Chelsea Pictures has brought Donna Portaro aboard its U.S. team as VP, executive producer. Based in Los Angeles, Portaro joins Chelsea after working as an EP responsible for commercial production and talent management at RadicalMedia since 1999.
Chelsea president Lisa Mehling said of Portaro, “She’s an extremely rare talent with her years in leadership at both a top creative agency and global production company. Donna is a true trailblazer and has influenced some of the most noteworthy and groundbreaking work in our industry–-I can’t wait to see what we make happen together.”
From the non-traditional media space to original content for brands, Portaro has worked closely with artists while nurturing a multitude of brands to go beyond the traditional model, with an emphasis on the power of storytelling.
Her experience in a broad range of disciplines comes from a variety of places in the media landscape. From her years at Wieden+Kennedy, co-managing the broadcast production department, to supervising RadicalMedia’s L.A. postproduction facility, she has tapped into a media workflow that understands the complexities of the industry and the changing audience.
“Chelsea Pictures is giving me the opportunity to do what I love best…working in a collaborative, creative environment with a great team,” said Portaro. “ I feel so fortunate to be a part of it. I’m looking forward to this exciting new chapter.”
During Portaro’s career, she has served as a crucial member of teams honored with an Academy® Award, Emmys®, Golden Globe®, Grammys®, Webbys®, and many more accolades within the advertising and marketing industries, in both traditional and new media.
Chelsea VP/executive producer Pat McGoldrick said of Portaro, “Her experience, beloved reputation, and overall production skills is going to be a great fit here, and make us even more mighty.”
As a trio, Portaro, McGoldrick and Chelsea U.K.’s Nell Jordan make up the executive producer team working alongside Chelsea owner Mehling. Chelsea maintains offices in New York, L.A. and London.
“Heretic” and “Maria” Set As Red Carpet Premieres At AFI Fest
The American Film Institute (AFI) has announced that Heretic, the psychological thriller starring Hugh Grant, and Maria, based on the life of opera singer Maria Callas starring Angelina Jolie, will round out the Red Carpet Premieres section at this year’s AFI Fest. The Heretic Gala Screening will take place on Thursday, October 24, and the Maria Gala Screening will be held on Saturday, October 26. The complete Red Carpet Premieres section includes the world premieres of Music By John Williams, Robert Zemeckis’ Here, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl and Clint Eastwood’s Juror #2. All Red Carpet Premieres will take place at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre. The full lineup for AFI Fest 2024 will be unveiled on October 1.
“At the heart of AFI Fest is an unwavering dedication to celebrating the best in global cinema--together,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI president and CEO. “We look forward to uniting artists and audiences once again to be inspired by the art form in a powerful sense of community.”
Heretic follows two young missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) who are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed (portrayed by Grant), becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse. The film is directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods and produced by Stacey Sher, Beck, Woods, Julia Glausi and Jeanette Volturno. The film will be released nationwide by A24 on November 8.
Directed by Pablo Larraín, Maria presents a tumultuous and beautiful depiction of one of the world’s most renowned artists and reimagines the legendary soprano in her final days in Paris, as Callas (Jolie)... Read More