Director Gus Black, best known for his body of work in music videos, has signed with Traveling Picture Show Company for exclusive representation in commercials and branded content. Black will continue to helm music videos independently with some of those projects possibly being produced by TPSC. But clearly TPSC’s focus will be to translate Black’s storytelling prowess into the ad discipline for spots and longer form opportunities.
Black’s recent music video efforts have been for Nashville rock act The Wild Feathers whose much anticipated debut album was released earlier this week. He’s also directed videos for such bands as Green Day, Atlas Genius, Deftones and the Eels.
“What really drew us to Gus was his conceptual storytelling abilities, his unique sense to bring a song to life in a special way; we know this skill set can also be translated when telling a brand story,” related John Noble, partner/executive producer of TPSC. “Gus’ work on the Wild Feathers had immediate impression on me, gorgeous visuals coupled with strong conceptual storytelling. He’s a writer, director and songwriter too, a new multidiscipline perspective for us.”
Black’s contributions as director of The Wild Feathers singles ‘”The Ceiling” and “Backwoods Company” have aptly branded the group’s rock spirit while blending fashion, beauty and relevance into a visual narrative for the performers and their music.
Hwang Dong-hyuk On Season 2 of “Squid Game,” Wrapping Production on Season 3; What’s Next?
Viewers may gasp, cringe or cry out watching characters die on Netflix's "Squid Game," but those simulated deaths have a different effect on its creator, writer and director. Instead, Hwang Dong-hyuk feels happiness seeing them go.
The show has a huge cast and Hwang says it was "really difficult" to manage everyone on set.
As characters would die, Hwang recalls saying to the actors on their last day, "'Oh no! How sad! I won't see you tomorrow,' but I was always smiling inside."
"Squid Game" season two premieres Thursday. It once again stars Lee Jung-jae and centers around a secret competition in South Korea that targets people in debt and the winner gets a big cash prize. What they don't know is that losing the game is deadly.
Hwang originally conceived of the show 15 years ago as a two-hour film but it failed to gain traction with financiers or even interested actors. He put it aside and worked on other films instead. He then had the idea to make it a TV series instead and took the project to Netflix. There, it could reach a wide audience.
"I never in my wildest dream thought it was going to be this huge," said Hwang, who spoke about the show and what comes next. Answers have been edited for clarity and length.
Q: What have you learned from "Squid Game"?
HWANG: I learned that I shouldn't give up. If you love something and if you want to create something, it might not work now, but the time might come later. Or that idea could be the source of inspiration for something else.
Q: You've already finished filming season three of "Squid Game." Have you thought about what your next project will be?
HWANG: I'm afraid to talk... Read More