Boutique Film, a Hollywood-based production company recently launched by executive producer Noelle Whitfield and director Marcos Zavitsanos, has secured independent reps Sandra Riley to handle the West Coast and Mary Ida Bonadio to cover the Midwest….Delores Hively and Dawn Schiffman have launched Buzz Management, New York. The new repping firm will handle East Coast sales for director Bob Giraldi of bicoastal GSP; bicoastal production company Playroom; Bikini Edit, New York; and bicoastal music shop Agent Jackson….Rich Schafler and Lori Benson of Benson/Schafler, New York, are handling East Coast sales for Shadow Pictures, New York, and directors Laura Belsy and Tom De Nolf…. Grace Silverstein of Santa Monica-based independent rep firm Reel Grace has been named to cover the West Coast and Texas for editorial house Pistolera Post, Santa Monica….Robin Fried and Richard Fink of R2, New York, will rep on the East Coast for Transistor Studios, a Hollywood shop maintained by Backyard Productions, Venice, Calif., and Chicago. Transistor specializes in cross-platform branding and entertainment, creating design for broadcast, the Web, DVD and print….Monica Zevallos, formerly a production manager at Colibri Films, Los Angeles, has joined Santa Monica-headquartered Ascent Media Creative Services Group as an account executive. Her initial focus will be to attract more postproduction work from Hispanic-oriented ad agencies in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Mexico….Veronica Lombardo, formerly with Partos Company, Los Angeles, has joined bicoastal New York Office. She will head its West Coast commercial and music video division, working out of Los Angeles-based New York Office/LA….Rana Martin has joined New York editorial house 3 Fingered Louie as director of marketing/producer….Danixa Diaz has been named executive producer, responsible for new business development and global marketing, at 3 Ring Circus, Los Angeles.…Red Truck Films, Raleigh, N.C., will represent director Kreg Lauterbach in the Southeast….Cinematographer Mandy Walker has signed with Beverly Hills, Calif.-headquartered ICM for representation in all areas….DP Robert Gantz has joined The Mirisch Agency, Los Angeles, for exclusive representation….DP Checco Varese and production designer Susan Linss are now repped by the Lyons• Sheldon•Prosnit Agency, Los Angeles. Also, DP Michael Bernard and production designer Damien Byrne have finished the feature film Haven and are again available exclusively through Lyons•Sheldon•Prosnit….DP Serge Roman and costume designer Roger K. Burton have signed with Santa Monica-based Below The Line Artists for spots and music videos….
Review: Director Jon M. Chu’s “Wicked”
It's the ultimate celebrity redemption tour, two decades in the making. In the annals of pop culture, few characters have undergone an image makeover quite like the Wicked Witch of the West.
Oh, she may have been vengeful and scary in "The Wizard of Oz." But something changed — like, REALLY changed — on the way from the yellow brick road to the Great White Way. Since 2003, crowds have packed nightly into "Wicked" at Broadway's Gershwin Theatre to cheer as the green-skinned, misunderstood Elphaba rises up on her broomstick to belt "Defying Gravity," that enduring girl-power anthem.
How many people have seen "Wicked"? Rudimentary math suggests more than 15 million on Broadway alone. And now we have "Wicked" the movie, director Jon M. Chu's lavish, faithful, impeccably crafted (and nearly three-hour) ode to this origin story of Elphaba and her (eventual) bestie — Glinda, the very good and very blonde. Welcome to Hollywood, ladies.
Before we get to what this movie does well (Those big numbers! Those costumes!), just a couple thornier issues to ponder. Will this "Wicked," powered by a soulful Cynthia Erivo (owner of one of the best singing voices on the planet) and a sprightly, comedic, hair-tossing Ariana Grande, turn even musical theater haters into lovers?
Tricky question. Some people just don't buy into the musical thing, and they should be allowed to live freely amongst us. But if people breaking into song delights rather than flummoxes you, if elaborate dance numbers in village squares and fantastical nightclubs and emerald-hued cities make perfect sense to you, and especially if you already love "Wicked," well then, you will likely love this film. If it feels like they made the best "Wicked" movie money could buy — well, it's... Read More