Composer Steve Dancz has joined Oasis Recording, Atlanta. Dancz has worked as a record producer and A&R director while based in Los Angeles, and has composed and conducted orchestral scores for the television series Designing Women, and the feature Grim Prairie Tales….Wax Music & Sound Design/Radio Free Anxiety, New York, had added composer Erik Nickerson to its roster. His background includes composing original music for various Web sites, short films and television shows, including The Next Big Thing and The Deal…Animation director Bryan Huo has joined Toronto-based Guru Animation Studio. He had been working for Topix, Toronto, on spots for Pillsbury via D’Arcy, New York and Toronto….Digital Kitchen, Chicago, Seattle and Los Angeles, has added designer André Stringer. He had been serving as senior broadcast designer with Black Entertainment Television (BET), Washington, D.C., where he specialized in the network’s branding and promotional efforts. Stringer will be based in Digital Kitchen’s Chicago facility….New York-based Sound Lounge has promoted Rob DiFondi from staff assistant to mixer. His credits include work on Visa’s "Dress Shop," directed by Jonathan David of bicoastal Morton Jankel Zander via BBDO New York….Michael J. Morelli has been named VP/Hollywood region business manager for the Kodak Entertainment Imaging division. He had been serving as general manager for the Kodak division in Australia and New Zealand since 1999. Morelli will oversee operations in Hollywood and 11 western states. Additionally, D. Brian Spruill has been appointed VP/director of strategic planning and business development for Kodak’s Entertainment Imaging division. He will be responsible for developing, implementing and coordinating a worldwide global strategy for the next generation of the company’s film, digital and hybrid motion imaging technologies, products and services. Spruill had been VP/general manager of the Hollywood region of the Entertainment Imaging division since ’94….
“Dog Man” Still Has Bite, Tops Weekend Box Office For 2nd Straight Week
On a quiet winter weekend at the box office, DreamWorks Animation's "Dog Man" chased its own tail, repeating as the top movie in theaters.
The animated Universal Pictures release, adapted from Dav Pilkey's popular graphic novel series, collected $13.7 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday. Both new releases – the Ke Huy Quan action movie "Love Hurts" and the Valentine's Day-themed slasher "Heart Eyes" – were left nipping at the heels of "Dog Man."
Hollywood often largely punts Super Bowl weekend to the small screen. Last year, Apple's much-derided "Argylle" debuted on the same weekend. Instead, the movie industry spends more energy pitching its blockbusters in trailers for the huge football audience on TV.
It wasn't a banner weekend for "Dog Man." It fell steeply, dropping 62% in it second weekend. But with a production budget of $40 million, "Dog Man" has already tallied $54.1 million domestically in two weeks.
Coming in second was Spyglass Media Group's "Heart Eyes," released by Sony. The horror-rom-com mashup earned $8.5 million from 3,102 locations. Reviews have been good for the film, directed by Josh Ruben and starring Oliva Holt and Mason Gooding, though audiences were less impressed. Moviegoers gave it a "B-" CinemaScore. Spyglass made "Heart Eyes" for $18 million.
"Love Hurts," the action comedy from 87North Productions ("John Wick," "The Fall Guy"), debuted with a paltry $5.8 million in 3,055 theaters. In his first big movie role since his Oscar-winning comeback in "Everything All at Once," Ke Huy Quan stars as a mild-mannered realtor with a hitman past. Ariana DeBose co-stars. It, too, was modestly budgeted at $18 million. Audiences, however, mostly rejected the movie, giving "Love Hurts" a... Read More