Composer Brizuela To Head New Venture.
By Millie Takaki
Byron Brizuela—who’s worked with Los Angeles-based music/sound design house Groove Addicts as a composer for the past two years—has been named to head the company’s newly formed Latin division. Brizuela’s credits at Groove Addicts include Hispanic market spots for Coca-Cola’s "Surge," via Leo Burnett Co., Chicago; and Spanish, English-language and hybrid Spanglish ads for Jose Cuervo Tequila via Siboney, Dallas. He also produced "Revolution," a Latin crossover music collection for Who Did That Music? Library, which is Groove Addicts’ sister company.
Groove Addicts’ president/ founder Dain Blair explained that "with the growing Hispanic market and the mainstream popularity of such Latin artists as Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias, we felt that it was time to launch a division dedicated to this genre."
A producer, composer and remixer specializing in Latin, urban and electronic music, Brizuela was described by Blair "as a natural choice" to head the company’s Latin operation. Brizuela said of his new role, "It is a very exciting time to be a part of Latin music. There is still an enormous amount of undiscovered talent within the Latin and urban markets that I can’t wait to tap into."
Brizuela will be responsible for taking the client’s vision from concept to finished product, as well as doing his own composing and perhaps starring in some of the commercials he composes, as he recently did for Jose Cuervo’s "Millennium" campaign. Brizuela’s music has been licensed for film, television and radio. His sound has attracted such clients as Telemundo, Televisa, Eco, CNN and BET, as well as various independent film companies, and television and cable networks.
He is currently under contract with Sony, producing and remixing for numerous artists; his endeavors there include remixing classic songs from that company’s catalog, and writing songs for their artists.
Blair launched Groove Addicts in ’96, building a digital studio and assembling a team of commercial composers as well as a roster of feature film composers who are represented exclusively for spots. The lineup of feature artisans includes Danny Elfman, Stewart Copeland, Jerry Goldsmith, David Arnold and Michael Kamen.
Meanwhile, Groove Addicts’ core spot composers have turned out a recent spate of projects: Clive Wright on Gatorade’s "Is It In You" campaign for FCB, Chicago; Al Capps for Oscar Mayer Lunchables via J. Walter Thompson, Chicago; Brad Chiet, Bruce Watson and Syn-G for a package of Toys R Us spots out of Leo Burnett Co., Chicago; Chiet, Ralph Schuckett and Dan Holter on J.C. Penney ads via Temerlin McClain, Dallas; Harry Cody on Chivas Regal for TBWA/Chiat/ Day, New York; and sound designer Jonathan Miller on Oldsmobile for Leo Burnett.
Judge Upholds Dismissal Of Involuntary Manslaughter Charge Against Alec Baldwin In “Rust” Shooting
A New Mexico judge has upheld her decision to dismiss an involuntary manslaughter charge against Alec Baldwin in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on the set of a Western movie.
In a ruling Thursday, state District Court Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer stood by her July decision to dismiss an involuntary manslaughter charge against Baldwin. She said prosecutors did not raise any factual or legal arguments that would justify reversing her decision.
"Because the state's amended motion raises arguments previously made, and arguments that the state elected not to raise earlier, the court does not find the amended motion well taken," the judge wrote, adding that the request was also untimely.
A spokesperson for Baldwin's lawyers said Friday that they had no immediate reaction to teh decision.
The case was thrown out halfway through trial on allegations that police and prosecutors withheld evidence from the defense in the 2021 death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film "Rust."
Baldwin's trial was upended by revelations that ammunition was brought into the Santa Fe County sheriff's office in March by a man who said it could be related to Hutchins' killing. Prosecutors said they deemed the ammo unrelated and unimportant, while Baldwin's lawyers say investigators "buried" the evidence in a separate case file and filed a successful motion to dismiss.
Special prosecutor Kari Morrissey can now decide whether to appeal to a higher court.
Baldwin, the lead actor and co-producer for "Rust," was pointing a gun at Hutchins during a rehearsal on a movie set outside Santa Fe in October 2021 when the revolver went off, killing Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza. Baldwin has said he pulled back the hammer —... Read More