Panoptica has signed director Bill Horace for U.S. representation spanning commercials, branded content and special projects. Known for his work as a storyteller and documentary filmmaker, Horace had been freelancing prior to joining Panoptica, which becomes his first production company roost for representation.
Horace stated, “Panoptica is the right fit for me because of their adaptability and passion for growth. Our goals and aspirations are very much aligned. I look forward to developing more long-form projects together, while maintaining a presence in the branded/commercial content space.”
Horace’s signing comes on the cusp of his recently debuted feature documentary, Art, Beats + Lyrics, which was produced in partnership with Panoptica, Vox Creative, and Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey. Released last month on Hulu, Art, Beats + Lyrics is a film that not only celebrates the rich history and ongoing contributions of the Art, Beats + Lyrics festival but also underscores Horace’s ability to capture and convey the essence of cultural phenomena.
Roan Bibby, Panoptica’s executive producer and long-time collaborator of Horace, expressed his excitement about the partnership, “Bill breathes cinema and exudes certainty as an expert in the room. His humility, curiosity, and passion are only dwarfed by his ambition, and we’re ecstatic to have him officially join the team.”
Horace’s career has been defined by his dedication to bringing to light the stories of niche subcultures and countercultures, driven by his belief in the power of film to foster understanding and dispel misconceptions. With Panoptica’s film and TV support, Horace is poised to expand his repertoire, already hinting at an early-stage development of an extreme sports/crime doc series.
Born in Liberia and raised in Atlantic City, NJ, Horace has turned out work that has been deeply influenced by his background and experiences. His approach to storytelling is grounded in a deep desire to showcase the richness of cultures and communities that are often overlooked. This perspective is complemented by his technical skills and creative vision, honed through years of experience and education, including his time at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.
James Earl Jones, Lauded Actor and Voice of Darth Vader, Dies At 93
James Earl Jones, who overcame racial prejudice and a severe stutter to become a celebrated icon of stage and screen — eventually lending his deep, commanding voice to CNN, "The Lion King" and Darth Vader — has died. He was 93.
His agent, Barry McPherson, confirmed Jones died Monday morning at home in New York's Hudson Valley region. The cause was not immediately clear.
The pioneering Jones, who was one of the first African American actors in a continuing role on a daytime drama and worked deep into his 80s, won two Emmys, a Golden Globe, two Tony Awards, a Grammy, the National Medal of Arts, the Kennedy Center Honors and was given an honorary Oscar and a special Tony for lifetime achievement. In 2022, a Broadway theater was renamed in his honor.
He cut an elegant figure late in life, with a wry sense of humor and a ferocious work habit. In 2015, he arrived at rehearsals for a Broadway run of "The Gin Game" having already memorized the play and with notebooks filled with comments from the creative team. He said he was always in service of the work.
"The need to storytell has always been with us," he told The Associated Press then. "I think it first happened around campfires when the man came home and told his family he got the bear, the bear didn't get him."
Jones created such memorable film roles as the reclusive writer coaxed back into the spotlight in "Field of Dreams," the boxer Jack Johnson in the stage and screen hit "The Great White Hope," the writer Alex Haley in "Roots: The Next Generation" and a South African minister in "Cry, the Beloved Country."
He was also a sought-after voice actor, expressing the villainy of Darth Vader ("No, I am your father," commonly misremembered as "Luke, I am your father"), as... Read More