FINDING FULFILLMENT IN AN "EMPTY WORLD"
A youngster strums on a guitar when his big brother enters the room and throws him a motorcycle helmet. The two hop on a chopper and ride through city streets. However, no one is on those streets. They end up at a stadium to see a football game, but there’s no one else in the stadium. In fact there are no players on the field.
A voiceover explains that to the younger lad, “You [his big brother] are the world” and then advises big siblings to talk to their little brothers about the dangers of drug usage.
This message from the Partnership for a Drug-Free America was directed by Mike Bigelow of GARTNER, Santa Monica, for Leo Burnett, Chicago. Andreas Arlia was creative director for Burnett with Dennis Bannon serving as producer.
Don Block, Rich Carter and Elaine Behnken exec produced for GARTNER, with Kim Monaco producing. The DP was Scott Buttfield. Editor was Steve Stein of Cutters, Chicago…..
FOOTAGE WORTHY OF THE SMITHSONIAN Smithsonian Channel has named Thought Equity Motion as its licensing partner to make available footage from its award winning original programming content for use by other producers.
As the sole licensing agent for Smithsonian Channel’s high definition collection, Thought Equity Motion will offer clips drawn from the channel’s original programs and series.
“Smithsonian Channel programming explores incredible people, places and events that Americans are passionate about,” said David Royle, Smithsonian Channel’s exec VP of programming & production. “We’ve entrusted our most valuable assets to Thought Equity Motion knowing they have brought some of the world’s most prestigious footage collections online. Their licensing expertise and technology have created a new revenue stream for us by leveraging the value of Smithsonian Channel’s original programs.”
Smithsonian Networks programming celebrates the American experience with branded original content drawn largely from the assets of the Smithsonian Institution, the world’s largest museum and research complex, and features original documentaries, short-subject explorations and innovative programs highlighting America’s historical, cultural and scientific heritage.
The Smithsonian Channel Collection contains such footage as the history of flight, America’s most iconic monuments and high-production value aerials. Producers can search, preview, purchase and download footage in the same day. To browse the collection, visit www.thoughtequity.com/Smithsonian…..
PEOPLE IN THE NEWS Domenic Rom, who has served as COO of PostWorks‘ lab operation since its acquisition by PostWorks three years ago, has been appointed to the newly created position of senior VP/general manager of postproduction services for PostWorks’ main New York facility in Soho. Rom is a 28-year N.Y. post veteran known for his groundbreaking work with Unitel, Duart, Sekani and Moving Images, as well as his proactive membership with the Association of Cinema and Video Laboratories….N.Y.-based conceptual design/animation/VFX studio Suspect has hired Keith McCabe as visual effects director. He has held a variety of client-facing senior manager and creative director positions at such leading studios as ILM, Blue Sky Studios, Rhythm+Hues, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Asylum and Charlex. McCabe’s hallmark has been the creation of notable images and VFX for animated and effects-driven films, TV commercials, music videos and art projects….
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