Multidisciplinary director Jake Banks has joined PRETTYBIRD. A leading artisan and entrepreneur in motion graphics–having earlier in his career been at Fuel Creative, Razorfish and Brand New School–Banks in 2003 was a founder of the creative studio Stardust where he served as creative director and designer while diversifying into the live-action portions of its productions, making a name for himself with films for the likes of Apple, AT&T, Coca-Cola, EA Sports and IBM.
After a 10-year run at Stardust, Banks sold the company to focus on directing.
At PRETTYBIRD, Banks will develop and produce a range of projects and integrated multi-platform campaigns that build upon his reputation as a visual innovator and his love of design, storytelling and emerging technologies. He will continue to create, design and execute ideas in both the live-action and digital sectors. Banks remains committed to exploring new perspectives and media platforms to share his stories. He recently debuted the mobile app, Hater, at the 2013 SXSW Tech Festival, which earned a slot on Mashable’s list of seven “can’t miss apps.”
Gene Hackman Died Of Heart Disease; Hantavirus Claimed His Wife’s Life About One Week Prior
Actor Gene Hackman died of heart disease a full week after his wife died from hantavirus in their New Mexico hillside home, likely unaware that she was dead because he was in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease, authorities revealed Friday. Both deaths were ruled to be from natural causes, chief medical examiner Dr. Heather Jarrell said alongside state fire and health officials at a news conference. "Mr. Hackman showed evidence of advanced Alzheimer's disease," Jarrell said. "He was in a very poor state of health. He had significant heart disease, and I think ultimately that's what resulted in his death." Authorities didn't suspect foul play after the bodies of Hackman, 95, and Betsy Arakawa, 65, were discovered Feb 26. Immediate tests for carbon monoxide poisoning were negative. Investigators found that the last known communication and activity from Arakawa was Feb. 11 when she visited a pharmacy, pet store and grocery before returning to their gated neighborhood that afternoon, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said Friday. Hackman's pacemaker last showed signs of activity a week later and that he had an abnormal heart rhythm Feb. 18, the day he likely died, Jarrell said. Although there was no reliable way to determine the date and time when both died, all signs point to their deaths coming a week apart, Jarrell said. "It's quite possible he was not aware she was deceased," Jarrell said. Dr. Michael Baden, a former New York City medical examiner, said he believes Hackman was severely impaired due to Alzheimer's disease and unable to deal with his wife's death in the last week of his life. "You are talking about very severe Alzheimer's disease that normal people would be in a nursing home or have a nurse, but she was taking care... Read More