Director Leigh Ogilvie and director/DP Tony Baggott of Frieze Films, Johannesburg, have signed with bicoastal Notorious for exclusive U.S. representation….Director Peyton Reed has formally come aboard bicoastal Moxie Pictures for exclusive spot representation; as reported in SHOOT (3/5, p. 15), he had earlier wrapped a Moxie-produced Target commercial ("Isaac Mizrahi/Spring ’04") for Peterson Milla Hooks, Minneapolis. Reed’s feature films include Bring It On and Down with Love….Bicoastal Hornet has signed design collective Lifelong Friendship Society (LFS) for exclusive representation. LFS includes designers Brian Close, Kaori Sohma and Jason Jones, all of whom were formerly graphic artists and animators at VH1….Director/DP Gil Cope has joined Dark Light Pictures, Hollywood….New York-based independent label Artemis Records and bicoastal spot music producer JSM Music have teamed to form Artemis JSM. The new joint venture will expose Artemis Records’ music talent to the ad community while giving JSM a major window to the record industry. There is also the potential of Artemis JSM serving as a conduit for the release of compilation albums….Editor Bob Jenkis, whose last affiliation was Crew Cuts West, has joined Mad River Post, Santa Monica….Editor Elisa Bonora has come aboard bicoastal Lost Planet….London house Cut+Run, under the aegis of owner/editor Steve Gandolfi, has extended its reach stateside, joining forces with Santa Monica editing shop Swietlik, headed by owner/editor Dan Swietlik, and former Crew Cuts West executive producer Christie Cash. The combined editorial roster of Swietlik and Cut+Run will be repped in the U.S. under the Cut+Run LA banner. Cash has also brought several editors into the fold, including Philip Owens, Ellen Crocker, TG Herrington and Matt Chesse….Producing/directing team Richard O’Connor and Brian O’Connell have opened Asterisk, an animation boutique in New York. The duo had formerly been with The Ink Tank, New York….Bicoastal Crushing Blueprint, a division of Crushing Music, New York, that produces hip-hop music for advertising, and represents select artists for spotwork, has added to its roster. The company now handles Kanye West and KonMan Productions, which includes artists such as producer/songwriter Devon Harris, singer/songwriter John Legend and rap artist Consequence. Also new to the Blueprint lineup are: producer/songwriter Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie and producer/performer/writer Ryan Leslie….
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