Hornet has signed director Edward Andrews, marking a further step in the New York-based creative studio’s expansion into live action director representation and production. This marks Andrews’ first representation deal in the U.S. market. He continues to be handled in the U.K. by Outsider Films, in Canada by Steam Films, in France by Grand Bazaar, and in Germany by Tony Petersen Film.

Whether working with actors or breathing life into animated characters, Andrews finds success imprinting story and narrative into the heart of his work, and is known for his talent direction and seamless technical visual effects integration. 

Prior to stepping into the director’s chair, Andrews was a compositor at VFX shop DNEG, working in the Academy Award winning teams behind Blade Runner 2049, Inception, The Dark Knight Rises, Harry Potter, Captain America, Wonder Woman, and Bond 23: Skyfall--for directors like Christopher Nolan, Patty Jenkins, Ron Howard, Sam Mendes, Denis Villeneuve, and Nicolas Winding Refn. Having built a foundation in composition and shot making, and learning what it takes to deliver world-class visuals, he moved behind the camera and into the commercial world.

“When I first saw Edward’s work I was struck by his nuanced talent direction and by the understated way he applies what is clearly an immense technical ability. We have many of the same creative reference points and we have a shared vision of how great work is made. Everyone at Hornet is excited to be working with Edward. I feel privileged to be on this journey with him,” said Ben Sharpe, Hornet executive producer.

Andrews insists on using visual effects in support of the idea, never as the idea itself. This is evident in the harrowing family drama, “A World Without Y,” played out in an almost-single take for the YMCA, and through the all-singing, all-dancing anthropomorphized star of his darkly funny “This Job Can Break You” for NABS which picked up four Clios in 2022.

“What stands out about Edward is his deep respect for cinematic pioneers, and his seamless ability to blend tradition with modern innovation,” said Hornet managing director Hana Shimizu. “With such a full understanding and passion for the craft itself, comes a genuine confidence and boldness that I see as a catalyst to pushing creative boundaries and conjuring the stuff of dreams.” 

Andrews is the first live action signing for Hornet, known for its two decades of work in animation and design. The addition of Andrews comes on the heels of Sharpe’s appointment as live-action EP and the announcement of Hornet’s intentions in the live-action space. Sharpe was formerly head of production at London creative shop adam&eveDDB (of John Lewis fame) and former EP at London’s Blink Productions. 

“Like everything at Hornet, our expansion into live action is being done with a lot of heart and a fearless vision. It includes having a committed team who share in a deep legacy of developing talent for over two decades, unilateral alignment with our brand’s ethos of creative ambition, and an unparalleled commitment to do the actual hard work: to show up and make a difference for our talent and for our clients,” said Shimizu.