In this week’s issue, we recap the panel discussions from the daytime SHOOT Directors/Producers Forum and evening New Directors Showcase; both events were held on May 10 at the Directors Guild of America (DGA) Theatre in New York (see separate section).
This is the ninth year of the Showcase; the last seven debuting at the DGA Theatre. Prominent in the mix of talent selected for the 2011 New Directors Showcase were a half dozen unaffiliated directors, five of whom earned inclusion on the basis of spec work: Matt Fackrell (Pampers’ “Freaked Out), Christopher Fata (Apartments.com’s “Novelty Cups”), Laurent Soriano (Perrier’s “Bonjour”), Kirsten Tan, currently enrolled in NYU’s Grad Film Program (IFC’s “Play Your Part” spec cinema ad), and Igor Martinovic (adidas’ “Dream”). Martinovic is well known as a DP, having shot the James Marsh-directed, Oscar-winning documentary Man On Wire.
Also in the unaffiliated batch of promising directorial newcomers was Elizabeth Orne, a recent NYU film school grad who caught SHOOT judges’ attention with her short film Crazy Glue.
Over the nine years of the SHOOT Showcase, a fair share of its directors has gone on to prominence. They include:
• David Gray, who was with Hungry Man at the time, gained a slot in SHOOT’s 2005 New Directors Showcase. Two years later he received a DGA nomination as Best Commercial Director of 2006. Gray is now with Station Film.
• Several, including Harold Einstein of Station, have gone on to direct work that’s earned Gold Lions at Cannes, AICP Show honors and other industry accolades. Einstein was in the ’08 Showcase.
• Michael Downing, who was with harvest at the time, had what was originally a spec spot, Bud Light’s “Skydiver,” earn him Showcase inclusion. “Skydiver” ascended from spec piece to 2005 Super Bowl spot, rating number one in USA Today’s Ad Meter, which ranks the popularity of each year’s crop of Big Game commercials. Downing is now with Epoch Films stateside and Suneeva in Canada.
• Keith Bearden was a Showcase director in ’08. Two years later Bearden’s theatrical feature film debut, Meet Monica Velour, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival.
• Also in the ’08 Showcase was director Pete Circuitt, a.k.a. Bitstate which is also the name of his U.K. studio. He went on to direct Yes, Virginia, a primetime CBS TV animated Xmas special for Macy’s and JWT New York that earned a One Show Entertainment Awards’ Gold Pencil last year. He helmed that project via The Ebeling Group, which handles him stateside for commercials and branded content.
• And Ross Katz, a director who made the Showcase in ’09, went on to see his Taking Chance win the DGA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Movies For TV.
Meanwhile, we look forward to achievements from this year’s roster of Showcase directors. For the SHOOT staff, the most gratifying part of the Showcase is giving exposure to the worthwhile work of directors, seeing their careers get a jump start and then progress over the years.
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