Production company Alkemy X has added director Johnny Andow to its roster for U.S. commercial representation. He has turned out work for brands including Under Armour and GORE-TEX. This marks his first official representation in the ad arena. He had most recently been freelancing.
Andow’s passion for the camera began at a young age with the desire to capture the world in front of him. Andow has directed and produced a diverse range of films and spots. His commercial work blends anthemic visuals with emotive storytelling for a wide range of brands. He is currently in development on a range of personal creative endeavors, including a feature film that celebrates his own mother’s journey as a professional boxer in a time where women weren’t taken seriously in the sport.
Andow noted, “After having the opportunity to collaborate with Alkemy X on several projects, I couldn’t be more thrilled to officially join their roster. I’m a huge fan of the work that they do and the talent they represent and I’m excited to continue to tell powerful brand stories.”
Alkemy X director of production Jim Huie added, “Johnny’s work is bold and full of life. Always moving forward, his style motivates at every turn to win, to learn, to cheer, and to inspire. Johnny is a smart director, always equipped with a unique perspective and plan to execute it. With a few projects already completed together, we look forward to many more.”
First-Time Feature Directors Make Major Splash At AFI Fest, Generate Oscar Buzz
Two first-time feature directors who are generating Oscar buzz this awards season were front and center this past weekend at AFI Fest in Hollywood. Rachel Morrison, who made history as the first woman nominated for a Best Cinematography Oscar---on the strength of Mudbound in 2018--brought her feature directorial debut, The Fire Inside (Amazon MGM Studios), to the festival on Sunday (10/27), and shared insights into the film during a conversation session immediately following the screening. This came a day after William Goldenberg, an Oscar-winning editor for Argo in 2013, had his initial foray into feature directing, Unstoppable (Amazon MGM Studios), showcased at the AFI proceedings. He too spoke after the screening during a panel discussion. The Fire Inside--which made its world premiere at this yearโs Toronto International Film Festival--tells the story of Claressa โT-Rexโ Shields (portrayed by Ryan Destiny), a Black boxer from Flint, Mich., who trained to become the first woman in U.S. history to win an Olympic Gold Medal in the sport. She achieved this feat--with the help of coach Jason Crutchfield (Brian Tyree Henry)--only to find that her victory at the Summer Games came with relatively little fanfare and no endorsement deals. So much for the hope that the historic accomplishment would be a ticket out of socioeconomic purgatory for Shields and her family. It seemed like yet another setback in a cycle of adversity throughout Shieldsโ life but she persevered, going on to win her second Gold Medal at the next Olympics and becoming a champion for gender equality and equitable pay for women in sports. Shields has served as a source of inspiration for woman athletes worldwide--as well as to the community of... Read More