Directorial duo The Vortex has joined the roster at Chromista, a creative content company with bases of operation in Los Angeles and New York. This is the first commercial representation for The Vortex, which consists of Emiliano Granado and Austin M. Kearns.
Born in Argentina, Granado relocated to the U.S. as a child and attended Amherst College before moving to NYC. As the fates would have it, his first job in advertising led him to attend courses at the International Center of Photography and to pursue photography as a hobby. Cultivating his own visual voice, Emiliano quit his day job and was quickly named to PDN’s The 30 in 2008. His clients include The New Yorker, GQ, T Magazine, Nike, Adidas, Smirnoff, Converse, Google, and Meta. Granado is the co-creator of Manual for Speed, F**ck Gatekeeping, and babyqueso.
In his youth, Kearns developed a dark comedic voice, which runs throughout his unique visual expression. Austin graduated from the School of Visual Arts, where he studied under virtuoso cinematographer Dejon Georgevich. Early in his career, Austin directed music videos for myriad artists, including comedic personality Tim Heidecker, before transitioning into cinematography.
Granado and Kearns–who came together as a directing team in 2020–deliver a sophisticated edge and irreverence. The Vortex’s recent commercial work includes films and stills for Outlier, Goldsport, Sperry, Under Armour, Puma, Arc’teryx and a film for Lowd Cannabis, which garnered a 2021 Silver Clio.
Adina Birnbaum, executive producer/new business development at Chromista, said, “The Vortex truly lives up to their moniker. Their verve, charisma, and artistry are a sight to behold, and we are looking forward to charting new territory with them.”
Granado and Kearns shared in a joint statement, “It’s an absolute dream to be working alongside the talented folks at Chromista. It’s an honor and we are so excited to start making content for clients.”
Tilda Swinton Explores Assisted Suicide In Pedro Almodóvar’s 1st English-Language Feature
Although "The Room Next Door" is Pedro Almodóvar's first English-language feature, Tilda Swinton notes that he's never written in a language that anyone else truly speaks.
"He writes in Pedro language, and here he is making another film in another version of Pedro language, which just happens to sound a little bit like English," Swinton said.
Set in New York, Swinton stars as Martha, a terminally ill woman who chooses to end her life on her own terms. After reconnecting with her friend Ingrid, played by Julianne Moore, Martha persuades her to stay and keep her company before she goes through with her decision.
Beyond the film's narrative, Swinton said she believes individuals should have a say in their own living and dying. She acknowledges that she has personally witnessed a friend's compassionate departure.
"In my own life I had the great good fortune to be asked by someone in Martha's position to be his Ingrid (Julianne Moore)," Swinton said.
She said that experience shaped her attitude about life and death: "Not only my capacity to be witness to other people in that situation, but my own living and my own dying."
Swinton spoke about "The Room Next Door," Almodóvar and he idea of letting people die on their own terms. Remarks have been edited for clarity and brevity.
Q: Tackling that role, what was the challenge to get into the character?
SWINTON: I felt really blessed by the opportunity. So many of us have been in the situation Julianne Moore's character finds herself in, being asked to be the witness of someone who is dying. Whether that wanting to orchestrate their own dismount or not, to be in that position to be a witness is something that I've been... Read More