Notes from the Rep Biz - 5-18-2018

A breakout actress to WME, British filmmakers to CAA, a hip-hop up and comer to UTA! It’s Friday and you know what that means? It’s Notes from the Rep Biz!
 
At WME:
 
Director Jake Scott has signed with David Karp and Tina Bennet. Scott most recent directed the soon to be released drama The Burning Woman which tells the story over thirteen years of a woman who has to raise her thirteen year-old grandson after her daughter goes missing. It stars Sienna Miller, Amy Madigan, Aaron Paul, and Christina Hendricks. Scott is managed by Kate Driver at Untitled.
 
Bill Holderman director of the just released Book Club has signed with Danny Greenberg. Holderman co-wrote the script for the Diane Keaton starrer with Erin Simms who has also signed with WME with agent Christopher Slager.  
The duo previously worked together on 2015’s A Walk in the Woods in which Simms was an associate producer and Holderman wrote. Book Club is Simms first writing credit.
 
Actress Marsai Martin the young breakout star of Blackish has signed with Michelle Bohan, Sharon Jackson, and Yasmine Pearl. Martin continue to play the precocious Diane on Blackish a role for which she’s been nominated for an ensemble SAG award and has won three individual NAACP Image Awards. She’ll next star in and executive produce the comedy Little opposite Issa Rae which is set to be released in September. She continues to be repped by managers Crystal Salazar, Jennifer Au, and Naisha Arnold.
 
At CAA:
 
Filmmaker and actress Nadine Labaki has signed with CAA. Her latest film Capernaum just sold to Sony Pictures Classics for a seven figure deal ahead of its premiere in the Palme d’Or competition. This is the third film for the Lebanese actress. She continues to be repped by Art Media Agency in France.
 
Tom Davis and James De Frond creators of the British improv comedy Murder in Successville have signed with CAA. The duo just were awarded a BAFTA TV award for best comedy. They also created the spy spoof Action Team. The continue to be repped by Independent Talent Group in the U.K.
 
Director Tom George (also a recipient of a BAFTA TV award) has signed with CAA. George directed episodes of the series This Country which just got picked up for a two more seasons. Curtis Brown represents him in the U.K.
 
At UTA:
 
Up and coming Indian actress Radhika Apte has signed with UTA. Apte has a busy slate of projects coming up, she was recently cast in Lydia Dean Pilcher’s upcoming WWII female spy drama, just wrapped filming on Michael Winterbottom’s The Wedding Guest, and is set to star in two Netflix series – Sacred Games and Blumhouse’s Ghoul. She is represented by Curtis Brown in the UK.
 
Hip hop artist Vic Mensa has signed with Dean Fluker. Mensa joined Jay-Z for his 4:44 tour last year and ever since he’s become a rising star. Mensa has also been a huge influence in his home town of Chicago starting the SaveMoneySaveLife Foundation. He’ll continue to be managed by Scooter Braun and Dave Appleton of SB Projects..
 
Management Notes:
 
African Writer/director Wanuri Kahiu has signed with Justin Littman at Gotham Group. Kahiu wrote and directed the film Rafiki, which was banned in Kenya after she refused to change the portrayal of the film’s central lesbian relationship. The film played at this year’s Cannes film festival in the Un Certain Regard category, the first Kenyan film to be invited into the festival.
 
 
Sources: Variety, Hollywood Reporter, Billboard, Deadline