Rick Markovitz, President of Weissman/Markovitz Communications, has been elected to a two-year term as President of the Entertainment Publicists Professional Society (EPPS). He replaces EPPS founding member Henri Bollinger who will continue to serve on the organization’s Executive Committee along with former President Scott Pansky, General Manager of Allison & Partners; and Secretary-Treasurer Sue Procko, President of Sue Procko PR.
Markovitz brings a broad marketing perspective to EPPS, having run the Entertainment divisions of J. Walter Thompson and BBDO with such clients as Fox Motion Pictures, MGM, Warner Bros. and SEGA. Currently as President of WMC, with partner Murray Weissman, the firm’s clients include Paramount Pictures, FX, Food Network, Reelz and Starz, several independent films as well as the Art Directors Guild, the International Cinematographers Guild and the Hollywood Museum. A graduate of Trinity College, Hartford, CN, Rick is also a member of the Public Relations Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Interactive Peer Group of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
“I’m delighted that we’ll have in Rick someone well equipped to lead our organization to the next level,” said Bollinger. “EPPS provides year-round specialized training for entertainment publicists, particularly in the area of digital media.”
“I am very excited about the opportunities for EPPS to provide valuable professional development and networking opportunities to our members while supporting the rampant innovation critical to the success of the media and entertainment industry,” Markovitz said.
With chapters in Los Angeles and New York, EPPS is the entertainment industry’s premiere organization for public relations, promotions and marketing executives. It conducts educational panels in both cities featuring top journalists and other professionals covering topics of interest to working publicists. Founded in 1991, EPPS objectives are to provide a regular forum for networking; produce programs concerning the current issues facing entertainment PR and the direction of the industry and the profession; and to encourage the highest professional standards. Membership is open to all working entertainment publicists.
Markovitz will be supported by a Board of Directors that includes the following PR executives: Kelly Bennett, President, Kelly Direct; Henri Bollinger; Karen DeMarco, PR Consultant; Steve Elzer, VP, Corporate Communications, Sony Pictures; George McQuade, President, MAYO Communications; Sandi Padnos, President, Scoop Seminars; Scott Pansky, Partner. Allison & Partners; Amy Prenner, Digital Media Consultant; Sue Procko, President, Sue Procko Public Relations; Jamie Saberito, Director, Corporate Communications, AMC Networks; Barryn Stagg, PR Consultant; Heidi Trotta, Trotta Media Works; Lynn Weiss, Director of Public Relations, Universal Cable Productions; Andy Weisser, Owner, Andy Weisser Public Relations; and Laurel Whitcomb, VP, Communications, Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
Contact:Henry Bollinger Bolliger PR Contact Henry via email
“ฦvolution” Comes Full Circle At The Chelsea Film Festival
The Chelsea Film Festival, running from October 16th through October 20th, 2024, at Regal Cinemas here in Union Square, is set to host the East Coast premiere of ฦvolution, a thought-provoking experimental micro-short film that proves big ideas can come in small packages and in perfect circles.
In just 1 minute 16 seconds, this cinematic gem by Award-Winning Director Romina Schwedler, with original music by Argentine Composer Ignacio Montoya Carlotto, explores a cycle as old as time: life leads to progress, progress leads to destruction, and destruction, well, leads back to life. But is this vicious circle unbreakable? ฦvolutionย suggests the answer is yes, unless we decide to open our eyes.
Inspired by the overwhelming number of recent events that threaten human existence,ย ฦvolution, possibly the shortest film in this 12th edition of the festival, plays out entirely through the symbolism of circles, cleverly illustrating โin the blink of an eyeโ the repeating patterns of history, and confronting viewers with the uncomfortable truth that our so-called โprogressโ may, in fact, be guiding us to our own ruin.Premiering at the Regal 14 Union Square, New York City, on October 18, 2024, at 11 a.m., Romina Schwedler's micro-short, featuring Leah Young with cinematography by Alan J. Carmona, will be sure to spark conversations longer than the film itself! Forcing viewers to reconsider the true meaning of evolution, not just as a biological process, but as a reflection of our collective journey as humans.
With a string of festival appearances across the globe, including CineGlobe at CERN (Switzerland/France), Oscarยฎ... Read More