CULVER CITY, Calif.-Tracy Hauser is exiting her post as executive producer at Culver City-based Pavlov Productions, the commercial division of Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE). She will be succeeded by Paul Kawasaki, Pavlov’s head of production. At press time, Hauser and Kawasaki were working together to ensure what the latter described as "a smooth transition."
The reason behind Hauser’s departure is not publicly known. She was unavailable for comment at press time. In a released statement, Hauser-who helped launch Sony’s spot operation in 1996-said, "It’s been great to work with the talent at Pavlov Productions, for whom I have tremendous respect. Having developed the company to its current level and recognizing what my goals and visions are, I felt it was time to move on, and I’m looking forward to the next chapter in my commercial production career."
Ken Williams, president of SPE’s Digital Studio division, credited Hauser with helping Sony "establish a strong presence in the commercial arena." Before opening Pavlov under the auspices of SPE, Hauser was a visual effects manager on the blockbuster hit Total Recall and head of spot production at now defunct Boss Film Studios from 1992 to ’95.
Hauser now hands over the Pavlov reins to Kawasaki, who’s well-versed in the operation and is no stranger to being promoted at the company. He was upped from staff producer to head of production last March, and his responsibilities have included staff supervision and oversight of a broad range of commercial projects from bidding through delivery.
Prior to Pavlov, Kawasaki worked freelance from 1993 to ’95, producing commercials for numerous Southern California production houses, including bicoastal Bedford Falls’ Santa Monica office and the aforementioned Boss Film.
Pavlov produces live action, visual effects and combo spots, and it maintains an affiliation with Sony Pictures Imageworks, Culver City, an effects studio. Pavlov’s commercial directorial roster consists of Sergio Amon, Barnaby Jackson, John Lindauer, Marty Weiss and Rupert Wainwright. The company is repped by Los Angeles-based Ron Blair Represents on the West Coast, Chicago-based Bill Rabin & Associates in the Midwest and Nancy Workman’s New York-based Workman on the East Coast.
