Director Tripp Dixon, who was formerly with NFL Films, Mt. Laurel, N.J., has joined Good Films, New York….Editor Kim Salter has joined Red Car, Chicago, coming over from Avenue Edit, Chicago. Red Car, Chicago, has also added producer Kristen Tanda, who had been at The Whitehouse, Chicago….John Clark has come on staff at Motion Theory, Venice, Calif., as visual effects supervisor. He is no stranger to the company, having worked there as a freelancer since 2002. Also joining Motion Theory is production supervisor James Taylor….Peter Gilberti, a lead character animator on Spider-Man 2, has joined Toronto-based visual effects studio Spin….New York-based commercial production company Compulsive Pictures has expanded its services to include event production. The new division emerged to meet the needs of advertisers who complement traditional broadcast, print and public relations campaigns with sponsored media events. Compulsive will coordinate key elements of events, including set construction, lighting, sound, staging and special effects….
Breakout Films and Major Takeaways From This Year’s Sundance Fest
Film wasn't the only thing on people's minds at this year's Sundance Film Festival, which comes to a close Sunday in Park City, Utah ( and online ).
The effects of the wildfires in Southern California loomed large, as did the bittersweet knowledge that this year will be the second to last Sundance based in Park City. Some films offered an escape from reality; others were a pointed reminder of the domestic and international political landscape, from transgender rights to the war in Ukraine.
Here are some of the key takeaways from the 41st edition of the festival.
The effects of the Southern California fires were deeply felt
The wildfires were still burning in parts of Los Angeles when Sundance began last week and reminders of its devastation were everywhere, even on screen. Max Walker-Silverman's "Rebuilding," starring Josh O'Connor as a cowboy who loses his ranch in a wildfire and forms a community with fellow survivors in a FEMA camp, hit close to home for many.
Filmmakers Meena Menon and Paul Gleason lost their home in Altadena where they filmed some of their zombie apocalypse movie "Didn't Die." Sundance artist labs head Michelle Satter lost her Palisades home as well. Satter had an audience of Sundance Institute donors in tears early in the festival while accepting an honor at a fundraising gala.
"It's a deeply devastating time for us and so many others, a moment that calls for all of us coming together to support our bigger community," Satter said. "As a friend recently noted, and I have to listen to this, 'Take a deep breath ... We lost our village, but at the end of the day we are the village.'"
The festival's move to another city dominated conversations
It was a topic... Read More