Recess Films has launched in L.A. and New York, headed by managing director John Duffin, an industry vet who served as an exec at Epoch Films for 17 years.
Duffin’s partners in Recess are Jonathan Notaro and Devin Brook–founder and managing partner, respectively, of Brand New School (BNS). Recess will operate independently from BNS, with its own roster of directors.
Recess’ directorial lineup includes Ahmed Klink, Alastair McKevitt, Alexandra Gavillet, Fernando Cardenas, Marcus Ubungen, and Rory Kelleher. This coterie of talent has to its credit recent collaborations for such clients as Apple, Nike, Gatorade, Beats and Facebook.
During his Epoch tenure, Duffin gained a reputation for grooming new talent while advancing the careers of established filmmakers. “I want to nurture talent and create an environment where they can be fearless,” said Duffin. “I see the production company’s role as a community where creativity is valued and has a chance to develop and grow. Recess is an extension of that spirit.”
Recess will produce work across genres, including commercials, films, series, and branded content. The company is represented on the East Coast by Jamie Scalera and Sasha Stern, on the West Coast by Melissa Ross, and in the Midwest by Sue Rosen.
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