Stink Rising have announced the signing of award-winning producing duo MrMr to their global directing roster.MrMr are Katie Lambert and Martha McGuirk, who are returning to Stink where they first began working together in 2018, when Lambert was Head of Music at the London-based production company and recruited McGuirk to join as music video producer.The pair left Stink to establish their own production company, MrMr Films, in 2020. Since then they have produced ad campaigns and high profile music videos for the likes of Little Simz, Dua Lipa, Harry Styles, Muse and others, working with directors such as Lope Serrano at CANADA, Felix Brady, Georgia Hudson, Terrence Neale and Salomon Ligthelm.In addition to their producing work, MrMr have co-directed music videos with artists such as Wet Leg and Self Esteem, eventually moving into solo directing on projects, including a short film for Suede’s album Autofiction. Their latest project as directors is their short film Eat It - a gut-busting comedy. Released last week and destined for a festival run, Eat It has so far been accepted at Birmingham Film Festival, Oslo Film festival, Oaxaca Film Festival and New York Shorts.“It’s nice to be back and pestering all our old co-workers to try and get us scripts," say MrMr's Lambert and McGuirk - who will continue to produce the work they direct. "Jokes aside, we’ve seen first hand the skill and care of the Stink EPs and we’re incredibly grateful they are giving us their time and talent.” Blake Powell, Stink Global Head of Film, adds: “Katie and Martha have long been part of the Stink family and I'm excited to have them back, this time as directors. They are sharp, ambitious directors who have a highly valuable background in production with an eye for creatively driven stories.”• Watch MrMr's showreel at Stink Rising here

The latest episode of The Promonews Podcast - and the first release of 2023 - is now on Spotify and soon on other platforms, with director Charlie Di Placido and DoP Olly Wiggins talking to David Knight and Rob Ulitski about their working relationship over the past few years on various projects, including several of the distinctive choreography-based videos for Jungle.Di Placido has been involved in making videos for the neo-soul project of West London producers Josh Lloyd Watson and Tom McFarland from the start, and has been co-directing the videos, in their signature choreography-based style, with Lloyd Watson since 2018. He began working with Wiggins around the same time, initially on the Jungle videos for Happy Man, Heavy California and Cherry.On the Podcast - produced in association with Loop Talent - the pair reveal a few surprising secrets about those videos and others for Jungle - and also their work together for with Labrinth, Nines and Dreya Mac.This is the latest episode of The Promonews Podcast: Talking Music Videos. The past year has seen the Podcast interview a range of creatives who are active making music videos right now, including KC Locke, Ali Kurr, Milo Blake, Fred Rowson, Nathan James Tettey, Noel Paul and Charlie Sarsfield.Recent interviewees include Aoife McArdle discussing her path from music video director to director and producer on Apple TV+'s Severance; and pioneering music video director Andy Morahan talking about working with Guns 'n Roses, on the 30th anniversary of his video for November Rain.Other Promonews Podcast interviewees include Sam Brown, Kasper Haggstrom, Olivia Rose, Sam Davey, Rik Burnell, Sophia Ray, Mayling Wong, Lee Fairweather, Lucrecia Taormina, Salomon Ligthelm, RUFFMERCY and Louis Bhose.• Listen to The Promonews Podcast with Charlie Di Placido and Olly Wiggins on Spotify, and other platforms.

Somesuch have officially announced the signing of Tajana Tokyo to their directors rosters for the UK and US.The Sierra Leonean-British director has directed projects for Channel Tres, Ari Lennox, Nowness, Victoria Monét and Destiny Rogers, amongst others. And she recently co-directed the Apple Music Superbowl spot Run This Town, with Kim Gehrig.Tajana Tokyo's time as a professional dancer holds a strong influence over her directorial approach, reflecting her love of dance, choreography and melody.• Watch Tajana Tokyo's showreel at Somesuch here

Wash has announced the appointment of Chris Bell as senior colourist at the London-based colour and VFX studio.Bell arrives at Wash with him an extensive body of work, for a wide variety of clients across both short and long form projects - including Ferrari, National Geographic, Swarovski – to music heavyweights like Dave.Outside of the darkness of the grading suite, Bell is a renowned outdoors type: he’s a rugby nut, a keen cyclist and is very at home noodling around his garden, which provides the perfect backdrop to boast his outdoor cooking skills learned in the BBQ states of America: Texas and New Orleans.Jon Dobson, Wash's founder & lead colourist says: "It’s the start of an exciting chapter ahead here at Wash, with new team members, clients and projects. Chris is a fantastic addition to the colour team here and is settling in nicely. We’ve known each other for a long time and it’s great to finally have him on board."Chris Bell adds: "I’m so excited to be joining the team at Wash. I love being part of one of the final stages that a project goes through - helping to tie everything together and communicate the message as well as possible through the use of colour. I consider it an honour to be trusted with helping to add polish to a project which has been part of the creators’ lives for weeks, months or even years before it arrives on my desk."The variety of projects that I get to work is one of my favourite parts of the job - from features and TV series - to commercials and music promos - there are always new approaches and techniques to try."• Watch Chris Bell's showreel at Wash here

Acclaimed director Ruth Hogben is now represented by Las Bandas Be Brave for music videos in the UK and US.Hogben's groundbreaking film work in fashion and music includes a period working as creative director for Lady Gaga, overseeing the artist's David Bowie's tribute at The Grammys and Superbowl halftime show, and co-directing the Perfect Illusion video. Other music artists she has created visuals for includes Kanye West and Prince, and last year she directed the strikingly stylish video for Bree Runway's That Girl. She has worked extensively within both commercial and editorial fashion and beauty, for top global fashion brands and magazine powerhouses such as as Fendi, Dior, Rick Owens and Louis Vuitton, AnOther magazine, ShowStudio and Dazed. She has also undertaken commissions for the Metropolitan Museum’s Punk: Chaos to Couture exhibition in New York, and the Alexander McQueen Savage Beauty retrospective, which appeared at both the Met and the V&A in London."We're super excited to welcome Ruth Hogben to Las Bandas for UK and US music videos," says Las Bandas's Jen Herrera and Andy Roberts. They are also representing other directors at Group Thrpy, the production company where Hogben is based. • Ruth Hogben showreel at Group Thrpy here; Las Bandas Be Brave here.

The first BUG of 2023 is coming to indigo at The O2 in London on Thursday, March 2nd, when Adam Buxton will present a special selection of ingenious music videos and comedy as part of the Just For Laughs London festival.Adam will be taking some of the 'best bits' from the run of BUG shows at the BFI Southbank in 2022, as well as reviving some classic moments from the longrunning showcase of music video creativity on the big screen in this new 'Best of BUG' show. Expect a selection of outstanding videos from the last few years, variously unhinged comments from the online community and other nonsense from Adam's laptop.• Adam Buxton presents the Best of BUG at indigo at the O2 on March 2nd - more information here, and tickets available now here

Emma Parkinson, who won last year's Yarns film competition with her comedy short Dishes, Dishes, Dishes, has now joined Blink in London for music video and commercial representation.Parkinson is a BFI Academy alumni, who has also worked as a street casting agent, and as a junior creative at ad agency Wieden & Kennedy in London. Her directing work includes music videos for Byker Grove Fan Club, Aga Ujma and Avice Caro. In these and her short films, including I Love You, Rob and the award-winning Dishes, Dishes, Dishes, she has demonstrated her distinctive talent for comic storytelling.Patrick Craig, executive producer at Blink says: "Dishes, Dishes, Dishes is such a great showcase of Emma’s strong ideas and comedic talent and shows such directing promise. We are thrilled to welcome her to our roster and look forward to seeing what she creates next."Emma Parkinson adds: “I’m delighted to have Blink endorse my foolish antics and I’m looking forward to getting up to lots of mischief with them.”• Watch Emma Parkinson's showreel at Blink here

Black Kite Studios have announced that Alex Lovejoy, one of the most experienced and highly acclaimed figures in the world of VFX in London, has joined the company as Creative Director.With over 20 years experience in his field developing as a remarkable VFX creative talent, Lovejoy's career has seen him develop longstanding relationships with revered directors and being at the forefront of multiple award-winning campaigns. He has been a key player at both The Mill and MPC where his exceptional abilities as a Creative Director, VFX Supervisor, and Flame artist have seen him lead the studios and projects, both in London and New York.His awards include a VES Award for Outstanding Compositing in a Commercial, for the multi award-winning Burberry ‘Festive’ campaign, directed by Megaforce, Gold for VFX at the AEAFqq for EasyJet ‘Hide & Seek’ directed by Alaska and won Gold for VFX at Cannes Lion for Burberry ‘Open Space’ directed by Megaforce. Other credit highlights include EasyJet ‘Imagine’ directed by The Sacred Egg, Just Eat ‘Snoop’, directed by Francois Rousselet and DHL ‘No Time to Die’ directed by Adam Berg.Lovejoy's arrival at Black Kite, working on projects across the board as Creative Director, further supports the growth and expansion of the independent VFX and design studio, which was set up in 2019, and has been growing steadily ever since.Founder and MD Graham Bird has expressed delight that Lovejoy has joined the company. “I’ve known Alex for a long time, he consistently produces work of the very highest quality and has been involved in some of the most groundbreaking and iconic commercials ever made," he says. "His creativity and VFX knowledge is unsurpassed, he’s naturally collaborative and his influence will permeate every aspect of what we do. "On top of that he’s genuinely one of the nicest people I know. It’s an absolute privilege to have Alex join us, his talent is in high demand and he’s someone both artists and clients want to work with. With Alex on board we will continue to push the creative output of the studio forward and open up new and exciting collaborations in the process." Alex Lovejoy comments on his move: “Black Kite is absolutely the best of the independent facilities in London. I now get to work with the nicest bunch of VFX talent in the business and in the perfect environment."What Black Kite has achieved in just three years is impressive to say the least. I’m looking forward to helping grow the award winning CG department and push forward their creativity in all avenues of VFX, as well as in the company overall.”• Black Kite Studios website