Notes from the Rep Biz - 8-3-2018

At CAA:
 
Director and Oscar-winning actress Jodie Foster has signed with Hylda Queally. Recently Foster has been directing TV, helming episodes of Orange is the New Black (which earned her an Emmy nomination), House of Cards (where she was nominated for a DGA Award) and Black Mirror. Previously she was with ICM for acting and UTA for directing.
 
Writer/director Jessica Thompson has signed with Angela Dallas. Thompson’s directorial debut, the drama Light of the Moon, won Best Narrative Feature at SXSW in 2017. Thompson also served as apprentice director on season 2 of Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale. Next up she’ll be directing the pilot and six episodes of the TV series The End. She is managed by Josh Goldenberg and Hannah Ozer at Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment.  
 
Nijla Mu’min has signed with Jelani Johnson. Mu’min’s debut feature, Jinn, won the special jury prize for screenwriting, also at 2017’s SXSW festival. Recently she directed an episode of OWN’s Queen Sugar. Her managers are Ava Jamshidi and Stephen Crawford at Industry.
 
At UTA:
 
Mexican Comedian Franco Escamilla has signed with UTA. Escamilla is the founder of La Diablo Squad, a group of comedians who perform live on his YouTube show La Mesa Renona. He was the first stand up comedian to perform sold out shows at the National Auditorium in Mexico, and he’s the first Spanish-language comedian to do a tour in Asia and Europe. He continues to be repped by manager Bryan Andrade at ESCAN Management.
 
Other Notes:
 
Paradigm has promoted Kristin O’Neil and Nate Sokolski to music agents. O’Neil reps pop and electronic acts such as Quinn XCII, Chelsea Cutler, ayokay, Parson James and Chrome Sparks. Sokolski works with such acts as Diplo, Major Lazer, A-Trak and Chromeo.
 
Nickelodeon executive Karen Kirkland has joined Abrams Artists Agency as a lit agent. Kirkland was the VP for talent development at Nick, and launched many careers for writers and artists.
 
Management Notes:
 
Eva Dickerman has joined Odenkirk Provissiero Entertainment as a lit manager. Dickerman was previously an assistant in the TV Lit department at Verve.
 
Manager/producer Jeff Morrone has joined Atlas Artists. Morrone comes to Atlas from Primary Wave Entertainment. It is believed that most of Morrone’s clients will be following him to his new digs including Gabrielle Union, Stephan James, Dania Ramirez and Jim Rash.
 
Sources: Variety, Deadline, Hollywood Reporter, Billboard