Focus Shifts To Internet; Effects/Animation Operation Streamlined.
Once known simply as Click 3X San Francisco and then Click 3X Construct, the studio now carries a new banner: Construct Click 3X San Francisco. The name change underscores a change in focus for the Bay Area facility, with the Internet looming larger than the traditional broadcast market.
Earlier this year (SHOOT, 3/12/99, p. 23), Click 3X’s New York headquartered parent company IllusionFusion (IF!) acquired Construct Internet Design Co., San Francisco, and merged it into post/effects facility Click 3X San Francisco, forming an integrated digital studio that combined talent in both the broadcast and Internet markets.
But the lesson learned from that integrated existence was that the San Francisco market generated largely Internet-related business for the studio. Spot and longform activity was increasing exponentially on the West Coast—but for Click 3X Los Angeles (based in Santa Monica), rather than Click 3X San Francisco. That was the assessment of Phil Price, New York-based president/creative director and a founding father of the Click 3X family, which encompasses digital effects/animation and design facilities in New York, Atlanta, Santa Monica and San Francisco.
Although Claudia Carlson, executive VP/manager of Click 3X San Francisco, recently exited the company, Price said that the studio still retains some animation/effects resources; he specifically cited animation director Jamee Houk. Price acknowledged, however, that the San Francisco shop has streamlined its animation/effects operation and has decided to focus largely on the Internet market via the Construct team and infrastructure.
Carlson, a mainstay on the San Francisco studio scene, was exploring her options at press time. She joined Click 3X San Francisco two years ago (SHOOT, 10/3/97, p. 1). Prior to that, Carlson spent seven years at post/effects firm Western Images, San Francisco. Her last position at Western was director of sales and marketing. But most of her Western tenure was with its now defunct sister company Good Pictures, an editorial boutique she helped launch as executive producer in ’90.
Price noted that the key executives at Construct Click 3X San Francisco are president Lisa Goldman and general manager Cathi Cox. Prior to becoming part of the IF! Group, Construct was headed by Goldman and Cox who served as president/ CEO and COO, respectively.
Houk and her team can accommodate spots, other broadcast projects and longform assignments at the San Francisco shop. Also, those clients can tap into Click 3X Los Angeles which is an hour by plane from the Bay Area, noted Price. Click 3X Los Angeles’ ensemble of talent is headed by senior partners Jon Townley, who is director of visual effects, and by Steve Martino, design/animation director. Phyllis Nix serves as executive producer at Click 3X Los Angeles.
Microsoft Report Says Efforts By Russia, Iran and China To Sway U.S. Voters May Escalate
Foreign adversaries have shown continued determination to influence the U.S. election –- and there are signs their activity will intensify as Election Day nears, Microsoft said in a report Wednesday.
Russian operatives are doubling down on fake videos to smear Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign, while Chinese-linked social media campaigns are maligning down-ballot Republicans who are critical of China, the company's threat intelligence arm said Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Iranian actors who allegedly sent emails aimed at intimidating U.S. voters in 2020 have been surveying election-related websites and major media outlets, raising concerns they could be preparing for another scheme this year, the tech giant said.
The report serves as a warning – building on others from U.S. intelligence officials – that as the nation enters this critical final stretch and begins counting ballots, the worst influence efforts may be yet to come. U.S. officials say they remain confident that election infrastructure is secure enough to withstand any attacks from American adversaries. Still, in a tight election, foreign efforts to influence voters are raising concern.
Microsoft noted that some of the disinformation campaigns it tracks received little authentic engagement from U.S. audiences, but others have been amplified by unwitting Americans, exposing thousands to foreign propaganda in the final weeks of voting.
Russia, China and Iran have all rejected claims that they are seeking to meddle with the U.S. election.
"The presidential elections are the United States' domestic affairs. China has no intention and will not interfere in the US election," the Chinese Embassy said in a statement.
"Having already unequivocally and... Read More