EXCLUSIVE: Ayesha Harris has signed with Innovative Artists for representation.
02.04.2024 - 16:15 / variety.com
Katcy Stephan Filmmaker Caroline Lindy has signed with CAA, Variety can exclusively reveal. Lindy is the writer and director of the romantic-comedy horror film “Your Monster,” which debuted in the Midnight section at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Lindy previously directed the short films “Kindred Spirit” and “Aspirational Slut,” the latter of which was awarded the Audience Award at the 2022 SXSW and Montreal’s Just For Laughs Comedy Festival.
Manhattan native Lindy graduated from Kenyon College, when her love of film and determination as a storyteller fueled a desire to begin writing and shooting short films. Following the acceptance of her first short film “Kindred Spirit” to multiple festivals, she crafted the short film “Your Monster,” an excerpt from her first feature screenplay and a result of a grant she was awarded by Women in Film. Lindy was mentored by female industry executives during production of the short, which went on to screen at numerous festivals.
In 2022, Lindy and her producers were able to secure independent financing for the feature version, starring Melissa Barrera, Tommy Dewey, Edmund Donovan, Meghann Fahy and Kayla Foster. “Your Monster” wrapped production in 2023 in New Jersey, and a few months later was selected by the Sundance Film Festival to kick off this year’s Midnights program. The film combines elements of horror and romantic-comedy in telling the story of a young actress with cancer (Barrera) who discovers a terrifying and charming monster living in her closet.
EXCLUSIVE: Ayesha Harris has signed with Innovative Artists for representation.
EXCLUSIVE: CAA has signed Robert O’Hara, the New York-based playwright and director of Jeremy O. Harris’ Tony-nominated Slave Play.
Joe Otterson TV Reporter Chef and content creator Nick DiGiovanni has signed with WME for representation in all areas, Variety has learned exclusively. He continues to be represented by Align PR and Yorn Levine Barnes. DiGiovanni rose to fame when he became the youngest-ever finalist on the cooking competition series “MasterChef” in 2019 during the show’s tenth season.
EXCLUSIVE: Tony Award winning playwright and screenwriter Itamar Moses has signed with Grandview for management. Itamar’s play The Ally recently premiered at The Public Theater, directed by Lila Neugebauer and starring Josh Radnor. His new musical Dead Outlaw ran simultaneously off-Broadway with Audible Theater at the Minetta Lane.
EXCLUSIVE: Director, writer, and producer Brad Peyton has signed with Grandview for representation. He has brought Grandview onboard ahead of the premiere of his upcoming film Atlas, which stars Jennifer Lopez, Simu Lui, and Sterling K. Brown with Netflix releasing the pic on Memorial Day and buzz for the film is already incredibly strong. The film follows a woman fighting for humanity in a future where an AI soldier has determined the only way to end war is to end humanity.
EXCLUSIVE: CAA has signed Kip Williams, the adapter and director of the buzzy West End production of the Sydney Theatre Company’s The Picture of Dorian Gray starring newly minted Olivier Award winner Sarah Snook.
Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor CAA has signed Sarah Lugor, the multihyphenate content creator, model, host, fashion influencer and musician who posts on TikTok under the handle “@shreksdumpster,” for representation. Lugor, 23, is known for her comedic videos and fashion sense. She has built a following of more than 3 million followers across platforms — including 2.5 million on TikTok — helping her gain recognition as an LGBTQ TikTok trailblazer and landing her features in Vogue and the Huffington Post.
EXCLUSIVE: Sam Catlin has signed with CAA for representation.
Warner Bros is getting back in business with The Color Purple director Blitz Bazawule, with the studio landing rights to the tentatively titled Black Samurai with Bazawule directing. He wrote the pic on spec and will also produce under his Inward Gaze banner.
EXCLUSIVE: Tom Payne, the British actor who starred in Fox drama series Prodigal Son, has new representation.
Joe Otterson TV Reporter Fresh off his win at WrestleMania 40, WWE star Damian Priest has signed with Paradigm for representation in all areas, Variety has learned exclusively. Paradigm will work to build his business across books, acting, marketing, unscripted and more. Priest, who was born Luis Berrios (Martinez), most recently won the WWE World Heavyweight Championship during Night 2 of WrestleMania 40 by cashing in his Money in the Bank contract against Drew McIntire, who himself had just won the championship from Seth Rollins.
Joe Otterson TV Reporter Mortal Media, the film and TV production company co-founded by Blake Griffin and Ryan Kalil, has signed with WME for representation, Variety has learned exclusively. WME will rep Mortal Media’s scripted and unscripted slate, while also helping the company expand into brand partnerships and creative marketing services. In addition, Griffin has signed with WME for off-court representation.
EXCLUSIVE: UTA has signed stand-up comedian, actor, and creator Frankie Quiñones (This Fool) for representation in all areas.
Matt Donnelly Senior Film Writer Heatseeking filmmaker Olmo Schnabel has signed for representation with WME, and with Black Bear for management. Schnabel’s breakout directorial effort “Pet Shop Days” played both the Venice International Film Festival and SXSW this cycle, scoring distribution from Utopia for a 2024 theatrical release. Starring Darío Yazbek Bernal, Willem Dafoe and Peter Sarsgaard, the film tells of a drug lord scion on the run from his powerful family.
Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic Lucius has signed with Fantasy Records for future album releases, including the first to come down the chute in the deal, an all-new re-recording of the group’s seminal “Wildewoman” album. Set for release May 31, “Wildewoman (The New Recording)” will include 12-13 freshly recorded tracks, including songs with featured appearances by Brandi Carlile, Marcus Mumford and Devon Gilfillian.
Even though Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow once vowed to push forward with more “Matrix” projects with or without the involvement of The Wachowskis, we honestly thought the studios were done with “The Matrix” franchise following the only mildly-received “The Matrix Resurrections.” However, a surprising report from Deadline has announced that filmmaker Drew Goddard (“Cabin In The Woods”) is attached to write and direct a fifth “Matrix” film, which will continue the action-packed cyberpunk story.
EXCLUSIVE: Social media and TV personality Trisha Paytas has signed with CAA.
SHINee singer Taemin has officially signed with Big Planet Made, shortly after leaving longtime agency SM Entertainment.Big Planet Made announced today (April 1) in a statement to South Korean outlet Star News that the company has “signed an exclusive contract with singer Taemin, who is unparalleled in his activities both as SHINee’s main dancer and as a solo artist”, per Soompi. “We will actively support Taemin’s wide range of activities in his music career, and we will do our utmost so that he can soar in broader places and in a variety of directions.
EXCLUSIVE: Shakira Barrera has signed with Innovative Artists for representation.
Actor-writer-director D.B. Sweeney has signed with Defining Artists for representation.