel.” Popp comes aboard a Superlounge directorial lineup which includes Brady, Russell Bates, Andy Maser, Ben Giroux, Jeannette Godoy, and Carlos Gutierrez.
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