Pulse Films has signed mixed-media directorial team MANSON–consisting of Gerardo del Hierro, Pau López and Tomás Peña–for U.K. representation. Hailing from Barcelona, MANSON has turned out a body of work for such global brands as Adidas, Nike, Google, Facebook, Pirelli and Stella McCartney–as well as music videos for global artists like Katy Perry and Rosalia. MANSON’s endeavors span live-action performance, animation, design, motion graphics and 3D…
After eight years working as a postproduction supervisor at TROUBLEMAKERS in Paris, Alex Scalvino is now making his debut as a director via the company, creating his first campaign for the French brand Welcome to the Jungle in collaboration with the French agency Marcel….
Dublin-based production company Banjoman has added Eddy Animation’s roster of directors to its ranks for representation in Ireland. Founded in 2015 by Jean-François Bourrel and Nicolas de Rosanbo, French studio Eddie Animation represents a host of skilled 2D, CGI and stop motion animators working across music videos, advertising, game visuals and fiction. Eddy Animation has produced music videos for artists including Ariana Grande, Gorillaz and Breakbot, in addition to creating award-winning work for the likes of Christian Rich, Anne Muller and M, recognised at Club des DA, Berlin Music Awards and Ciclope. Eddy Animation has collaborated with international game developers such as Ubisoft, Riot Games, Bethesda, PUGB, Nacon and Lilith to name a few. On the commercial side, the roster works internationally, connecting audiences around the world with brands such as Chanel, Diptyque, Bentley, Hermès, MAIF, Amnesty International, Red Cross and the Monnaie de Paris….
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