Director Chris Applebaum–who made a pop culture splash and sparked controversy with last year’s Paris Hilton commercial for Carl’s Jr. out of agency Mendelsohn Zien, Los Angeles–has joined Santa Monica-headquartered Reactor Films for exclusive representation.
At his new roost Applebaum has already helmed a John Frieda beauty products spot for kirshenbaum bond & partners, New York, and at press time was wrapping post on a music video for artist Rihanna promoting the single “SOS.”
Applebaum comes over to Reactor from bicoastal/international Partizan. The helmer told SHOOT that he’s at a point in his career where he’s looking to focus on commercials while continuing to take on select music videos. He also is developing several feature film projects, including Water’s Edge, produced by Constantin Film, Out of the Blue Entertainment and Gruber Films. Applebaum described the suspense thriller as “Deliverance for the MTV generation.”
The chance to have his spotmaking career develop further with the help of executive producer Michael Romersa, and his high regard for Reactor’s directorial roster, which includes Steve Chase, Warren Kushner and Thor Freudenthal, were among the factors attracting Applebaum to the production house. Applebaum said he felt a personal connection with Romersa, akin in some respects to what he had with Steve Dickstein at Partizan. But when Dickstein left that shop, Applebaum began to explore his options and was courted by various companies.
Firmly established in the music clips arena with work for assorted performers (Kid Rock, Natasha Bedingfield, Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson, Jewel, Celine Dion, Nick Carter, Mandy Moore), Applebaum has diversified successfully into spots as evidenced by such credits as Old Spice, Haagen Dazs, Target and Mandalay Bay.
While his work is associated with a young hip vibe, Applebaum has extensive experience spanning 14 years as a director. He started at now defunct Satellite Films, a sister shop to the venerable and since shuttered Propaganda Films. Upon coming aboard Satellite, he was the fourth director there. When he left that company, it had 20-plus directors–while Propaganda’s roster grew to 30 or so helmers. A stint at Los Angeles area house Arsenal followed Satellite. Next Applebaum went to A Band Apart, Los Angeles, where he began to move into commercials as a complement to his music video endeavors. Then came Partizan and a continuing mix of spots and music clips; it was at Partizan that he directed the hot, sexy, buzz-generating Paris Hilton ad for Carl’s Jr.
Applebaum’s body of music video work has gained him a reputation in the fashion/beauty genre. He has helped to shape and present the look for assorted pop culture performers, most notably female artists. In the advertising community, he hopes to make similar inroads into fashion/beauty fare.
Over the years, Applebaum’s videos have garnered multiple MTV Video Award and Music Video Production Association Award nominations. He helmed Semisonic’s clip for “Closing Time,” which went on to become the first video inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. The Applebaum-directed “Stacy’s Mom” for Fountains of Wayne was the second video to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Applebaum has had 21 videos reach number one status on MTV, helping to break artists like Fountains of Wayne, Kelly Osbourne and Hilary Duff, and to continue the successful careers of Kid Rock, Spears, Simpson and Jewel, among many others.
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