Commercial production veteran Jeff Scruton, known best for his 17-year tenure at MJZ, has joined Motion Theory as president and executive producer. He comes aboard the company as it moves into a new 7,000 square foot facility in L.A. and has rebranded itself as MTh.
Scruton had served as sr. executive producer at MJZ, starting when that shop’s roster consisted of but four directors. Over the years, he helped shape the production house by supporting its filmmaking talent and overseeing hundreds of high profile productions that have garnered recognition from the Cannes Lions, the DGA Awards, the AICP Show and D&AD, among other competitions.
Scruton said he was drawn to MTh by “the multifaceted approach [co-founders] Javier Jimenez and Mathew Cullen have taken to support their clients and directors,” the company’s success in becoming “an active creative partner with its clients,” helping to “incubate early ideas into new advertising territories,” and the studio’s roster of talent.
MTh’s directorial lineup includes Cullen, Grady Hall, Mark Kudsi, Jesus de Francisco, Chris Riehl, Synn Labs, Christopher Leone and the recently signed Guillermo del Toro and Mårlind & Stein.
Jimenez referred to Scruton as “an industry icon” and “our first choice for helping to evolve the company and roster…Everyone in the company stands to benefit greatly from his experience, leadership and incredible reach into the advertising world.”
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