ALTERED.LA has added the directorial duo The Martians–consisting of Diogo Abrantes and João Rito–to its U.S. roster for commercials and branded content. This marks the first U.S. representation for the directing team which came together in 2022.
Abrantes has extensive experience on the agency side, having spent over a decade working as a creative at shops in London, earning Cannes Lions and D&AD Awards, among other honors. Rito’s background includes many years working alongside the best names in comedy on TV series in Portugal, serving as a director and executive producer.
As a directing duo, The Martians have become known for a unique brand of creativity and comedic storytelling with work for such clients as sports betting platform bet.pt, financial investment firm Aldrin and a lauded “Born to Create Drama” promo for the Young Director Award. Looking ahead, the duo is gearing up to launch a comedy commercial for a collaboration between a world-famous chocolate brand and a renowned entertainment studio.
Marcos Cline, founder and executive producer at ALTERED.LA, said, “More and more, our agency partners are seeking directors whose reels showcase exceptional art direction, a contemporary feel, slow motion, and a unique ‘wink-and-a-nod’ style of comedy that looks phenomenal. So, you can imagine my excitement when I met The Martians! This directing duo embodies all of these qualities and more, bringing an incredible personality to the mix. As ALTERED.LA continues to grow, introducing talented directors like Martians to the U.S. market for the first time becomes increasingly important. Their overall aesthetic and style not only complement our roster but also raise the bar.”
Sean “Diddy” Combs Is Arrested In NY After Federal Indictment
Sean "Diddy" Combs, the hip-hop mogul who has faced a stream of allegations by women accusing him of sexual assault, was arrested late Monday in New York after he was indicted by a federal grand jury.
The indictment was sealed and details of the charges weren't immediately announced by prosecutors, but the U.S. attorney in Manhattan, Damian Williams, confirmed in a statement that federal agents had Combs in custody.
"We expect to move to unseal the indictment in the morning and will have more to say at that time," Williams said in a statement.
Combs was arrested in a Manhattan hotel lobby, according to a person familiar with the arrest who spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
His lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, said Combs had been cooperating with the investigation and had relocated to New York last week in anticipation of charges being brought.
"We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Attorney's Office," Agnifilo said, describing his client as a music icon and a "loving family man."
"He is an imperfect person, but he is not a criminal," Agnifilo said in a statement, adding "Please reserve your judgment until you have all the facts. These are the acts of an innocent man with nothing to hide, and he looks forward to clearing his name in court."
The criminal charges are a major but not unexpected takedown of one of the most prominent producers and most famous names in the history of hip-hop.
The federal investigation of Combs, 58, was revealed when Homeland Security Investigations agents served simultaneous search warrants and raided Combs' mansions in Los Angeles and Miami... Read More