Georgia On Our Mind, Bicoastal Boxer, and People in the News
GEORGIA ON OUR MIND
Bill Thompson has been named director of the Georgia Film, Video and Music Division, succeeding Greg Torre who, becomes the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s (GDEcD) division director for small business and innovation. The film commission is under the GDEcD umbrella. Thompson most recently served as an independent producer for local production companies on assignments for Coca-Cola, Brand Atlanta, Earthlink and General Electric, among other clients. Over the years, he has contributed to projects that have garnered such accolades as an MTV Video Music Award, Gold and Silver Telly Awards and a nomination for a Southeastern Emmy. During his 20-year career, Thompson has worked with and/or in varied industry sectors, including Hollywood studios, broadcast and cable TV networks, game development companies, independent filmmakers, production houses, record labels, advertising and interactive agencies. He joins his new roost as filming is on the upswing in Georgia. Last year, lensing of movies, TV programs, spots and music videos generated an impact of $145.6 million on the state’s economy…..
BICOASTAL BOXER
Los Angeles-based Boxer Films has extended its reach to the East Coast, opening a full-service production office in New York. Beth George, head of the company’s editorial division B-17, has been promoted to executive producer and will oversee operations nationally, while Mark Fox has been hired to run the new Big Apple shop as East Coast exec producer. A 12-year commercial industry vet, Fox has recently been working as a freelance producer for Boxer director Jeff DeChausse. Others on the Boxer roster include helmers Rob Groenwold, Andrew Hardaway, Joe Murray, Thomas Richter, Esteban Sapir and Jim Zoolalian. Furthermore, Boxer’s expansive moves aren’t limited to the United States. The shop has linked with Big Productions, Paris, for representation in France. Per the arrangement, the two companies will also provide production support for one another on projects produced in their respective territories….
PEOPLE IN THE NEWS
Venice, Calif.-based Alturas Redfish Films has brought Jeff Rohrer on board as executive producer. Rohrer had been freelance producing, building a reputation for large-scale international shoots. Among his recent credits are Fiat in Capetown, South Africa, for Leo Burnett, Paris, Nike in Vancouver, B.C., for Wieden+Kennedy, Portland, Ore., and Red Stripe in Los Angeles for BBDO New York. The Alturas Redfish directorial roster includes Brumby Boylston, Gerald K. Casale, Shekhar Kapur, Peter Mack, Jonathan Mostow, Public Access, JB Rogers, Lee Rogers and Joel Schumacher. Company owner is Marshall Rawlings…..Joakim Borgstrom has joined Wieden+Kennedy, Amsterdam, in the newly created position of interactive creative director. He was formerly a partner at Barcelona-based interactive shop Double You, where he started as its first employee 10 years ago. During his tenure there, Borgstrom developed notable interactive campaigns for Diesel, Audi, Heineken, Mitsubishi, Nike, and Coca-Cola…..Director Mark Schimmel has signed with Double Wide Media, New York, where he joins forces with exec producer Don Faller. Schimmel has spent the past couple of years as a freelancer, directing spots under his Chicago-based banner Once Upon a Time. His latest endeavors include a national spot for Wahl Trimmers and a series of Internet movies for Discover Card. He is also wrapping his first feature, the animation film Geppetto’s Secret…….
First-Time Feature Directors Make Major Splash At AFI Fest, Generate Oscar Buzz
Two first-time feature directors who are generating Oscar buzz this awards season were front and center this past weekend at AFI Fest in Hollywood. Rachel Morrison, who made history as the first woman nominated for a Best Cinematography Oscar---on the strength of Mudbound in 2018--brought her feature directorial debut, The Fire Inside (Amazon MGM Studios), to the festival on Sunday (10/27), and shared insights into the film during a conversation session immediately following the screening. This came a day after William Goldenberg, an Oscar-winning editor for Argo in 2013, had his initial foray into feature directing, Unstoppable (Amazon MGM Studios), showcased at the AFI proceedings. He too spoke after the screening during a panel discussion. The Fire Inside--which made its world premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival--tells the story of Claressa “T-Rex” Shields (portrayed by Ryan Destiny), a Black boxer from Flint, Mich., who trained to become the first woman in U.S. history to win an Olympic Gold Medal in the sport. She achieved this feat--with the help of coach Jason Crutchfield (Brian Tyree Henry)--only to find that her victory at the Summer Games came with relatively little fanfare and no endorsement deals. So much for the hope that the historic accomplishment would be a ticket out of socioeconomic purgatory for Shields and her family. It seemed like yet another setback in a cycle of adversity throughout Shields’ life but she persevered, going on to win her second Gold Medal at the next Olympics and becoming a champion for gender equality and equitable pay for women in sports. Shields has served as a source of inspiration for woman athletes worldwide--as well as to the community of... Read More