The Directors Network (TDN), a boutique, bicoastal talent agency for freelance directors and cinematographers, has signed Los Angeles-based filmmaker Ky Dickens for East and West Coast representation. Best known for her acclaimed documentaries that have shifted public policy and culture, Dickens has been hailed as a storyteller at the intersection of film and complex social issues. Her hard-hitting films about paid leave, LGBTQ human rights, and the American healthcare crisis, to name a few, have scored her numerous awards and recognition from the likes of Oprah and Michelle Obama. Dickens’ branded work expands on her documentarian’s ethos, with her attention to natural visuals and performances earning her many high-profile clients including Google, McDonald’s, Kellogg’s, Netflix, Hershey’s and Facebook….
The Funnel Creative, a full-service media-content production company, is now represented by Sonia Blum of Sonia Reps in the Midwest. Comprised of a diverse team of creatives, The Funnel Creative was founded last year to empower and uplift Black directors, creatives and content creators. Collectively, the three co-founders and executive producers, Adiclere Evans, Cisco Newman and John Lathan, have more than 70 years of production experience, working with numerous Fortune 500 companies. As part of its commitment to encouraging and mentoring young creatives of color, The Funnel Creative set up a nonprofit 501(c)(3) called The Funnel Program which offers production assistant (PA) training and postproduction training, and then helps place trainees in jobs. The intention of The Funnel Program is “to produce great content and create jobs and hire Black film crews,” Evans said. “Our goal—and it’s right there on our website—is that by 2030, The Funnel will produce $100 million of television and film content utilizing Black creative talent behind the scenes.” Sonia Reps joins a sales team for The Funnel Creative which also consists of commercial representatives Schaffer/Rogers on the East Coast, and David Campbell of RogueRep on the West Coast….
BIRTH UK has appointed Megan Leigh Wright as head of new business. Leigh Wright alongside EP Kate Elson and company partners Hugo Legrand Nathan, Yohan Ungar, Tristan Beraud and Arthur Emorine will be instrumental in building BIRTH UK’s directors’ roster and creating ongoing opportunities for them. Leigh Wright joins BIRTH UK following four years at Darling Films, part of the Ridley Scott Creative Group. Previously, Leigh Wright worked at Another Film Company. Leigh Wright joins BIRTH UK at a time of major growth at the company. In just one year since heading up BIRTH UK, Elson has taken the company to the next level with significant signings and new premises in Soho. In the last three months alone, BIRTH UK has signed award-winning directors Devon Ferguson and Rafael Damy, with both already shooting their first projects. In addition to its London operation, BIRTH maintains offices in Paris and Algiers. Its work has collected awards at Cannes Lions, Cannes Film Festival, Club des Directeurs Artistiques, Eurobest, Epica Awards and the D&AD Wood Pencil, among many others….
Design-centered animation and content creation studio Hue&Cry, headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, has entered into a partnership with creative management company Hustle for East Coast representation. Led by executive producer Scott Friske and creative director Matt Darnall, Hue&Cry will work closely with Andrew Michaeloff, partner at Side Hustle, which specializes in marketing and strategy for design-driven studios and niche live-action production offerings. Side Hustle is part of the Hustle bicoastal network led and founded by managing partners Anya Zander and Jake Neske. Hustle joins Hue&Cry’s national sales team of Heart, Brains & Nerve in the Midwest and DevineReps on the West Coast….
