The Directors Network (TDN), a talent agency for freelance directors and DPs, has signed director/DP Lionel Coleman and DP Daron Keet. Coleman first gained advertising recognition during his tenure as an in-house director at Nike. He specializes in docu storytelling, sports and interviewing. Keet is an award winning cinematographer who moves seamlessly between commercials and features. Additionally, director/DP Kevin Emmons, who specializes in fashion, lifestyle, dialogue and kids, has also returned to TDN….DPs Frankie DeMarco (All is Lost), Mischa Lluch (with assorted commercial credits) and Mark Bliss (also with a spotmaking filmography) have signed with Dattner Dispoto and Associates as have costume designers Meghan Kasperlik (Little Accidents, 99 Homes, assistant costume designer on American Hustle) and Patrick Milani (the feature Forever and commercials) Dattner Dispoto has also booked DP Frank Perl for 2nd unit work on episodes of the Fox Network series Sleepy Hollow….Production designer Scott Murphy has recently completed principal photography on the dystopian future drama pilot The Lottery, written by Timothy Sexton (Children of Men) and directed by Danny Cannon. Murphy is now available for commercials, television and feature films through The Skouras Agency, Santa Monica….Digital media technology company Snell has appointed Burt Young as sales manager for the U.S. Northeast region. Prior to joining Snell, Young was an account executive with Harris Broadcast for New York City and the Northeast. During his six-year tenure at Harris, he also served as South Central regional manager. Before joining Harris, Young was the North American director of sales for Ross Video and also served as product marketing manager for the Broadcast Camera Division of Philips Broadcast….
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