In this week’s issue, we recap the panel discussions from the daytime SHOOT Directors/Producers Forum and evening New Directors Showcase; both events were held on May 10 at the Directors Guild of America (DGA) Theatre in New York (see separate section).
This is the ninth year of the Showcase; the last seven debuting at the DGA Theatre. Prominent in the mix of talent selected for the 2011 New Directors Showcase were a half dozen unaffiliated directors, five of whom earned inclusion on the basis of spec work: Matt Fackrell (Pampers’ “Freaked Out), Christopher Fata (Apartments.com’s “Novelty Cups”), Laurent Soriano (Perrier’s “Bonjour”), Kirsten Tan, currently enrolled in NYU’s Grad Film Program (IFC’s “Play Your Part” spec cinema ad), and Igor Martinovic (adidas’ “Dream”). Martinovic is well known as a DP, having shot the James Marsh-directed, Oscar-winning documentary Man On Wire.
Also in the unaffiliated batch of promising directorial newcomers was Elizabeth Orne, a recent NYU film school grad who caught SHOOT judges’ attention with her short film Crazy Glue.
Over the nine years of the SHOOT Showcase, a fair share of its directors has gone on to prominence. They include:
• David Gray, who was with Hungry Man at the time, gained a slot in SHOOT’s 2005 New Directors Showcase. Two years later he received a DGA nomination as Best Commercial Director of 2006. Gray is now with Station Film.
• Several, including Harold Einstein of Station, have gone on to direct work that’s earned Gold Lions at Cannes, AICP Show honors and other industry accolades. Einstein was in the ’08 Showcase.
• Michael Downing, who was with harvest at the time, had what was originally a spec spot, Bud Light’s “Skydiver,” earn him Showcase inclusion. “Skydiver” ascended from spec piece to 2005 Super Bowl spot, rating number one in USA Today’s Ad Meter, which ranks the popularity of each year’s crop of Big Game commercials. Downing is now with Epoch Films stateside and Suneeva in Canada.
• Keith Bearden was a Showcase director in ’08. Two years later Bearden’s theatrical feature film debut, Meet Monica Velour, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival.
• Also in the ’08 Showcase was director Pete Circuitt, a.k.a. Bitstate which is also the name of his U.K. studio. He went on to direct Yes, Virginia, a primetime CBS TV animated Xmas special for Macy’s and JWT New York that earned a One Show Entertainment Awards’ Gold Pencil last year. He helmed that project via The Ebeling Group, which handles him stateside for commercials and branded content.
• And Ross Katz, a director who made the Showcase in ’09, went on to see his Taking Chance win the DGA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Movies For TV.
Meanwhile, we look forward to achievements from this year’s roster of Showcase directors. For the SHOOT staff, the most gratifying part of the Showcase is giving exposure to the worthwhile work of directors, seeing their careers get a jump start and then progress over the years.
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt Reach Divorce Settlement After 8 Years
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have reached a divorce settlement, ending one of the longest and most contentious divorces in Hollywood history but not every legal issue between the two.
Jolie and Pitt signed off on a default declaration filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday, saying they have entered into a written agreement on their marital and property rights. The settlement was first reported by People magazine.
"More than eight years ago, Angelina filed for divorce from Mr. Pitt," Jolie's attorney, James Simon, said in a statement. "She and the children left all of the properties they had shared with Mr. Pitt, and since that time she has focused on finding peace and healing for their family. This is just one part of a long ongoing process that started eight years ago. Frankly, Angelina is exhausted, but she is relieved this one part is over."
The filing says they give up the right to any future spousal financial support, but gives no other details. A judge will need to sign off on the agreement. An email late Monday night to Pitt's attorney seeking comment was not immediately answered.
Jolie, 49, and Pitt, 61, were among Hollywood's most prominent pairings for 12 years, two of them as a married couple. The Oscar winners have six children together.
Jolie filed for divorce in 2016, after a private jet flight from Europe during which she said Pitt physically abused her and their children. The FBI and child services officials investigated Pitt's actions on the flight. Two months later, the FBI released a statement saying it would not investigate further, and the U.S. attorney did not bring charges.
A heavily redacted FBI report obtained by The Associated Press in 2022 said that an agent provided a probable cause... Read More