MARCH 22, 1996/Toronto-based director Richard D’Alessio has signed for exclusive representation with A Band Apart Commericals, Hollywood. D’Alessio has left his former U.S. roost, bicoastal The End, but keeps his Canadian affiliation with Imported Artists, Toronto….Director Charlie Watson, formerly of bicoastal The End, has joined bicoastal RSA-USA and its sister company Portfolio/Black Dog Films for exclusive representation in commercials and music videos, respectively.…In his first stateside repping deal, British director Chris Palmer has signed with Johns+Gorman Films, Hollywood, for exclusive commercial representation in the U.S. Palmer maintains his London-based production house, Gorgeous….
MARCH 22, 1991/First-time nominee Peter Smillie, of Smillie Films, Santa Monica, Calif., has been named best commercial director of the year by the Directors Guild of America (DGA)…. Imported Artists, Toronto, has signed deals with Limelight Commercials, London; Epoch Films, New York; and Smillie Films, Santa Monica. Christina Ford heads the new firm, formed to represent non-Canadian directors in the Canadian market….Director Edward Bianchi has joined New York-based Chelsea Pictures, bringing him back into his first formal affiliation with a production company since closing Bianchi Films late in ’89, to direct feature film Off and Running….
Alec Baldwin Urges Judge To Stand By Dismissal Of Involuntary Manslaughter Case In “Rust” Shooting
Alec Baldwin urged a New Mexico judge on Friday to stand by her decision to skuttle his trial and dismiss an involuntary manslaughter charge against the actor in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on the set of a Western movie.
State District Court Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer dismissed the case against Baldwin halfway through a trial in July based on the withholding of evidence by police and prosecutors from the defense in the 2021 shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film "Rust."
The charge against Baldwin was dismissed with prejudice, meaning it can't be revived once any appeals of the decision are exhausted.
Special prosecutor Kari Morrissey recently asked the judge to reconsider, arguing that there were insufficient facts and that Baldwin's due process rights had not been violated.
Baldwin, the lead actor and co-producer on "Rust," was pointing a gun at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during a rehearsal when it went off, killing her and wounding director Joel Souza. Baldwin has said he pulled back the hammer — but not the trigger — and the revolver fired.
The case-ending evidence was ammunition that was brought into the sheriff's office in March by a man who said it could be related to Hutchins' killing. Prosecutors said they deemed the ammunition unrelated and unimportant, while Baldwin's lawyers alleged that they "buried" it and filed a successful motion to dismiss the case.
In her decision to dismiss the Baldwin case, Marlowe Sommer described "egregious discovery violations constituting misconduct" by law enforcement and prosecutors, as well as false testimony about physical evidence by a witness during the trial.
Defense counsel says that prosecutors tried to establish a link... Read More