Hornet–a creative studio spanning motion design, animation and live action, with bases of operation in New York and Los Angeles–has expanded its West Coast presence with the signing of director Dan Marsh.
A medium-agnostic director, Marsh fluidly moves between various filmmaking techniques. Marsh’s unconventional journey in film is marked by self-driven creativity from an early age. His early endeavors, from odd jobs to fund creative pursuits and independent animation projects, laid a diverse foundation in film and storytelling. Earning an MFA in Digital Media from the Rhode Island School of Design, he expanded his multidisciplinary expertise. Later, as a professor, Marsh fostered cross-disciplinary and experimental projects. Evolving into VFX supervision and eventually directing, Marsh has shaped a career that is a tapestry of personal initiatives, educational roles, and varied industry positions which include time at MPC, ManvsMachine, Buck, and now, Hornet. He has turned out work for brands like Apple, Lexus and Microsoft.
Via Hornet Marsh has already directed a holiday spot for Air Canada out of FCB Canada.
Hornet’s L.A.-based executive producer Jo Arghiris said, “The West Coast has always been a dynamic and innovative market that is receptive to new ideas and has a deep reverence for the filmmaking process. The addition of stellar talent based here in Los Angeles will only further reinforce Hornet’s capabilities and our ambition to tell stories in meaningful ways. I had the pleasure of working with Dan many years ago and I am thrilled to be reunited with him as we continue to build our presence here on the West Coast.”
Hornet’s managing partner Hana Shimizu added, “Dan possesses a remarkable talent for captivating audiences with his distinct directorial voice, which articulates a concise poetry of visual storytelling. His work often surprises with tone and technique but showcases an unwavering commitment to impeccable craftsmanship. We’re excited to see what Dan and Jo build together on the West Coast. Their robust partnership is very much in sync with our company’s core philosophy: making the seemingly impossible possible, in the most elegant and thoughtful of ways.”
Marsh said, “I’m so excited to reunite with Jo and partner with a studio I’ve admired for so long. Hornet fosters such incredible talent and it’s honestly a privilege to be a part of their exciting next steps.”
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