Director Matt Smukler, formerly of bicoastal Epoch Films, has joined Rock Fight, Los Angeles. Smukler has an extensive agency creative pedigree, having been at Publicis & Hal Riney and then Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, San Francisco, before embarking on a full-time directorial career in 2003…..Bicoastal Hornet and London-based Passion Pictures have entered into a production alliance, which gives the U.K. studio access to Hornet’s directorial roster for exclusive representation throughout Europe. Initially that lineup of talent will include European representation for stop motion/mixed-media helmer Peter Sluszka, music video/spot animation director Monkimus and character-based comedy director Aaron Stewart. Per the relationship between the two companies, Passion directors gain a stateside production foothold, being able to utilize Hornet’s resources when working with their U.S.-based clients…..Director Bart Timmer has joined Outsider USA for exclusive stateside spot representation. He now garners sales continuity on both sides of the Atlantic in that earlier this year he signed with Outsider, London. Timmer rounds out an Outsider USA roster comprised of Ric Cantor, Henry Littlechild, David Lodge, James Rouse, and Jorn Threlfall….Director Gustavo Garzon has come aboard the roster of CineConcepto America, Miami, for representation in the U.S. Hispanic market. He is a Latin Grammy winner for his Juanes clip “Volverte a Ver”…Composers Justin Asher and Annie Holoien have joined Brahmstedt White Noise, Los Angeles and Minneapolis….
Oscar Nominees Delve Into The Art Of Editing At ACE Session
You couldn’t miss Sean Baker at this past Sunday’s Oscar ceremony where he won for Best Picture, Directing, Original Screenplay and Editing on the strength of Anora. However, earlier that weekend he was in transit from the Cesar Awards in Paris and thus couldn’t attend the American Cinema Editors (ACE) 25th annual panel of Academy Award-nominated film editors held at the Regal LA Live Auditorium on Saturday (3/1) in Los Angeles. While the eventual Oscar winner in the editing category was missed by those who turned out for the ACE “Invisible Art, Visible Artists” session, three of Baker’s fellow nominees were on hand--Dávid Jancsó, HSE for The Brutalist; Nick Emerson for Conclave; and Myron Kerstein, ACE for Wicked. Additionally, Juliette Welfling, who couldn’t appear in person due to the Cesar Awards, was present via an earlier recorded video interview to discuss her work on Emilia Pérez. The interview was conducted by ACE president and editor Sabrina Plisco, ACE who also moderated the live panel discussion. Kerstein said that he was the beneficiary of brilliant and generous collaborators, citing, among others, director Jon M. Chu, cinematographer Alice Brooks, and visual effects supervisor Pablo Helman. The editor added it always helps to have stellar acting performances, noting that hearing Cynthia Erivo, for example, sing live was a revelation. Kerstein recalled meeting Chu some eight years ago on a “blind Skype date” and it was an instant “bromance”--which began on Crazy Rich Asians, and then continued on such projects as the streaming series Home Before Dark and the feature In The Heights. Kerstein observed that Chu is expert in providing collaborators with... Read More