Ben Steiger Levine, a director whose flair for design and visual effects complements his strengths as a narrative storyteller, has joined the talent roster at Greencard for commercials and branded content in the U.S.
Emily Wiedemann, Greencard founder and executive producer, said of Steiger Levine, “On top of his directorial chops, he’s also a great writer, so we have very high hopes for him not just in his advertising work but in both short and long-form films as well.” Prior to signing with Greencard, Steiger Levine was with 1stAve Machine.
Steiger Levine’s work has netted him everything from a Cannes Lions to a Grammy nomination, and is characterized by a lighthearted story told in a visually compelling way. Supporting the organic feel of much of his work, he prefers to find in-camera solutions rather than rely on heavy CG whenever possible.
A great example is his “Intolerance” project for Natrel, a Canadian lactose-free line of dairy products: In a faux documentary, we meet Miles Granderson, a towering man who explains his love of dairy and appears like a giant in his too-small house. There’s no CG in it at all, Steiger Levine admits; the actor playing Miles is a regular-sized guy. “It’s mostly just camera tricks,” he explains, “along with a lot of careful compositing.”
The director said he was attracted to Greencard ironically because the company is not known as an effects and design studio, but rather has impressive credentials in narrative, long form and other genres and categories he’s interested in pursuing. “I didn’t want to get pegged as a design and effects-oriented director,” he explained. “I love the diversity of Greencard’s body of work, and I’m confident I’ll have a place here. I’ll bring my expertise to their roster, while they’ll open up opportunities for me in the areas of film and live action commercials.”
Steiger Levine has directed for such brands as Coca-Cola, Samsung, Sprite and Nintendo (in a spot which blends live action and stop-motion in an easygoing, organic way), and his video for the Canadian duo Beast, which was Grammy-nominated for Best Music Video, will give anyone afraid of bees nightmares for years.
Asked to describe his work, Steiger Levine shies away from too many VFX references and adopts a more ethereal tone; it’s not surprising, given that Michel Gondry was a huge influence. “His mixed media approach interested me, and his films have this dreamlike quality,” he noted. “I like work in which you can transform reality and enter a magical world where things look and feel different.” Working in advertising, he added, gives him the opportunity to bring multiple disciplines to bear on a script, from art, design and cinematography to his ability to build complex sets that almost become characters on their own. “They can help elevate and enhance the performances I get out of my cast,” he said.
Currently, Steiger Levine is working on a short narrative VR project that’s been funded through Canada’s Telefilm, ARTE in France and the Belgium film fund. Using primarily CGI, it will offer an immersive viewing experience unlike anything he’s done before.
At Greencard, he hopes to continue working in the highly collaborative style he’s accustomed to. “I believe now more than ever agencies are looking for creative partners, not just someone to execute an aesthetic vision,” he observes. “I love taking part in this process of shepherding the concept into reality in a way that preserves both the agency’s and the client’s vision. It’s very rewarding to be part of this bigger team effort.”
Review: Director James Watkins’ “Speak No Evil”
Quick. Has there ever been a horror film set in a country home with a decent cell signal?
Nope, and there's no signal at Paddy and Ciara's house, either, deep in the English countryside. Soon, that land line will be cut, too, but we're getting ahead of ourselves.
Paddy and Ciara are that fun-but-somewhat-odd British couple whom Louise and Ben, early in "Speak No Evil," meet on their idyllic Tuscan family holiday. Americans based in London, Louise and Ben are at loose ends, with both job and relationship issues. And so, when the new acquaintances write to invite them for a country weekend, they decide to go.
After all, how bad could it be?
Don't answer that. There are many such moments in the first two-thirds of "Speak No Evil," a Hollywood remake of the 2022 Danish film, here starring a deeply menacing James McAvoy. Moments where Louise and Ben, out of mere politeness and social convention, act against their instincts, which tell them something is wrong – very wrong.
Director James Watkins and especially his excellent troupe of actors, adult and children alike, do a nice job of building the tension, slowly but surely. Until all bloody hell breaks loose, of course. And then, in its third act, "Speak No Evil" becomes an entertaining but routine horror flick, with predictable results.
But for a while, it's a way more intelligent film. And the jumpy moments work — I'll confess to literally springing out of my seat when someone uneventfully turned on a power drill.
We begin in stunning Tuscany, where Louise (Mackenzie Davis, in the film's most accessible and empathetic performance) and Ben (Scoot McNairy, all nerves and insecurity) are vacationing with 11-year-old daughter Agnes (Alix West Lefler). At the pool, they... Read More