Director Robert Jitzmark has signed with Santa Monica-based Green Dot Films and just wrapped his first project there, a California Lottery :30 titled “Hot Streak” for agency David&Goliath. Jitzmark joins Green Dot Films from Hungry Man. He is also a partner at the Swedish production company Camp David, which was founded together with five other colleagues in 2003.
Jitzmark’s latest spot, for both TV and the web, opens on a Sierra Nevada stream during the California Gold Rush, where rival prospectors pan for gold on opposite banks. Suddenly, the grizzled older prospector pulls a sizable nugget from his pan. Wide-eyed, he reaches down to find still more riches–a golden pocket watch, golden spectacles, golden horseshoes for his donkey and, finally, a golden bust of Egyptian Queen Nefertiti. All the while, the younger prospector looks on in disbelief, jealously muttering “Oh, come on!” as the 49er whoops with delight. We then cut to a nearby town as the older prospector rides his donkey to market atop a golden chariot laden with enough solid gold trinkets and jewelry to make a rap star blush. As townsfolk view him with awe, a beautiful senorita gazes at the spectacle adoringly. The old prospector turns to her and salutes as the tagline “Going On A Hot Streak Has Never Been Easier” appears supered on the screen. The spot ends with a product shot of a California Lottery Scratchers ticket against a rustic wooden background with the words: “6 games. 1 Ticket.”
Jitzmark and DP Par Ekberg worked together to shoot the period piece on 35mm with panoramic lenses in order to achieve a vintage Technicolor look. The director’s notable work over the years includes a series of Mini Cooper spots such as the wild ride of Mini vs Monster, the just released McDonald’s “Fire Sprinkler” ad via DDB, a package of commercials for Puma in the U.S. and Europe, a well-received series of commercials for Inpes condoms for the French Ministry of Health, Peugeot, IKEA, Vybemobile (starring Snoop Dogg), Sony PlayStation, Falcon Beer, Canal+ and MTV. In 2009 Jitzmark’s spots for Swedish Fish won gold at the ADC Festival in New York.
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