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.”
Disney Pledges $15 million In L.A. Fire Aid As More Celebs Learn They’ve Lost Their Homes
The Pacific Palisades wildfires torched the home of "This Is Us" star Milo Ventimiglia, perhaps most poignantly destroying the father-to-be's newly installed crib.
CBS cameras caught the actor walking through his charred house for the first time, standing in what was once his kitchen and looking at a neighborhood in ruin. "Your heart just breaks."
He and his pregnant wife, Jarah Mariano, evacuated Tuesday with their dog and they watched on security cameras as the flames ripped through the house, destroying everything, including a new crib.
"There's a kind of shock moment where you're going, 'Oh, this is real. This is happening.' What good is it to continue watching?' And then at a certain point we just turned it off, like 'What good is it to continue watching?'"
Firefighters sought to make gains Friday during a respite in the heavy winds that fanned the flames as numerous groups pledged aid to help victims and rebuild, including a $15 million donation pledge from the Walt Disney Co.
More stars learn their homes are gone
While seeing the remains of his home, Ventimiglia was struck by a connection to his "This Is Us" character, Jack Pearson, who died after inhaling smoke in a house fire. "It's not lost on me life imitating art."
Mandy Moore, who played Ventimiglia's wife on "This Is Us," nearly lost her home in the Eaton fire, which scorched large areas of the Altadena neighborhood. She said Thursday that part of her house is standing but is unlivable, and her husband lost his music studio and all his instruments.
Mel Gibson's home is "completely gone," his publicist Alan Nierob confirmed Friday. The Oscar winner revealed the loss of his home earlier Friday while appearing on Joe Rogan's... Read More