Plum Productions, Santa Monica, has signed Annie Bossingham and Brad Grubaugh of Boss Talent, Venice, Calif., for West Coast representation….French directors Thierry and Didier Poiraud, otherwise known as Poiraud, have wrapped principal photography on their first feature film, The Return of James Bataille (Le Retour de James Bataille), a sci-fi comedy out of their Paris-based company, Entropie Films. The Poiraud brothers plan to start directing commercials again in the U.S. starting in September, via Paranoid Projects@Tool, a division of bicoastal Tool of North America. The division sprung from a cross-representational deal finalized last year between Tool of North America and Entropie Films….This Is TV, New York, has signed Mike McGlynn of Runt, Chicago, for Midwest representation….DP Jeff Cutter has signed with United Talent Agency (UTA), Beverly Hills, Calif., for representation in commercials, music videos and features….DP Michael Mieke has signed with New York Office for spot and music video representation in the U.S. and Europe….DP Maz Makhani is now available exclusively through the Lyons•Sheldon•Prosnit Agency, Los Angeles….DP Jonathan Sela is now available through Innovative Artists, Santa Monica, for commercials and music videos, after completing principal photography on MGM’s Soul Plane for director Jesse Terrero….Cinematographer Vince Toto is again taking on spot and music video assignments via Montana Artists, Santa Monica, after wrapping Batman: Dead End, a film by Sandy Collora, which premiered at the San Diego Comic Convention….
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