Ascent Media Group announced that beginning January 1, 2009, two of its boutique visual effects studios, Riot and Method, will unite operations under the Method name, to offer clients high-end effects for commercials, music videos and feature films.
“By uniting our boutique visual effects studios we are better positioned to provide our clients with the best talent and creative services in the market,” said Jose Royo, CEO of Ascent Media Group. “This move will allow us to better offer our clients the most innovative, industry leading solutions in a rapidly changing advertising and media space.”
Method recently opened its office in New York and will unveil a new, state-of-the-art Big Apple facility in the spring. Industry veteran Aron Hjartarson, previously Head of 3D at The Mill N.Y., will assume the role of creative director, and Matt Hackett will act as animation supervisor in New York. In addition, Gabby Gourrier, who spent nine years at Digital Domain, Venice, Calif., and helped to open The Mill L.A., has come aboard as senior executive producer/VP. Gourrier will be working closely with Helen Hughes, who joins as executive producer and director of production. Hughes has produced assorted commercials including Nike’s lauded “The Next Level” with director Guy Ritchie.
Meanwhile Method’s operations in Los Angeles will be located at what was formerly Riot’s Santa Monica facility. Andy Boyd will serve as the new head of 3D at Method Studios in Santa Monica. He brings a wealth of industry experience as the former head of 3D at Framestore where his work included the Guinness spot “noitulovE” (“Evolution” spelled backwards) for AMV BBDO, London, which won the 2006 film Grand Prix at the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival. The Guinness commercial also scored such honors as Best of Show at The One Show, the Best of Show GRANDY at the ANDY Awards, as well as two Golds and one Silver at the Clio competition.
Alex Frisch, co-founder and managing director of Method, will continue overseeing operations on both coasts. Since Method’s opening in 1998, Frisch has provided creative leadership and produced high-end visual effects. The integrated operations in both Los Angeles and New York will bolster Method’s unique, collaborative partnership with Company 3, which provides clients around the world with a full spectrum of state-of-the-art postproduction services.
“The integration of Method and Riot gives us the unique ability to package our respective services and offer the highest level of artistry, the most technologically advanced equipment and the most efficient workflows,” said Stefan Sonnenfeld, colorist and Company 3’s co-founder, who additionally cited Method’s management team and talent roster.
Santa Monica-based Ascent Media Group, LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ascent Media Corporation (Nasdaq: ASCMA), which provides creative and technical services to the media and entertainment industries. Through more than 40 facilities in regions of Southern California, New York, Atlanta, London and Singapore, Ascent Media provides effective solutions for the creation, management and distribution of content to major motion picture studios, independent producers, broadcast networks, cable channels, advertising agencies and other companies that produce, own and/or distribute entertainment, news, sports, corporate, educational, industrial and advertising content.
A “Wicked” Welcome From The National Board of Review
Days after "Wicked" went home from the Golden Globes with a single award for box office achievement, the National Board of Review Awards held space for the smash hit musical, celebrating its cast and director in the New York group's annual gala Tuesday. The untelevised but starry NBR Awards were a chance for many of the nominees who didn't win Sunday to trot out their would-be acceptance speeches, including Daniel Craig and Nicole Kidman. Accepting the award for best actress for her performance in the erotic thriller "Babygirl," Kidman celebrated by chugging a glass of milk, a nod to some of the film's kinky sex games. After finishing, Kidman triumphantly announced "Good girl!" and left the stage. It also was an opportunity for some jabs at the Globes. "Isn't this room just a little bit classier than the Beverly Hilton?" quipped presenter Christine Baranski, looking around the elegant marble-columned midtown venue, Cipriani's. Others were less impressed by the old-school New York vibe. "The bathroom attendant, that shouldn't exist anymore," Kieran Culkin said during a typically free-form acceptance speech for best supporting actor for his role in "A Real Pain." The night belonged to Jon M. Chu's "Wicked." The musical was the board's pick for best film, best director for Chu and a special award for the creative collaboration of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. The two, in back-and-forth remarks, continued their mutual praise of each other. "Also you're welcome," added Grande. "I truly think you would have murdered anyone else." "Probably true," responded Erivo. Chu, who was introduced by Lin-Manuel Miranda, used the moment to reflect on his yearslong journey with "Wicked," which will be followed by an already-shot part two due out this... Read More