Grace Silverstein of indie rep firm Reel Grace, Santa Monica, has taken on West Coast and Texas representation for Trio Films, Los Angeles….The newly formed Argyle Films, Los Angeles (see Street Talk, above), has set its sales force consisting of independent reps Toni Saarinen and Jen Spencer on the West Coast, Richard Newman and Sue Rosen in the Midwest, and Arthur Portnoy, Roxanne Artesona and Jeff Bowman on the East Coast. Portnoy handles Argyle director Randy Roberts, while Artesona and Bowman rep helmer John Mastromonaco….J. Anderson and his associate Elaina Schyb of J. Anderson+Companies, Chicago, have been named to handle the Midwest for Two Trick Pony, a Hollywood-based production house headed by executive producer Jonathan Miller. Indie rep Yvette Lubinsky continues to cover the West Coast for Two Trick Pony, which is currently seeking new representation on the East Coast, a territory that Miller is handling on an interim basis….Comma Music, Chicago, has added to its sales force, hiring Jessica Skillicorn to cover the Midwest. Skillicorn will work in tandem with Comma’s national sales rep Marya Fletcher….Music/sound design house Yessian–with bases of operation in Farmington Hills and Royal Oak, Mich., as well as in New York and Los Angeles–has hired Joanna Miller as in-house sales rep handling the Midwest and Southeast. Miller formerly served as an account rep for Royal Oak-based video and audio postproduction boutiques Function and Ozone….Michael Coronado of independent rep firm Red Iron has taken on West Coast sales for Amazon Films, Houston….DP Eric Gautier AFC, whose credits include Walter Salles’ Motorcycle Diaries, is now repped for commercials, music videos and features by the Lyons Sheldon Prosnit Agency, Los Angeles….DP Hernan Michael Otano has signed with bicoastal Paradigm for exclusive representation. Also coming aboard Paradigm for U.S. representation is cinematographer David Franco….DP Mark Plummer, who recently wrapped Pulse with director Jim Sonzero, is now available for commercials via ICM, Beverly Hills….. Production designer/art director Ramsey Avery has come aboard Montana Artists, Los Angeles, for exclusive representation in all areas….
AICP’s Matt Miller Looks To Build Support For Production In L.A. After Devastating Wildfires
Editor’s note: AICP president and CEO Matt Miller issued the following statement addressing the wildfires in Los Angeles and how the industry can help this key production market--a hub of major resources essential to the health of the overall commercialmaking industry:
Who Needs Los Angeles? We Do.
By Matt Miller, AICP president and CEO
One doesn’t have to be a statistician to know that there are fewer commercials being shot in the U.S. today for the American market than ever before, and a dramatic decrease in L.A. in particular. In the last five years, as reported by FilmLA (the office tasked with issuing permits), L.A. commercial production has dipped 31 percent.
But here’s the thing: This doesn’t mean that L.A. has lost its importance as the production center of the world. Production in L.A. is vital. It is the go-to. It’s where you can count on access to exemplary crews, a support infrastructure second to none, varied location and backlot options, a large population of on-screen talent and (fairly) predictable weather.
The fact is, with overall decline and now the devastation of the fires, we’re on the brink of losing this mainstay resource. Without employment opportunities and now many without homes, talented and trained crew are bound to leave either the industry or the L.A. area for other opportunities, unless there are enough job opportunities to sustain a solid living.
Now is the time when we ALL must support and bolster this community.
Production is needed in L.A., now!
Of course, advertising is a business, and marketers’ money should be spent as efficiently as possible, BUT we have to think beyond each production and know that if we lose the... Read More