By Carolyn Giardina
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. --Daryn Okada, ASC–whose recent credits include Just Like Heaven and Stick It–has been elected president of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC). He succeeds Richard Crudo, ASC (American Pie), who has served three terms as ASC president.
“I am both humbled and honored that my colleagues have chosen me for this role,” Okada said. “I will rely on the advice and the support of our members and associates as we continue on the historic mission defined by the founders of ASC nearly 90 years ago. We are dedicated to advancing both the art and the craft of filmmaking .
“I believe that those of us who are privileged to work in this extraordinary industry have an obligation to the filmmakers who inspired us in the past, to future generations and to the public who are relying on us to explore the next frontiers,” Okada added.
During his career, Okada has compiled more than 40 credits, including Lake Placid, My Father the Hero, Wild Hearts Can’t be Broken, Anna Karenina, Dr. Doolittle 2, Joe Somebody, Cradle 2 The Grave, Mean Girls, and Paparazzi. His work on the miniseries In A Child’s Name (1991) earned him an ASC Outstanding Achievement Award nomination. The DP is currently shooting the feature Sex and Death 101, directed by Daniel Waters.
Okada most recently served on the ASC board as a VP, and he also is the ASC Technology Committee’s steering chair. “The art of filmmaking and the evolution of new visual technologies have been inseparably linked from the earliest days of the industry,” Okada related. “Our goal is to help assure that the evolution of technology serves the cinematic arts.”
The ASC’s officers include VPs Michael Goi, ASC, William A. Fraker, ASC, BSC and Caleb Deschanel, ASC, treasurer Victor J. Kemper, ASC, secretary Michael Negrin, ASC and sergeant at arms John Hora, ASC.
The organization’s new board of governors also includes Curtis Clark, ASC, George Spiro Dibie, ASC, Richard Edlund, ASC, Francis Kenny, ASC, Isidore Mankofsky, ASC, Woody Omens, ASC, Nancy Schreiber, ASC, John Toll, ASC, Kees Van Oostrum, ASC, Roy Wagner, ASC and Haskell Wexler, ASC. Alternate members of the board are Victor Kemper, ASC, Laszlo Kovacs, ASC, Stephen Lighthill, ASC, and Robert Primes, ASC.
Brand New School Extends Reach Internationally Via Partnership With Animation Studio BRUT
Brand New School (BNS) has entered into a strategic partnership with BRUT, a Barcelona-based animation studio. This collaboration represents a significant milestone in BNS’s expansion strategy, with BRUT serving as its inaugural global outpost.
Under the leadership of executive creative director Martin Allais, who will now be represented by BNS for directorial ventures, BRUT joins BNS as part of its collective roster. This partnership combines BNS’s established reputation for innovative creative work with BRUT’s expertise in diverse artistic techniques, including 2D cel animation, stop-motion, 3D animation, and seamless integration of live action.
With Allais leading BNS Spain, Brand New School is expanding its reach to serve a growing network of global clients. This partnership incorporates BRUT’s fresh methodology of working and diverse pool of talent to create content that resonates across cultures. Located in the heart of the European market, the new BNS location will further support and enhance its work with international clients, broadening its ability to meet their unique needs. This partnership represents a thoughtful blend of creativity and expertise, designed to strengthen and grow Brand New School’s global presence.
BRUT was founded by director Allais as an experimental incubator for innovative ideas and techniques. He is also a multidisciplinary artist of Latinx heritage who brings a wealth of creative experience to the partnership. His portfolio spans commercials for global brands like Oreo, Facebook, Samsung, and Dr. Pepper, earning accolades including Cannes Lions for his work on the Samsung Holiday campaign. Recently, Allais’ animated VR experience capturing New York City’s punk scene in the ‘70s, narrated by... Read More