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    Director Christopher Yurkow Joins Spoke Films

    By SHOOT StaffUpdated:No Comments1764 Views

    By Kathy DeSalvo

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    Spoke Films, a production company with bases in Chicago and Los Angeles, has signed director Christopher Yurkow for national representation. He comes over from SBK Pictures, Ardmore, Pa., his spot roost for the past five years.

    At press time, Yurkow was about to embark on his first job under the Spoke banner: two spots for Publix supermarkets via The IAC Group, Miami.

    Spoke Films has been in an expansion mode recently, said executive producer Dick Gillespie, who noted that one of the shop’s New York-based reps, Doug Wedeck of Single Bid, suggested Yurkow as a potential directorial addition. Yurkow’s signing comes on the heels of the additions of directors Ron Lazzeretti (SHOOT, 9/8, p. 8) and Jamie O’Malley (SHOOT, 9/29, p. 8). Directors Steve Farr and Barry Poltermann, who primarily direct as a team, round out the Spoke roster.

    According to Gillespie, Yurkow fulfills a need within the company for classic storytelling and performance-driven projects. Gillespie intends to broaden the director’s national exposure, noting that the reel reflects an ability to tell stories with sensitivity and emotion, without letting technique get in the way. "I felt Chris’ work was well rounded," said Gillespie. "He can do visual storytelling stuff that’s fun and can also do something serious involving emotion and dialogue."

    Gillespie added that Yurkow seemed attracted to Spoke’s ability to offer various creative tools and resources through sister company, Chicago-based post house Superior Street, and its motion graphic design unit Flux.

    Among Yurkow’s directorial credits include a campaign for DiTech Funding, consisting of spots "Numbers Game," "Kitchen," "Home Owner" and "The Advisor" via Kovel Kresser & Partners, Venice, Calif.; as well as "Cancer" for Leigh Valley via Crane Associates, Philadelphia, and "Bills" for Norwest via Strascina & Partners, Albuquerque, N.M.

    "I really felt [Gillespie] identified with what I do, and that’s pretty important," related Yurkow. "We both agreed on the strengths of the reel and the direction that it should go in."

    Observing that he’s done a fair share of work for financial institutions and healthcare-related clients, Yurkow said, "Those are the clients that tend to hone in on real-life situations [involving] financial woes and health woes, and a lot of them have an emotional story attached."

    This style work hearkens back to Yurkow’s previous stint as an agency creative at a Philadelphia-based medical advertising firm, Medical Broadcasting. During his two and a half years as a creative director there, Yurkow not only worked on the creative for projects promoting such firms as Tylenol and Merck, but he also ended up directing a number of those jobs himself.

    Gillespie and executive producer Ed Amaya handle Midwest sales for the company, while the aforementioned Single Bid covers the East Coast. Gillespie said he is considering options on the West Coast, which include possibly hiring a resident executive producer to head up the Los Angeles office.

    Category:News



    Gene Hackman Died Of Heart Disease; Hantavirus Claimed His Wife’s Life About One Week Prior

    Friday, March 7, 2025
    Actor Gene Hackman arrives with his wife, Betsy Arakawa, for the 60th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 19, 2003. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)

    Actor Gene Hackman died of heart disease a full week after his wife died from hantavirus in their New Mexico hillside home, likely unaware that she was dead because he was in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease, authorities revealed Friday. Both deaths were ruled to be from natural causes, chief medical examiner Dr. Heather Jarrell said alongside state fire and health officials at a news conference. "Mr. Hackman showed evidence of advanced Alzheimer's disease," Jarrell said. "He was in a very poor state of health. He had significant heart disease, and I think ultimately that's what resulted in his death." Authorities didn't suspect foul play after the bodies of Hackman, 95, and Betsy Arakawa, 65, were discovered Feb 26. Immediate tests for carbon monoxide poisoning were negative. Investigators found that the last known communication and activity from Arakawa was Feb. 11 when she visited a pharmacy, pet store and grocery before returning to their gated neighborhood that afternoon, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said Friday. Hackman's pacemaker last showed signs of activity a week later and that he had an abnormal heart rhythm Feb. 18, the day he likely died, Jarrell said. Although there was no reliable way to determine the date and time when both died, all signs point to their deaths coming a week apart, Jarrell said. "It's quite possible he was not aware she was deceased," Jarrell said. Dr. Michael Baden, a former New York City medical examiner, said he believes Hackman was severely impaired due to Alzheimer's disease and unable to deal with his wife's death in the last week of his life. "You are talking about very severe Alzheimer's disease that normal people would be in a nursing home or have a nurse, but she was taking care... Read More

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