ONE at Optimus has expanded its filmmaking roster with addition of director Otto Arsenault.
Describing himself as a custom fit for his new roost, Arsenault noted, “ONE is unique because it’s a production company built out of a postproduction house [ONE is an arm of Optimus]. This is parallel to how I got my start in the industry and is one of the many reasons this union has been such a great fit.”
Arsenault added that he looks at production differently because he understands what can be achieved in post. He established his post roots while at Southern Illinois University through his work on alt.news 26:46, a syndicated, PBS program that won five regional Emmy Awards. After migrating to Los Angeles, he co-created PlasterCITY Digital Post, one of the first non-linear post-production studios in LA. He then transitioned his focus to production, collaborating on a feature-length music documentary and directing several music videos. His work on Matt and Kim’s “Lessons Learned” garnered him the 2009 MTV Music Video Award for Breakthrough Video and MTV U Woodie for Best Video.
“Otto’s strong grasp of concept coupled with his unique visual storytelling skills makes him a perfect complement to our director stable here at ONE,” said John Noble, ONE at Optimus executive producer/managing director.
Arsenault’s first project with ONE is a :30 TV spot for an international liquor brand through Markham Unlimited Miami, Fla. His unconventional music video for Greg Laswell’s “Take Everything,” shot in one take completely in reverse, resonated with Markham and complemented the agency’s vision for the spot, in which the story unfolds in reverse. The international commercial will begin shooting in Miami in early October.
“Otto’s keen sense of composition and framing, which he elegantly displayed in the Greg Laswell video, was instrumental in helping ONE win this new project,” stated Noble.
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