By CAROLYN GIARDINA
Beatrice Conetta, one of the first women editors in the commercialmaking industry, was inducted into the AICE Editors Hall of Fame during the East Coast chapter’s 1999 Hall of Fame award and dinner dance on March 25. During the event, held at the Copacabana, New York, slightly more than 400 honored Conetta, and strengthened the camaraderie of the editorial community while supporting the AICE.
This past year, the chapter’s industry contributions ranged from the rewriting of the editorial bid form to simplifying of editorial insurance policies.
The master of ceremonies for the award presentation was former AICE/East VP Jane Stuart, a partner in New York-based Big Picture Communications. Presenters included: event chair Roe Bressan, who is an AICE/East board VP and managing director of Red Car’s New York office (Red Car also has shops in Santa Monica, Chicago and Dallas); AICE/East president Nitza From, president/editor at New York-based Salamandra Images; past AICE/East president Arthur Williams, chairman of Editing Concepts, New York; and AICE national president and AICE/ East past president John Palestrini, CEO of The Blue Rock Editing Co., New York.
Members of the AICE/East board of directors sang a humorous song penned by Blue Rock editor Michael Charles. The board includes Bressan; From; Williams; Palestrini; David Friedman, djm Films; Mitch Garelick, Horn/Eisenberg; David Binstock, Rhinoceros; Bob Friedrich, First Edition; Michael Pollock, Vito DeSario Editing; Chris Franklin, Big Sky Editorial; Alan Morris, Invisible Dog; Craig Warnick, mad.house; Burke Moody, Seventh Art; and AICE executive director John Held. The aforementioned companies are New York-based, except for Seventh Art which is in Philadelphia.
Conetta’s career as an editor as well as a director of TV, film, commercial, documentary and corporate projects began in the ’40s and spanned six decades. Her work has garnered many accolades, including Clio Awards and Emmy nominations. Among her Clio-winning work was "Waterfall" for the Jamaica Tourist Board via the then-Doyle Dane Bernach (now DDB Needham), New York. The spot was honored in ’64 while Conetta was employed at now-closed Rose-Maywood Productions. In ’71, the Conetta-edited documentary Methadone: Escape from Heroin, received four nominations from the New York Emmy Awards.
Director Jack Begert Joins Biscuit For His First Commercial Representation In U.S. & U.K.
Biscuit Filmworks has added filmmaker Jack Begert to its roster in the U.S. and U.K. This marks Begert’s first representation in advertising, building upon his acclaimed work in music video and film. He is best known for his striking aesthetic and surreal use of visual effects, displayed in his feature film debut Little Death, which won the NEXT Innovator Award at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. The film stars David Schwimmer, Gaby Hoffman, Dominic Fike, and Talia Ryder, and was produced by Darren Aronofsky.
Miami-born and L.A.-based, the USC Film School graduate began his career in VFX and as an editor. Begert has worked with iconic musical artists including Kendrick Lamar, SZA, Flying Lotus, Childish Gambino, and Olivia Rodrigo, and has independently directed international campaigns for brands such as Apple, Converse, New Era, and Reebok.
Shawn Lacy, founding partner of Biscuit Filmworks, said of Begert, “We are such fans of his work--and of him as a creator, thinker, collaborator, and great guy.”
“My creative approach is often about trying to discover something unexpected in the filmmaking process,” said Begert. “Biscuit is a place where I can bring my own perspective to the work and still feel supported. That philosophy is clear from the talent they represent, and I’m excited to join their roster.”
“Jack’s work blew me away the moment I first saw it,” said Rupert Reynolds-Maclean, managing director at Biscuit Filmworks UK. “He is a modern young director who clearly cares deeply about both craft and the necessity for it in his storytelling. Everything always pushes the narrative forward. We’re looking forward to making great work together.”
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