Chief imaging officer/senior colorist John Dowdell and VP/general manager Alfie Schloss are no longer with Technicolor Creative Services-New York (TCS-NY). Schloss and Dowdell played key roles in building TCS’ New York base, which opened a little over a year ago—Schloss on the employee side and Dowdell on technical development, including the construction of New York’s first digital color grading theater. It is ironic that Dowdell has had a longstanding relationship with the folks at Thomson-owned Technicolor’s sister company, Grass Valley (which incorporates the former Philips digital imaging unit), maker of the Spirit Datacine. For years, Dowdell has worked with the Spirit team—including at trade shows—demonstrating and championing the Spirit, while playing a key role in introducing it to the commercialmaking community. A Technicolor spokesperson reported that Dowdell would continue to work with TCS in a non-staff role…. Director Brett Ratner has joined bicoastal HSI Productions for commercials and music videos….Miami-based Cineworks is expanding with HD and digital intermediate (DI) services. It has appointed Demetri Kitsopoulos as senior colorist/director of imaging, and also recently brought in Tapehouse co-founder and industry visionary Mark Polyocan as its head of sales and marketing. Kitsopoulos comes from Digital Filmworks, Copenhagen, an early pioneer in the emerging DI field. He has also worked at now closed Digital Magic and Frame, Set, Match in Northbridge, Australia. Additionally, he has worked closely with manufacturers such as da Vinci and Thomson in color correction tool testing…. Directors Archer $ Beck have joined bicoastal Hornet for commercialwork….Rudy Perez, a Grammy-winning songwriter/producer and New York music house ONDA have entered into a new venture, ONDA/RPE, which will bring Hispanic artists to the U.S. general market and Hispanic advertising communities….Director Linzi Knight has signed with Compulsive Pictures, New York, for exclusive U.S. representation….Tamsin Prigge has joined Venice, Calif.-based editorial house King Cut as its executive producer. She formerly served as exec producer at West Hollywood commercial production house Incubator Films…. New York-based Cutting Vision has added executive producer Stephanie Shayne….Cibolo Films, San Antonio, has opened an office in Los Angeles, which will be run by company founding member and president Jim Riche. Additionally, director Robert Latorre has come on board to direct spots for the Hispanic market. He maintains his Dallas-based shop, Big Fish Films, which specializes in food and tabletop commercials….Flame artist David Reynolds has joined Red Car, New York….
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