Account executive Connie Calhoun has joined hdstudios in Farmington Hills, Mich. She most recently served as executive producer/sales for Mindfield Pictures and Silo Post in Detroit. Her new roost, hdstudios, is a division of Grace & Wild Inc., headquartered in Farmington Hills…. DPs Steve Gainer, ASC, and Patrick McGowan have joined the Stacy Cheriff Agency, Los Angeles…Agent Jeannine Angelique, formerly with Stacy Cheriff Agency, has joined Beverly Hills-headquartered Paradigm commercials and music video operation where she will team with Pattie Lofton to rep DPs and production designers. Angelique is bringing into the Paradigm fold DPs Sergio Arguello, Scott Buttfield, David Kalvert, Joseph Labisi, Eric Larson, Joe Maxwell, Tom McGrath, Michael Ozier, Dave Perkal, Adam Santelli, Kevin Sarnoff, Checco Varese and Colin Watkinson, as well as production designers David Courtemarche, Justin Dragonas, Brock Houghton, Alexander Pacion, Tozar Simich and Teri Whittaker….DP Mike Trim has wrapped this season of Showtime TV series Weeds and is again available for commercials and music videos through the Montana Artists Agency, Los Angeles….
Breakout Films and Major Takeaways From This Year’s Sundance Fest
Film wasn't the only thing on people's minds at this year's Sundance Film Festival, which comes to a close Sunday in Park City, Utah ( and online ).
The effects of the wildfires in Southern California loomed large, as did the bittersweet knowledge that this year will be the second to last Sundance based in Park City. Some films offered an escape from reality; others were a pointed reminder of the domestic and international political landscape, from transgender rights to the war in Ukraine.
Here are some of the key takeaways from the 41st edition of the festival.
The effects of the Southern California fires were deeply felt
The wildfires were still burning in parts of Los Angeles when Sundance began last week and reminders of its devastation were everywhere, even on screen. Max Walker-Silverman's "Rebuilding," starring Josh O'Connor as a cowboy who loses his ranch in a wildfire and forms a community with fellow survivors in a FEMA camp, hit close to home for many.
Filmmakers Meena Menon and Paul Gleason lost their home in Altadena where they filmed some of their zombie apocalypse movie "Didn't Die." Sundance artist labs head Michelle Satter lost her Palisades home as well. Satter had an audience of Sundance Institute donors in tears early in the festival while accepting an honor at a fundraising gala.
"It's a deeply devastating time for us and so many others, a moment that calls for all of us coming together to support our bigger community," Satter said. "As a friend recently noted, and I have to listen to this, 'Take a deep breath ... We lost our village, but at the end of the day we are the village.'"
The festival's move to another city dominated conversations
It was a topic... Read More