Creative director/designer Susan Armstrong has come aboard New York-based Headlight Design+VFX, part of the Crossroads family of companies. She first made her mark at Topix/Mad Dog, Toronto, beginning what has proven to be a longstanding collaborative relationship with director Floria Sigismondi. Armstrong and Sigismondi first teamed on David Bowie’s “Little Wonder” music video, which caused a stir with its dark, disturbing visuals.
Armstrong went on to work as a designer/artist on such Sigismondi-helmed clips as Tricky’s “Makes Me Wanna Die,” Sheryl Crow’s “Anything But Down” and Canadian signer Amiel Larrieux’s “Get Up.” The latter featured a unique pixilated look that Armstrong created with an Inferno plug-in she helped to develop.
After her four-year tenure at Topix, Armstrong joined Eyeball/New York, where she worked on such projects as promos for HBO and the WB Network, as well as a spot campaign for Michelin. In 2001, Armstrong moved on to Click 3x, New York as a designer/effects artist before elevating to a creative director there, designing packages for Showtime series Queer As Folk and Huff, as well as the opens for two Association of Independent Commercial Producers (AICP) Shows. Her work for the ’04 AICP Show garnered a Gold Broadcast Design Award.
Over the years, Armstrong has worked on spots for assorted clients, including Verizon, Samsung, Canon, AOL, Haagen Dazs and Coca-Cola. The latter’s “Groove” was a much-lauded commercial on the industry awards circuit.
Armstrong has also worked in visual effects for long-form fare, most notably the bus scene in Atom Egoyan’s Sweet Hereafter, a ’97 film which received two Oscar nominations (best director, screenplay), and the Grand Jury, International Critics and Ecumenical Jury prizes at the Cannes Film Festival.
Armstrong is currently editing her first documentary film, Doormat, in collaboration with filmmaker Christy Garland. Armstrong is also designing the film’s titles. Shot in India and Canada, the film follows the life of a household doormat and the stories of all the people whose livelihoods depend on this simple handmade consumer item.
Formed in ’04, Headlights, a creative studio specializing in design-based effects, is headed by creative director Christine Lin, visual effects director Steve Zourntos and executive producer Sara Mills.
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