David Reviews

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

FILM KLAXON: ALT SHIFT LIFE.
12 May 2024

Laura Checkoway's 'Alt Shift Life' flits between Nashville, Tennessee, Bangalore, India, and the Bronx in New York City for a story about technology and new starts. Protagonists Scott, Sai, and DeVonn were each stuck in a rut before they discovered ServiceNow, a software company on an upskilling spree.

Produced by Lief and Tribeca Studios in association with ServiceNow, the twenty-seven-minute documentary draws attention to RiseUp, a programme designed to help people like Scott, Sai, and DeVonn pursue careers they always thought were out of reach. Who'd a thunk it, eh? A film where technology is not out to corrupt or kill us!

Ahead of its premiere at the 2024 Tribeca Festival, Checkoway says: "Weaving their stories with depth and intimacy, a refreshing narrative emerges about our shared economic future, inspiring us as they each create brand-new starts. A line from Rumi encapsulates the spirit of our film: "Do not be satisfied with the stories that come before you. Unfold your own myth."


News

MARIA LAX JOINS ART PRACTICE.

Art Practice, the company founded by James Allen, Dan Tobin Smith, and Mike Skrgatic, has signed Finnish director and photographer Maria Lax for representation.


BLINK SIGNS JOSEPH WILSON.

Blink's global roster now boasts director Joseph Wilson for commercials and music videos.


BLAKE IT TILL YOU MAKE IT.

Sam Gainsborough's favourite artist must be William Blake, right?


NEW—LAND WELCOMES SHARIF ABDEL MAWLA.

Dutch-Egyptian director Sharif Abdel Mawla is now represented by new—land in the UK and Scandinavia.


WAYLON HITS THE BIG TIME THANKS TO IAMS.

Waylon hits the big time thanks to a larger-than-life campaign from IAMS.


BIRTH WELCOMES BEN MIETHKE TO THE UK MARKET.

Ben Miethke is the latest director to call Birth UK home.


PSTH BOARD THE FRIEND SHIP.

French directors PSTH (Léo Sattin and Théo Gottlieb) have joined Friend for UK representation.


ABIGAIL WILSON JOINS PARK PICTURES.

Christmas has come early for Park Pictures in the form of director Abigail Wilson.


IT'S JELLY FOR LUCY HARDCASTLE.

Multidisciplinary director Lucy Hardcastle is now part of Jelly’s global roster.


COMEDY KING TIM BULLOCK BOOSTS ROGUE'S OFFER

Rogue have secured the talents of hugely talented comedy director Tim Bullock by adding him to their roster.


SOMESUCH LANDS SOPHIE JONES.

Somesuch has signed director and photographer Sophie Jones for UK, US, and Dutch representation.


STARS OF 2024: ELLIOTT POWER

Elliott Power ascendancy as a director began last year and has continued with incredible energy to make him one of the hottest talents in the business.


LÉA ESMAILI ARRIVES AT BLINKINK.

Blinkink has added the "insanely talented" Léa Esmaili to its roster.


BARNEY JORDAN IS A COMPANY3 MAN.

VFX doyen Barney Jordan is Company3’s new Senior Finishing Editor in London.


CMN PPL FLMS SIGNS DOROTHY ALLEN-PICKARD.

Dorothy Allen-Pickard, a director who "merges the real with the performative", has joined CMN PPL FLMS for UK commercial representation.


JELLY WELCOMES SAVANTS.

Savants is a lively band of continental directors focused on illustration, design, and animation.


ARMOURY LIKES THE TASTE OF SALSA.

Brazilian directors Salsa (Guto Azevedo and Diego Santana Claudino) have joined Armoury for UK representation.


O2'S SUPERGRAN BAITS THE SCAMMERS

O2 have found a good use for AI... a computer generated gran with a wicked sense of humour and a penchant for playing scammers at their own game.


PRETTYBIRD SWOOP FOR LUCRECIA.

Director, photographer, and nail art whizz Lucrecia is now part of PRETTYBIRD US for commercials and music videos.


STARS OF 2024: EMMA BRANDERHORST

Dutch director Emma Branderhorst has had a stellar year that included a much lauded pop promo spreading an important message about online privacy.


PARK VILLAGE PLAYS THE LONG-FORM GAME.

Park Village has a taste for long-form content - so much so that the company has launched Park Village Originals (PVO).


ABSOLUTE SCORES A HAT-TRICK.

Absolute has trebled its pleasure with the arrival of producer Leianna Gilmartin and colourists Peter Oppersdorff and Philip Hambi.


JILLIAN ISCARO'S ON TOP FORM.

American director Jillian Iscaro is now represented by FORM in the UK and the Netherlands.


IT'S FILMAWI FOR KNUCKLEHEAD.

Mononymous director and photographer Filmawi says he is "honoured to be part of such a visionary collective of directors" at Knucklehead.


ACCLAIMED DIRECTOR MAUREEN HUFNAGEL JOINS ELEANOR

Acclaimed director Maureen Hufnagel joins Eleanor Films's London Roster.


News

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