Director Marcel Langenegger has joined A Band Apart, Los Angeles, for exclusive representation in the U.S. His former stateside affiliation was Biscuit Filmworks, Los Angeles.
He made his first major mark with the memorable Doctors Without Borders PSA, “Borderline,” for Advico Young & Rubicam, Zurich, in 2000. At the outset of the spot we see stitches closing a wound in human flesh. But rather than turn away from this sight, the suturing piques viewer curiosity. Slowly it’s revealed that the skin has a map on it, and the stitching is bringing back together the war torn Kosovo and surrounding countries.
Done while Langenegger was with now defunct Propaganda Films, “Borderline” went on to win a Gold Lion at the Cannes International Advertising Festival in ’01 and a Gold Clio the following year.
Langenegger’s recent endeavors include his being in Chile to direct a two-minute Toyota spot via Circle Productions, Toronto, for Saatchi & Saatchi, Toronto. The commercial debuted during the Canadian airing of the Academy Awards and tells a Romeo and Juliet style story of a woman from a town called “Need” and a man from a town called “Want.” Also among Langenegger’s latest work is a Swiss Postal Service campaign in which he traveled the alpine country interviewing real people about their experiences riding the postal service’s bus line. That project was produced by Chocolate Films, Zurich, which represents Langenegger in Europe.
As for why he chose A Band Apart, Langenegger cited its prowess across multiple disciplines–commercials, music videos and long form. “It is one of the few commercial companies with a strong and established presence in features,” he said, adding that also factoring into his decision were his longtime friendships with A Band Apart managing director Jeff Armstrong, and producer Lawrence Bender, who heads the company’s feature film operations. Langenegger is currently under contract with Fox to direct his first feature, The Tourist, set to shoot in the fall.
Langenegger joins A Band Apart directorial roster that also includes Coodie & Chike, Brendan Donovan, Per Dreyer, Derek Horn, Jennifer Little, Moses, Michael Palmieri, Corbett Scott, Martin Weisz, Andy Dick and James White.
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