Lisa Masseur has joined ONE at Optimus as executive producer. Masseur–who has worked with clients such as Samsung, McDonald’s, Trek, Sears, Hasbro, USPS and BMO Harris Bank–was most recently executive producer/managing director at Radar Studios, where she oversaw all production and postproduction work, as well as sales and marketing efforts. During her more than seven years there, she helped build the company into one of the most competitive production houses in Chicago.
Before that, Masseur spent three years as executive producer at Ebel Productions, where she focused on commercial production. Prior to that, she was a freelance producer in Chicago. She began her career working on TV series and features such as Groundhog Day, Hoffa, A League of Their Own, Sleepless in Seattle, Mighty Ducks 3, and The Untouchables.
At her new roost, Masseur will work closely with Craig Leffel, ONE at Optimus’ director of production. Leffel related, “With our combined experience and understanding of bundled production, there is an incredible strength and positivity in joining forces together. I can’t wait to kick this up another notch.”
Optimus president Tom Duff announced the hiring of Masseur. Optimus is a leading post and production house with offices in Chicago and Santa Monica. A one-stop shop, Optimus offers a full suite of creative services, including production, editing, color correction, visual effects and design, audio mixing and finishing. With ONE, the company’s live-action production arm, Optimus offers all production services, from shoot through post, under one roof.
Masseur cited the roster of talent at Optimus and ONE–directors, editors, designers and finishing artists–as being key in her decision to come aboard. “They are passionate about creating content, and are always coming up with ideas–both for clients and on their own,” she said. “I look forward to harnessing that energy into creative content for our clients and longer form work as we continue to grow ONE and leverage this seamless production model.”
Utah Leaders and Locals Rally To Keep Sundance Film Festival In The State
With the 2025 Sundance Film Festival underway, Utah leaders, locals and longtime attendees are making a final push — one that could include paying millions of dollars — to keep the world-renowned film festival as its directors consider uprooting.
Thousands of festivalgoers affixed bright yellow stickers to their winter coats that read "Keep Sundance in Utah" in a last-ditch effort to convince festival leadership and state officials to keep it in Park City, its home of 41 years.
Gov. Spencer Cox said previously that Utah would not throw as much money at the festival as other states hoping to lure it away. Now his office is urging the Legislature to carve out $3 million for Sundance in the state budget, weeks before the independent film festival is expected to pick a home for the next decade.
It could retain a small presence in picturesque Park City and center itself in nearby Salt Lake City, or move to another finalist — Cincinnati, Ohio, or Boulder, Colorado — beginning in 2027.
"Sundance is Utah, and Utah is Sundance. You can't really separate those two," Cox said. "This is your home, and we desperately hope it will be your home forever."
Last year's festival generated about $132 million for the state of Utah, according to Sundance's 2024 economic impact report.
Festival Director Eugene Hernandez told reporters last week that they had not made a final decision. An announcement is expected this year by early spring.
Colorado is trying to further sweeten its offer. The state is considering legislation giving up to $34 million in tax incentives to film festivals like Sundance through 2036 — on top of the $1.5 million in funds already approved to lure the Utah festival to its neighboring... Read More