Stephen Dickstein, who is credited with having played an integral role in the success of Propaganda Films’ commercial operation while he was its president, has filed suit against four defendants: Propaganda, former Propaganda CEO/chairman Gary Beer, and two investment companies (SCP Private Equity Partners and RUST Capital) that were part of the Beer-led group that bought Propaganda’s spot, music video and talent management holdings from Universal last year (SHOOT, 4/16/99, p. 1). After 12 years with Propaganda-the last 10 on staff-Dickstein was fired last summer. Regarding that termination, his lawsuit alleges fraud, breach of an employment contract, breach of contract to terminate only for good cause, and failure to provide severence pay. Dickstein is seeking millions of dollars in damages. He currently serves as president/partner of bicoastal/international Partizan Entertainment, a role he assumed last year (SHOOT, 9/10/99, p. 1)….Dean Winkler, who a couple of months ago resigned from his dual executive capacity as president of New York-based postproduction facility Post Perfect and COO of its holding company New York Media Group (SHOOT, 8/18, p. 7), has joined Crossroads Films, bicoastal and Chicago, as chief technology officer….Bicoastal Coppos Films has signed comedy director Tom Schiller, formerly of Five Union Square Productions, New York….Hollywood-based SunSpots has launched a comedy division, Tantrum Films, with director Craig Worsham. Meanwhile, director Bruce Logan has come aboard SunSpots for representation….Taxi Films, New York, has signed Stockholm-based director Michael Massanyi for U.S. representation. Massanyi is repped in Scandinavia by BMP, Stockholm….Director Nina Davenport has signed with Half Baked Productions, New York, for commercial representation….Executive producer Charlie Alvare, formerly with bicoastal Villains, has found-actually he’s launched-Sanctuary, a Hollywood-based production house….Sound designer/composer Andy Newell, a principal in San Francisco-based earwax productions, has left that shop to start ripe sound, also in San Francisco….Spontaneous Combustion, New York, has added Boris Ustaev as senior CG artist/animator….Andrew Hardaway, formerly of Industrial Light+Magic, San Rafael, Calif., has joined Radium, with digital studios in San Francisco and Los Angeles, as senior CG technical director….
