The late John Palestrini was inducted into the AICE Hall of Fame during a gala AICE Awards ceremony on May 15 in New York. Palestrini, who passed away last June at the age of 66, was highly regarded as a creative editor, a pioneering artist, a mentor and an entrepreneur who positively impacted the industry on varied fronts—including as AICE NY chapter president, then national president and later as a member of the organization’s International Board.
Palestrini began his career as a one-man shop, The Palestrini Film Editing Co. (PFE). After Ethel Rubinstein (former head of production at Geer Dubois and executive producer at RSA USA) joined him in 1992, they set out to transform PFE into what eventually became the Lively Group, an integrated post company which is home to the creative editorial shop BlueRock, the design and VFX studio Spontaneous, the fashion, beauty and luxury boutique Scarlett and other postproduction support brands.
During this time, Palestrini also maintained a deep association with AICE, one that spanned over two decades. He was an early and active participant in the growth of AICE.
“There was little discussion as to whom we’d be inducting into our Hall of Fame this year,” said Dee Tagert, managing director and partner at jumP Editorial and president of the AICE New York chapter, which hosted the 2014 AICE Awards ceremony. “Given the enormous impact John had on our industry and our organization, honoring his legacy was the obvious thing for us to do.”
“Here was the thing about John; he was success-driven and not ego-driven,” said Rubinstein, now Lively Group owner/CEO and Palestrini’s close friend and colleague since her earliest days in the industry. “He spoke the same way to the employee in the mail room as he did to the most senior editor or agency creative. He was equally available to everyone, and it was because of this that so many sought his counsel and counted themselves not only as his colleagues but as his friends.”
Working as a messenger delivering packages in NYC after graduating high school, Palestrini didn’t have any thought of a career, but he was ambitious. In what became a life-changing experience, he found himself at a film editing company one day, and knew in an instant that he wanted to be a film editor.
He entered the business in the late 1960s as an assistant and eventually became an editor at Harold Becker Productions. He went on to edit movie trailers, news specials, TV commercials and also worked as a supervising editor at the Project Group Advertising Agency. During the course of a 40-plus-year editorial career, Palestrini held a special place in the industry, respected as a businessman and as an artist. His expert cuts, for example, allowed the Purina Cat Chow kitty to cha-cha in an era preceding the VFX that are taken for granted today. Palestrini also became known for his editorial work in fashion and beauty, cutting the classic “Who Wears Short Shorts” spot for Nair back in the 1980s.
As a boss, he was approachable, eager to share his experiences, insights and business acumen. He and Rubinstein were huge supporters of new talent, and many now well-known artists passed through the company’s doors. Both were proud that Darren Aronofsky did his first film, Pi, with Blue Rock, for example.
Andy Milkis, director of visual effects at Spontaneous and sister company Ballistic, said one of Palestrini’s talents was making people see beyond themselves. “Early on he led me to pursue something that was bigger and more fulfilling with my career, and that really encapsulates my relationship with John. He was instrumental in helping me mature as a creative talent and a professional. His gift was not to solve your problem for you, but to help you see that you could do it for yourself.”
In introducing a video montage last night looking back on Palestrini’s life, Rubinstein said of him, “He hired great people and helped them see their potential. He wanted others to succeed and to spread that success throughout the company, and as many of you know…in part, so he could play golf and go fishing with a clear conscience.” She affirmed that Palestrini left behind “a great legacy–generations of men and women who learned under his tutelage. A company that continues to thrive and embrace change in its upward trajectory. And for me, 35 years of memories of an amazing friendship.”
Palestrini’s son Kris, who followed him into the advertising production and post industry and is now a founder of Krispy Pictures, believes his father’s personal touch helped make him an inspiration to many, both in terms of his success and his legacy. “He had an aura of confidence and humility,” Palestrini said, “and people just responded to that.”
