This image released by FX shows Malcolm Mays as Kevin, from left, Damson Idris as Franklin Saint and Isaiah John as Leon on FX’s new series “Snowfall.” The first season premieres Wednesday, July 5, 2017. (Mark Davis/FX via AP)
By Jonathan Landrum Jr.
ATLANTA (AP) --
Filmmaker John Singleton says a recent drive through a section of south Los Angeles helped inspire his new FX television series "Snowfall."
The Oscar-nominated writer-director says seeing security bars on every window and huge metal gates surrounding each home reminded him about when residents in the area first took measures to guard their house to prevent home invasions during the 1980s crack cocaine epidemic.
"Snowfall' tells the story of how crack cocaine was birthed in the L.A. inner city in 1983. The first season premieres Wednesday on FX at 10 p.m. EDT.
Singleton says crack cocaine caused a negative ripple effect that's still ongoing problem.
Merman has officially announced the signing of director Ritesh Gupta for commercial representation in the U.S. Gupta had joined Merman last year but was working on a feature film for most of 2024 so the production company held off until now on making the signing public.
The director is a former award-winning sports journalist and creative director. He’s created noteworthy campaigns from Budweiser’s viral “Dwyane Wade: This Bud’s for 3,” which he directed, to the multi-award winning Beats by Dre campaign “You Love Me,” which Gupta worked on as group creative director at the agency Translation. The “You Love Me” film, which was directed by Melina Matsoukas, earned a primetime commercial Emmy nomination in 2021 as well as a DGA Award win for PRETTYBIRD director Matsoukas. This marked the second Emmy nod for Gupta. Back in his MTV days he was a producer on a documentary, Aftershock: Diary of Gideon in Pakistan, which garnered a News & Documentary Emmy nomination.
As a director, Gupta’s approach is to layer a truthful authenticity ingrained during his time as a journalist--along with an emotional intelligence he honed storytelling in the documentary world--to craft his own evocative and unique cinematic style. In addition to his two Emmy nods, he has netted four Webbys, six AICP wins, eight Cannes Lions, 25 Clios and recognition from ADCOLOR and the ANDYs.
“Ritesh brings a unique perspective to his storytelling,” said Merman global director Ellen Clarke. “He has the ability to identify the multilayers of a narrative and its characters, weaving them impactfully together. His strength lies in his connection to the talent’s performance and discovering the authenticity within the story.”
