Director Chris Hooper, best known for his work in comedy, has joined bicoastal Über Content for exclusive U.S. spot representation. He comes over from Santa Monica-based Bob Industries and is currently shooting his first project with Über, for McDonald’s via Moroch Partners, Dallas.
Hooper brings agency creative sensibilities to the director’s chair, having first established himself as a creative at TBWA/Chiat/Day in Los Angeles and Toronto, and Goodby, Silverstein & Partners in San Francisco. His first directorial roost was bicoastal Tool of North America, after which he landed at Bob Industries.
Hooper’s spot helming credits include notable work for Volkswagen, DirecTV and Budweiser, and honors from competitions that include the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival, The One Show and the AICP Show.
Headed by partners/exec producers Phyllis Koenig and Preston Lee, Über has a directors’ roster comprised of Hooper, Jordan Brady, Jeffrey Fleisig, Luis Gerard, Jason Kohn, Dave Laden, Marc Schölermann, and Steven Tsuchida.
Peter Jackson Receives Honorary Palme D’Or As Cannes Boasts Star Power Despite Hollywood’s Retreat
The 79th Cannes Film Festival opened on Tuesday with politics, artificial intelligence and the shifting priorities of Hollywood taking center stage at the global film gathering on the French Riviera. The festival launched with a tribute to director Peter Jackson, handing the "Lord of the Rings" filmmaker an honorary Palme d'Or. He was introduced by actor Elijah Wood, who played Frodo Baggins in Jackson's fantasy franchise, one of many notable faces on the Cannes red carpet, including Bong Joon Ho, Joan Collins, Heidi Klum and James Franco. "I've never figured out why I'm getting a Palme d'Or. I'm not a Palme d'Or sorta guy," said the shaggy haired New Zealand filmmaker. Jackson was then serenaded with a rendition of the song "Get Back," a nod to his lauded 2021 documentary about The Beatles. The director sat stage right mouthing the lyrics. Jane Fonda and the Chinese-Singaporean star Gong Li officially opened the festival, with Fonda declaring: "Cinema has always been an act of resistance." It was a fitting observation for a film festival that has already seen politics take center stage. At the introduction of the jury that will decide the Palme d'Or, Cannes' top honor, jury members spoke bluntly about holding a film festival during a time of geopolitical conflict. The Palme d'Or jury weighs politics in film Paul Laverty, the Scottish screenwriter known for his films with director Ken Loach, pointed toward this year's Cannes poster, of "Thelma and Louise," while discussing attending Cannes during what he called "genocide in Gaza." Quoting "King Lear," he said: "Madmen lead the blind." "Cannes has a wonderful poster," said Laverty. "Isn't it fascinating to see some of them like Susan Sarandon, Javier Bardem and Mark Ruffalo... Read More