Bicoastal production company Honor Society has signed director Jeremy Heslup for U.S. commercial representation. He brings to the branded content space a cinematic eye and an affinity for capturing a story in challenging outdoor environments. He has a track record of infusing authenticity, risk and adventure into his short and longform content, with work distributed on both broadcast and digital for such clients as Land Rover, Lamborghini, Wahl Clippers, Zenith Watches, Optima Batteries, Porsche, and WEDU for Lance Armstrong. Heslup’s work has generated millions of online views, and been featured on the popular vintage motoring channel, Petrolicious, as well as at the London Motor Film Festival, Automoto Film Festival and more.
Heslup’s visually driven directorial aesthetic has been cultivated over a number of years while shooting in remote–and oftentimes extreme–locations. In 2018 alone, he has directed films in 11 countries, with client work in Hong Kong, South Africa, Mexico, throughout Europe and in the U.S.
Heslup studied electronic media at the University of Cincinnati, and later took a stint at CNN where he was introduced to the rapid-paced world of production. Fascinated by the art of producing captivating, humanized stories, Heslup made the leap to pursue filmmaking. After polishing his directorial chops during the electronic music wave, providing the entire film production for tour documentaries, music videos and promotional spots for the likes of Calvin Harris, Avicii, Tiësto and more, Heslup decided to switch gears. He ended up in Mexico City and traveled 2,000 miles through Mexico to gather footage of the vintage road race featuring Porsche, La Carrera Panamericana, which resulted in a full-length feature film. The film hit the festival circuit and garnered industry accolades.
In 2011, Heslup also founded his own production company, Valkyr, where he was serving as executive producer and a director on the roster. Wanting to focus on directing full-time, he signed with Honor Society where he will be exclusively represented. In 2016 Heslup founded Praemio, a channel featuring inspirational stories of risk and reward. The channel has garnered millions of views since its launch.
Honor Society founder and EP Megan Kelly said, “Heslup thrives in challenging circumstances that require creative problem solving, and consistently steps up to provide essential production solutions that enhance the adventurous flair and cinematic value on every project.”
Review: Director Morgan Neville’s “Piece by Piece”
A movie documentary that uses only Lego pieces might seem an unconventional choice. When that documentary is about renowned musician-producer Pharrell Williams, it's actually sort of on-brand.
"Piece by Piece" is a bright, clever song-filled biopic that pretends it's a behind-the-scenes documentary using small plastic bricks, angles and curves to celebrate an artist known for his quirky soul. It is deep and surreal and often adorable. Is it high concept or low? Like Williams, it's a bit of both.
Director Morgan Neville — who has gotten more and more experimental exploring other celebrity lives like Fred Rogers in "Won't You Be My Neighbor?,""Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain" and "Steve! (Martin): A Documentary in Two Pieces" — this time uses real interviews but masks them under little Lego figurines with animated faces. Call this one a documentary in a million pieces.
The filmmakers try to explain their device — "What if nothing is real? What if life is like a Lego set?" Williams says at the beginning — but it's very tenuous. Just submit and enjoy the ride of a poor kid from Virginia Beach, Virginia, who rose to dominate music and become a creative director at Louis Vuitton.
Williams, by his own admission, is a little detached, a little odd. Music triggers colors in his brain — he has synesthesia, beautifully portrayed here — and it's his forward-looking musical brain that will make him a star, first as part of the producing team The Neptunes and then as an in-demand solo producer and songwriter.
There are highs and lows and then highs again. A verse Williams wrote for "Rump Shaker" by Wreckx-N-Effect when he was making a living selling beats would lead to superstars demanding to work with him and partner... Read More