Helmer comes over from Morgan Spurlock's Warpaint Films
Filmmaker Paul Stone has signed with Superlounge for exclusive U.S. spot representation. Stone’s first short film Tales of Times Square took the Best Documentary prize at multiple festivals including the LA Shorts Film Fest. His latest short, Man Under–which examines the rise in NYC subway suicides–had its world premiere at the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival.
In the commercial arena, Stone is known for visually rich imagery and docu-style storytelling. Recent spot work includes Procter & Gamble’s “Zombie” (Publicis), Fidelity Investments’ “Dream Job” (Fidelity Communications & Advertising) and Jazz Pharmaceuticals’ “More Than Tired/Sleep” (Scout Advertising). The bicoastal director was previously represented for commercials by Morgan Spurlock’s Warpaint Films.
Brooklyn-born Stone began his career as an Avid editor at Ridley Scott & Associates, cutting spots and music videos for the likes of Luke Scott and Michael Moore, and working with agencies including Crispin Porter + Bogusky (Truth.com) and Leo Burnett (Fiat). His keen eye for compelling, visual storytelling made for a seamless transition to directing. Stone began helming spots through his production company Firebrand Films, and went on to direct projects for Instagram, Polaroid and Craftsman, among others. In addition to Tales of Times Square and Man Under, Stone’s shorts include The Prince of Elizabeth Street and The Boombox Project, which was selected as a Vimeo Staff Pick. Of his diverse projects, Stone said, “My films tend to be hybrids. My docs feel like narrative films and my narrative films seem like docs.”
Currently, Stone is shooting the feature film documentary Mulberry, which explores the people and places of Little Italy that inspired Martin Scorsese’s film Mean Streets. “I am an Italian-American, Sardinian to be exact. Storytelling is in our DNA,” said Stone. “I grew up in Brooklyn and we hung out on street corners and told stories day and night. We raise our voices, and use our hands a lot when we speak. It’s very entertaining and visual. I guess that is where my gift for storytelling really originated.”
Stone comes aboard a Superlounge directorial roster that includes company partner Jordan Brady, Daniel Sheppard, Brett Wagner, Dane Hanson, Jeff Aron Lable, Patrick Bergh and the helming 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