Bicoastal production house Original (formerly Original Film) has partnered with noted editor/director Jonathan Del Gatto who will serve as creative director of its newly formed postproduction division. Plans call for the new post venture to offer services spanning editorial, design, motion graphics, visual effects and animation for broadcast advertising, branded content and other forms of visual media.
In addition to heading up the post division, Del Gatto will be available as a director and editor. In his first project under the Original banner, he directed and cut The Ambassadors of Wow, a series of web videos for Jamba Juice and The Neighbor Agency, Los Angeles.
Del Gatto, who has been a commercial editor for more than 15 years, arrives from Foundation Content where he expanded into directing. His work there included web-based video series for United Airlines and real estate developer Del Webb. He also directed and edited two music videos for Matt & Kim. One of those clips, “Cameras,” earned inclusion earlier this year (1/28) into SHOOT‘s The Best Work You May Never See gallery.
Del Gatto’s background includes seven years at Terminal Media, an editorial house he founded, and eight years at Red Car. He also had tenures at 89 Editorial and Butcher prior to joining Foundation Content.
Over the years, Del Gatto’s work as an editor has received eight AICP Show honors, seven Clios and seven London International Awards. In 2009, he edited while at Butcher a 30-minute film, created by Minneapolis agency Barrie D’Rozario Murphy for the Chambers Hotel, that won a Gold Lion at the Cannes International Advertising Festival and was honored in the Next Experiential category of the ’09 AICP Next Awards. (The “Chambers Video Art Piece” was directed by Peter Nydrle of production house Nydrle.) In addition to his advertising work which includes such clients as Budweiser, Sony, Nike, Chevy, Coca-cola, Coors and Lexus, Del Gatto has extensive experience in feature films, documentaries, music videos and shorts.
Del Gatto said that he plans to develop Original’s post division into a state-of-the-art digital production studio. “As advertising media continues to expand into web and mobile platforms, the production industry is becoming increasingly post-centric,” he observed. “We plan to capitalize on that trend by offering a way to develop projects in creative, smart and modern ways.”
Original has production offices in Culver City, California and New York City.
Amazon MGM Takes Creative Reins of James Bond, Ending An Era Of Family Control
In a James Bond shakeup that stirred the film industry, Amazon MGM announced Thursday that the studio has taken the creative reins of the 007 franchise after decades of family control. Longtime Bond custodians Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli said they would be stepping back.
Amazon MGM Studios, Wilson and Broccoli formed a new joint venture in which they will co-own James Bond intellectual property rights — but Amazon MGM will have creative control.
Financial terms weren't disclosed. The deal is expected to close sometime this year.
"With my 007 career spanning nearly 60 incredible years, I am stepping back from producing the James Bond films to focus on art and charitable projects," Wilson said in a statement. "Therefore, Barbara and I agree, it is time for our trusted partner, Amazon MGM Studios, to lead James Bond into the future."
Amazon bought MGM Studios in 2022 for $6.1 billion, a purchase that was significantly motivated by the acquisition of one of the movies' most beloved and long-running franchises. Since the Daniel Craig era of 007 concluded with 2021's "No Time to Die," Broccoli and Wilson have reportedly clashed with Amazon MGM over the direction of Bond.
The announcement Thursday means that for the first time in the more than half a century of Bond, a Broccoli won't be greenlighting the next 007 film, or picking who inherits his tux. Amazon MGM also anticipates expanding the franchise beyond movies.
"We are grateful to the late Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman for bringing James Bond to movie theaters around the world, and to Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli for their unyielding dedication and their role in continuing the legacy of the franchise that is cherished by legions of fans... Read More