By Lindsey Bahr, Film Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) --Paul Sylbert, a prolific production designer who won an Oscar for his work on Warren Beatty's "Heaven Can Wait," died Saturday at age 88 outside of Philadelphia, producer Hawk Koch said Wednesday.
A Brooklyn native and Korean War veteran, Sylbert and his late twin brother Richard Sylbert became some of the most sought-after production designers in the business following arts school, working together on Elia Kazan's "A Face in the Crowd" and "Baby Doll." Richard Sylbert, who won Oscars for "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" and "Dick Tracy" in addition to working on "Chinatown" and "Shampoo" died in 2002 of cancer.
Paul Sylbert's career would span over four decades, during which he worked on films like "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," ''Kramer vs Kramer," ''Blow Out," and "The Prince of Tides," for which he scored another Oscar nomination.
He also designed for the New York City Opera Company, wrote and directed the 1971 film "The Steagle" and penned a book about his experiences in Hollywood called "Final Cut." Recently, he was on the faculty of the Film & Media Arts Department of his alma mater Temple University in Philadelphia.
Koch, who worked with Sylbert on five films, said "Paul was one of a kind. He was as smart and well-read as anyone I have ever come in contact with, and he was respected by all that knew him. Aside from the work, he loved music, literature, opera, and friends."
Sylbert is survived by his wife Jenny and his two children.
Mike Pierantozzi joins Movers+Shakers as exec creative director
Creative agency Movers+Shakers has appointed Mike Pierantozzi as executive creative director. In this new role, he will help guide the creative direction of Movers+Shakers’ socially-native campaigns. Pierantozzi will report to co-founder and chief creative officer Geoffrey Goldberg.
With nearly two decades of experience as a copywriter, creative director, and multi-platform storyteller, Pierantozzi brings a wealth of knowledge from his work with major brands including Kraft, Unilever, IBM, and Walmart. He has led the creation of award-winning campaigns for agencies like Red Tettemer, Ogilvy, The Brooklyn Brothers, TAXI, Saatchi & Saatchi, and most recently, Vayner, where he spearheaded culturally iconic work for Planters including “Death of Mr. Peanut.” He led the National Down Syndrome Society and Luvs account, whose “First Kid. Second Kid” campaign was awarded by the Effies, ADC, Clios and LIAs.
Outside of the office, Pierantozzi practices what he teaches brands. He’s gone viral multiple times on his own TikTok account, featuring comedic interactions with his son and a trombone. He’s accumulated 15K followers on TikTok.
“Mike brings a rare and awesome combination of deep social and platform experience, a keen eye for excellent storytelling, and a humble and kind approach to leadership,” said Goldberg. “Mike’s got a knack for turning brand stories into cultural movements, making him the perfect fit for Movers+Shakers. He’s got the kind of bold vision and attention to culture that fits perfectly with our mission to push creative boundaries and drive industry firsts. Plus, as a creator himself he has the innate ability to make people stop, laugh, and share--which is exactly what we’re about.”
“I’ve... Read More