Welcome to the Special Spring 2017 Edition of SHOOT’s Directors Series. Our mix of profiles includes: James Mangold who made a superhero film, Logan, that has broken all the conventions of that genre; Niki Caro who directed the soon-to-be-released The Zookeeper’s Wife based on the best-selling book of the same title; and Marc Forster, a feature filmmaker (Monster’s Ball, Finding Neverland) who made his latest Oscars mark during the ceremony telecast with an ambitious Walmart commercial out of Saatchi NY. All three feature helmers have commercialmaking affiliations—Mangold with Aero Film, Caro with Flying Fish in New Zealand, and Forster’s being Tool of North America.
Also in the SHOOT Series lineup of profiles are: Derek Cianfrance of RadicalMedia who recently won the DGA Award for best commercial director of the year; Jim Jenkins of O Positive who reflects on his live Snickers spot on the Super Bowl; Cole Webley of Sanctuary who shares insights into his thought-provoking Super Bowl commercial and online film for 84 Lumber; Reed Morano who’s made a major splash in the ad sector via Pulse Films, indie features with Meadowland, and TV with the upcoming Hulu series The Handmaid’s Tale starring Elizabeth Moss; and Henrik Hansen of RSA who’s branched out beyond his visual, visceral automotive fare with people-based shorts that delve into the work, philosophy and lives of notable artists.
Meanwhile our ensemble of up-and-coming talent consists of two duos and three individual directors. One duo recently scored the Documentary Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival while securing commercialmaking and branded content representation. Then we have a pair of siblings whose spec work landed them representation within the RSA family of companies. Another director helmed and co-created an online branded series that has propelled his ad/filmmaking career. And then we have two solo directors who made the Commercial Directors Diversity Program grade; the CDDP being the joint AICP/DGA initiative promoting inclusiveness for female and minority directors.
Our Festival Circuit coverage provides directorial perspectives on the SXSW and Tribeca film festivals.
And then in our Cinematographers & Cameras Series, we meet three DPs—a two-time Best Cinematography Oscar nominee who lensed Logan for director Mangold; a two-time Emmy nominee who shot Ryan Murphy’s Feud: Bette and Joan for FX; and the eye behind the lauded cinematic documentary The Eagle Huntress, directed by Otto Bell.
So read on and enjoy. As always, we welcome your feedback.
