Director Omri Cohen has joined Anonymous Content for commercial representation. Cohen earned a slot in SHOOT‘s 2011 New Directors Showcase in part on the strength of his Nike “Yards” spot for the World Cup of Cricket. At the time he was with Green Dot Films, his roost prior to signing with Anonymous.
Cohen’s break into directing came in 2007 with his contest-winning music video for the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ song “Charlie.” He then brought his style of intimate, emotion-driven storytelling to the commercial world with such work as “Yards.” He quickly gained momentum as a commercial filmmaker, directing more campaigns for Nike, as well as ads for Google, Microsoft, McDonald’s, Norwegian Cruise Line and Amazon, among others.
His work is marked by a prime motivation–to uncover the unpredictable beauty of human nature. In his “Los Fearless” campaign for Nike, Cohen documents the routines of star athletes, while his framing suggests the broader influence of their neighborhood cultures on their successes. For Amazon, he captures this raw realism with portrait-like glimpses of people using their Kindles. It’s his intimate study of others that creates a sense of the familiar for the viewer—like a vivid memory—no matter what the situation.
Jeff Baron, sr. executive producer of Anonymous Content, said of Cohen, “He possesses his own original vision and drive, and instinctively understands what best reflects the idea for each particular project–be it documentary, lifestyle vignettes or narrative storytelling.”
Gene Hackman Died Of Heart Disease; Hantavirus Claimed His Wife’s Life About One Week Prior
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