Amber Music has added composers Leo Sidran and Phil Mossman. Sidran produced the Oscar-winning song “Al Otro Lado Del Rio” from The Motorcycle Diaries. Mossman is a member of the group LCD Soundsystem. Both will be based in the New York office of Amber, which also maintains operations in London and Los Angeles….Audio post mixer Sonia Castro has joined Juice, the Santa Monica shop headed by owner/chief audio architect Alex Alba. Castro comes over from Santa Monica-based 48 Windows and prior to that was with AudioBanks, Santa Monica. She has mixed for assorted clients, including regional work for BMW, and campaigns for Jack in the Box and Carl’s Jr. Castro has mixed for the two latter advertisers over the past decade-plus….Bob Giammarco of audioEngine, New York and Phoenix, provided sound design and audio post mixing for a black-and-white PSA for the Men’s Anti-violence Network (an initiative of the Arizona Foundation for Women), directed and shot by Sergio Arguello of Suns Productions, Phoenix, via agency Cramer-Krasselt, Phoenix. In the spot, Phoenix Suns’ forward Brian Grant discusses the difference between the roughness encountered in a basketball game and that in a domestic violence situation. “A lot happens in a game,” says Grant as he practices shooting hoops, his movements echoing in an empty court. “It’s intense.” He walks right up to the camera and smacks it with the palm of his hand. The camera shakes and blurs, as we hear the thunderous sound of impending danger. When a player does it during a game, he gets a technical foul. “But when an abuser does it, they’re just getting started,” relates Grant. The PSA concludes with contact info for the Men’s Anti-violence network, a group of more than 100 business and community leaders dedicated to stopping–and increasing public awareness of–domestic violence…..Creative director/partner Dave Hodge of Finger Music, Venice, Calif.–who’s active in spots (i.e., Coca-Cola, Dodge)–is slated to play several tour dates in California, Texas, Washington and Oregon with indie rock band Broken Social Scene. This marks the second Broken Social Scene outing for Hodge, who hit the road with the band this past summer, appearing at European summer festivals, as well as in New York. Hodge, who plays trombone, will also be performing with Broken Social Scene’s supporting act, recording artist Feist, whose new album, Let It Die, is in stores now.
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