Bill Curren Assumes Exec. Prod. Position.
By JEREMY LEHRER
Ending a two-year tenure, executive producer Julie Weinman is leaving New York-based Maysles Shorts and Maysles Films. She will be replaced by Bill Curren, who was executive producer for now defunct Elbert Budin Inc. from ’90 to ’96. Since ’96, when Elbert Budin Inc. closed following famed tabletop/food director Elbert Budin’s death, Curren has been freelance producing and assistant directing.
Weinman said she is leaving Maysles so she can find "new challenges" after over two decades in the spotmaking business. "Coming to Maysles kept me in the business several years longer than I had intended to stay. I’m looking for another business that I can bring the same kind of enthusiasm that I did to [commercials] twenty years ago," she said. Weinman enjoyed her tenure at Maysles and was inspired by the company’s spot philosophy. After she wraps up her Maysles duties in late November, Weinman will be taking a sabbatical to explore her career options.
Weinman led the search for her replacement. She said she wanted to find someone who had solid executive producing skills and "understands what the business climate is in advertising these days." Weinman believed that Curren fit those criteria and had "the right temperament, the right personality and the right experience for this position."
Following discussions with Weinman, Curren also interviewed with company principals Albert Maysles and Susan Froemke as well as Gilly Barnes, David McNamara, and Jeremy Warshaw, the other directors currently represented by Maysles Shorts. "It was very important for all of the directors to feel as confident in him as I did," Weinman noted.
Because Curren was experienced with production companies that had a particular specialization, Weinman felt that he was well-suited to handle the responsibilities at Maysles. Curren had a long-working relationship with Budin before the renowned director died. Before executive producing at Elbert Budin Inc., Curren was Budin’s line producer from ’83 until ’90 at now defunct Ampersand Productions, where Curren began working in ’81.
More recently, Curren has freelance produced and assistant directed for spot helmers including Phil Marco, represented by Phil Marco Productions, New York; Alex Fernbach, represented by ARF & Co., Hoboken, N.J.; and New York-based Independent Artists’ Mike Berkofsky. Curren observed that during his freelance tenure he was able to "expand and do things, such as special effects and location work, that I hadn’t as many opportunities to do when I was associated with Elbert."
Weinman noted that Ampersand and Elbert Budin Inc. were highly respected tabletop shops. "[Ampersand] for many years was considered the top tabletop company in the country," she said, adding that Budin was the "zen master" of the genre who mentored many younger tabletop directors now in the industry. "A lot of Bill’s experience has been in that [tabletop] arena. He will need a little time to get up to speed on non-fiction and how we approach non-fiction at this company. But production is production, and that’s a relatively short learning curve." To ensure a smooth transition, Weinman and Curren will be working in tandem until Weinman leaves the company.
Observing that Maysles had set the "benchmark" for non-fiction longform and spotwork, Curren said he was looking forward to working for the company. "This was an opportunity to get involved with a group that really invented a form," he said. "[Maysles’] non-fiction style is something that I’ve observed over the years. You have to be familiar with Maysles if you’re familiar with filmmaking. … They have such high standards and have been such a standard-bearer in the business for so many years."
Curren emphasized that he liked the integrity of the Maysles directors’ spotwork. "[The Maysles directors] are committed to success, high standards and honesty," he said, "and that’s what comes through in their work."
While Curren said he didn’t plan on instigating major changes when he assumes the executive producer position at Maysles, he said he would certainly be open to new directions. "I think Julie has run this company exceedingly well, but I think as you go forward, you change things as need requires."
Maysles is represented for sales by Peter Green on the East Coast, and by Ellen Knable Associates for the West Coast and the Midwest.
Microsoft Report Says Efforts By Russia, Iran and China To Sway U.S. Voters May Escalate
Foreign adversaries have shown continued determination to influence the U.S. election –- and there are signs their activity will intensify as Election Day nears, Microsoft said in a report Wednesday.
Russian operatives are doubling down on fake videos to smear Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign, while Chinese-linked social media campaigns are maligning down-ballot Republicans who are critical of China, the company's threat intelligence arm said Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Iranian actors who allegedly sent emails aimed at intimidating U.S. voters in 2020 have been surveying election-related websites and major media outlets, raising concerns they could be preparing for another scheme this year, the tech giant said.
The report serves as a warning – building on others from U.S. intelligence officials – that as the nation enters this critical final stretch and begins counting ballots, the worst influence efforts may be yet to come. U.S. officials say they remain confident that election infrastructure is secure enough to withstand any attacks from American adversaries. Still, in a tight election, foreign efforts to influence voters are raising concern.
Microsoft noted that some of the disinformation campaigns it tracks received little authentic engagement from U.S. audiences, but others have been amplified by unwitting Americans, exposing thousands to foreign propaganda in the final weeks of voting.
Russia, China and Iran have all rejected claims that they are seeking to meddle with the U.S. election.
"The presidential elections are the United States' domestic affairs. China has no intention and will not interfere in the US election," the Chinese Embassy said in a statement.
"Having already unequivocally and... Read More