Panoptica has signed director Bill Horace for U.S. representation spanning commercials, branded content and special projects. Known for his work as a storyteller and documentary filmmaker, Horace had been freelancing prior to joining Panoptica, which becomes his first production company roost for representation.
Horace stated, “Panoptica is the right fit for me because of their adaptability and passion for growth. Our goals and aspirations are very much aligned. I look forward to developing more long-form projects together, while maintaining a presence in the branded/commercial content space.”
Horace’s signing comes on the cusp of his recently debuted feature documentary, Art, Beats + Lyrics, which was produced in partnership with Panoptica, Vox Creative, and Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey. Released last month on Hulu, Art, Beats + Lyrics is a film that not only celebrates the rich history and ongoing contributions of the Art, Beats + Lyrics festival but also underscores Horace’s ability to capture and convey the essence of cultural phenomena.
Roan Bibby, Panoptica’s executive producer and long-time collaborator of Horace, expressed his excitement about the partnership, “Bill breathes cinema and exudes certainty as an expert in the room. His humility, curiosity, and passion are only dwarfed by his ambition, and we’re ecstatic to have him officially join the team.”
Horace’s career has been defined by his dedication to bringing to light the stories of niche subcultures and countercultures, driven by his belief in the power of film to foster understanding and dispel misconceptions. With Panoptica’s film and TV support, Horace is poised to expand his repertoire, already hinting at an early-stage development of an extreme sports/crime doc series.
Born in Liberia and raised in Atlantic City, NJ, Horace has turned out work that has been deeply influenced by his background and experiences. His approach to storytelling is grounded in a deep desire to showcase the richness of cultures and communities that are often overlooked. This perspective is complemented by his technical skills and creative vision, honed through years of experience and education, including his time at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.
Google Opens Its Defense In Antitrust Case Alleging Monopoly Over Online Ad Technology
Google opened its defense against allegations that it holds an illegal monopoly on online advertising technology Friday with witness testimony saying the industry is vastly more complex and competitive than portrayed by the federal government.
"The industry has been exceptionally fluid over the last 18 years," said Scott Sheffer, a vice president for global partnerships at Google, the company's first witness at its antitrust trial in federal court in Alexandria.
The Justice Department and a coalition of states contend that Google built and maintained an illegal monopoly over the technology that facilitates the buying and selling of online ads seen by consumers.
Google counters that the government's case improperly focuses on a narrow type of online ads — essentially the rectangular ones that appear on the top and on the right-hand side of a webpage. In its opening statement, Google's lawyers said the Supreme Court has warned judges against taking action when dealing with rapidly emerging technology like what Sheffer described because of the risk of error or unintended consequences.
Google says defining the market so narrowly ignores the competition it faces from social media companies, Amazon, streaming TV providers and others who offer advertisers the means to reach online consumers.
Justice Department lawyers called witnesses to testify for two weeks before resting their case Friday afternoon, detailing the ways that automated ad exchanges conduct auctions in a matter of milliseconds to determine which ads are placed in front of which consumers and how much they cost.
The department contends the auctions are finessed in subtle ways that benefit Google to the exclusion of would-be competitors and in ways that prevent... Read More