David Reviews

 "You're not an artist, Peggy. You solve problems." Don Draper.

AI UP, IT'S KEANU REEVES!
9 July 2024

The New Yorker once said Keanu Reeves was too good for this earth. This visual effects-heavy commercial for Palo Alto Networks shows he has indeed left our planet. Why? Because someone needs to fight cybersecurity threats head on.

"It was just a regular cybersecurity Monday," says J (Reeves), and that is your chance to check out. Still here? Then strap yourself in for one of the strangest commercials about AI in recent memory. Few of them have moved the needle at all, it must be said, but 'Origin' raises a lot of questions.

First, why J? Just have Reeves play himself! Second, why does the war between AI and, erm, AI take placein a desert? Third, does the gear provided to J (steampunk goggles, a weird-ass spectre) scream elite cybersecurity to you? The brand sure as hell hope so, as they need to make back the money spent on Reeves somehow.


Stories

CAMILLE SUMMERS-VALLI LANDS AT MJZ.

Director, artist, and photographer Camille Summers-Valli is now on the books at MJZ


RASCAL SWOOP FOR TIM SMITH.

Tim Smith, "one of the best and most sought-after colourists in the industry", now plies his trade at RASCAL.


IT'S KELSEY LARKIN FOR REVOLVER FILMS.

Kelsey Larkin has joined Revolver Films in Canada for commercials and music videos.


EVE ASHWELL JOINS TENTHREE AS A PARTNER

Eve Ashwell, one of the best editors in the world, has added her considerable talent to the roster at tenthree, bolstering an already formidable line-up.


JESSICA BACLESSE SAYS YES TO NOMAD.

Jessica Baclesse, co-editor of 'Creed III', is "thrilled" to call Nomad home.


IT WAS A BIG NIGHT AT THE UK MVAS FOR AUBE PERRIE AND AIDAN ZAMIRI.

Brat summer time (BST) may have elapsed this weekend but its last hurrah at the UK MVAs on Thursday saw Charli XCX's cultural phenomenon land one of the biggest prizes of the night for Glaswegian director Aidan Zamari.


AMROU AL-KADHI JOINS KNUCKLEHEAD

When Knucklehead's Tim Katz describes their new signing Amrou Al-Kadhi as "the quintessential polymath" there is not a word of exaggeration.


JON E PRICE IS BACK ON THE SCENE WITH KODE.

Jon E Price has returned to the director's chair with Kode.


THE BERRY BOYS ARRIVE AT OUTSIDER.

Ryan Burnham and Luke Robson's persistence has paid off as The Berry Boys join Outsider.


CREATORS INC HAVE A NÜESCH DAY.

Sisters Kim and Florine Nüesch are now on the books at Creators Inc.


MAGIC EDIT SUMMON SCARLETT BOVINGDON.

Scarlett Bovingdon, whose long list of credits includes short films like 'Sugar Babies' and 'Scraps', has completed her move to Magic Edit.


ILKA & FRANZ HEAD TO HUNKYDORY.

Ilka Noggler and Franz Thomueller are proud to be in such "illustrious company" as they join HunkyDory for representation.


THE SWEETSHOP WELCOME KID BURRO

André H Saito and Cesar Nery love donkeys, so much so that the Brazilians call themselves Kid Burro.


SPINDLE SIGN BRBR

Spaniards Luis Rojo and Nacho A Villar, also known as BRBR, have signed with Spindle in the UK, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.


RIC CANTOR SIGNS WITH EPOCH IN THE UK, AMSTERDAM, IRELAND, AND ASIA.

Ric Cantor signs with Epoch in the UK, Amsterdam, Ireland, and Asia.


BRIAN DURNIN LANDS AT MTP.

Irish director Brian Durnin is now on the books at Mallinson Television Productions (MTP).


CHARLI XCX ON TRACK FOR A BIG NIGHT AT THE UK MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS

Charli XCX is among a host of artists who'll be hoping for recognition at the UKMVAs on 24 October.


ABSOLUTE WELCOME ELLIS MCGOURLAY AS SENIOR SOUND DESIGNER.

Absolute have a new Senior Sound Designer in the form of Ellis McGourlay.


DAVID WATCHES... 'KENSUKE'S KINGDOM'.

Kirk Hendry made an eighty-year-old man cry not so long ago. Is he proud of himself? You bet he is.


MARYSUE MASSON HOOKS UP WITH JOHNNY FOREIGNER.

Johnny Foreigner call Marysue Masson "an unstoppable comedy force" as she signs for commercial representation.


PARK VILLAGE GAIN NOTHING LOST.

Chas Appeti and Junior Okoli have been friends for close to a decade now, and what better way to celebrate than to join Park Village?


WAVE STUDIOS HIRE ARCHIE PRESLEY AS GLOBAL ENGINEER.

Intrepid sound designer Archie Presley is back at Wave Studios after eighteen months in Australia.


ARTHUR LOK ENLISTS WITH LOOP TALENT.

Director of photography Arthur LOK (or Arthur Lanigan O'Keeffe) has joined Loop Talent.


NEXUS SWOOP FOR HANNAH LAU-WALKER.

Nexus Studios say Hannah Lau-Walker is "the kind of exceptional talent that we are proud to champion".


ALE DORDONI HEADS TO FINAL CUT.

Italian editor Alessandro 'Ale' Dordoni has joined the UK roster of Final Cut.


Stories

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