Creative and production house Stept Studios has added Italian filmmaker Gianluigi Carella to its directorial roster. This marks his first U.S. commercial signing.
At the age of 19, Carella moved to New York City and later graduated from the New York Film Academy. While working as an editor at Forager, Carella collaborated with preeminent directors, working to perfect the art of editing. He was first recognized within the industry with his VMA-nominated “Rule The World” music video for Ariana Grande, featuring 2Chainz; a Tommy Hilfiger worldwide campaign; and commercial work for Samsung, T-Mobile, Prada, Gucci, Dior, Tom Ford, Tiffany & Co., and Spotify, to name a few.
Carella made his directorial debut in 2018 with the film The Blind Man’s Ball. With his background in editing and VFX, Carella quickly gained momentum as a director. He has directed music videos for international artists such as Princess Nokia, Rich The Kid, Anna, Sofia Reyes, and Irama, along with commercial work for brands including a global campaign for Alexander Wang x Uniqlo, a series of films for Lux Hotels, Audi, Cartier, and Donna Karan.
Most recently, Carella directed and edited an ad for Riot Games and Mercedes-Benz, produced by Stept. Head of production Mac Hedges, who worked with Carella on the projects, said, “Gianluigi’s deep understanding of the process from production to all aspects of post and VFX, make him uniquely all in one package which is a perfect fit for Stept.”
Additionally, Carella has a forthcoming project, also produced by Stept, for Oakley. He is also currently directing a feature doc for Netflix on Bella Thorne, and is in pre-production for his first scripted feature.
Carella said of the team at Stept, “I have long been seeking out collaborators of this caliber to work with and I’m ready to jump into this exciting opportunity with them.”
“Gianluigi is a stellar filmmaker,” said Nick Martini, Stept Studios founder/CEO/director. “His attention to detail in all levels of a creative venture is second to none. We are eager to pair his talent with our trusted partners and clients.”
Carella is based in Los Angeles. He is represented by Nicholas Berglund worldwide.
Review: Writer-Directors Scott Beck and Bryan Wood’s “Heretic”
"Heretic" opens with an unusual table setter: Two young missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are discussing condoms and why some are labeled as large even though they're all pretty much a standard size. "What else do we believe because of marketing?" one asks the other.
That line will echo through the movie, a stimulating discussion of religion that emerges from a horror movie wrapper. Despite a second-half slide and feeling unbalanced, this is the rare movie that combines lots of squirting blood and elevated discussion of the ancient Egyptian god Horus.
Our two church members — played fiercely by Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East — are wandering around trying to covert souls when they knock on the door of a sweet-looking cottage. Its owner, Mr. Reed, offers a hearty "Good afternoon!" He welcomes them in, brings them drinks and promises a blueberry pie. He's also interested in learning more about the church. So far, so good.
Mr. Reed is, of course, if you've seen the poster, the baddie and he's played by Hugh Grant, who doesn't go the snarling, dead-eyed Hannibal Lecter route in "Heretic." Grant is the slightly bumbling, bashful and self-mocking character we fell in love with in "Four Weddings and a Funeral," but with a smear of menace. He gradually reveals that he actually knows quite a bit about the Mormon religion — and all religions.
"It's good to be religious," he says jauntily and promises his wife will join them soon, a requirement for the church. Homey touches in his home include a framed "Bless This Mess" needlepoint on a wall, but there are also oddities, like his lights are on a timer and there's metal in the walls and ceilings.
Writer-directors Scott Beck and Bryan Wood — who also... Read More