U.S. ad spending will rise only two percent in 2008 as compared to the 3.7 percent gain predicted in December '07. That's the revised forecast from Magna Global's Robert Coen, senior VP/director of forecasting, when looking ahead to all of '08 when stacked up against the industry's performance in '07. The revision is particularly dismaying in that '08 is a Summer Olympics and a presidential election year, which normally translates into a major jump in ad spending. However, a seriously weakened economy triggered by the escalating cost of fuel and food, and the home mortgage crisis have put a major damper on prospects for '08….BBDO Atlanta has brought three key artisans on board: Chuck Meehan as senior creative director, Dana Xavier as director of digital operations and Vegard Soehus as research director. Additionally, design director Paul Huggett has been promoted to senior VP and Kyle Lewis has been upped from senior VP/creative director to exec creative director. Meehan comes over from GSD&M, Austin, Texas. Xavier had been at Atlanta agency 22 Squared. And Soehus' previously worked as a managing consultant at the Zyman Group and spent 10 years at The Coca-Cola Company where he helped to lead strategic planning and marketing science efforts across 35-plus countries in Europe and Asia….
“Se7en” Turns 30, Gets A Special Restoration From David Fincher For Its Re-Release
For David Fincher, seeing “Se7en” in 4K was an experience he can only describe as harrowing. That or a high school reunion.
“There are definitely moments that you go, ‘What was I thinking?’ Or ‘Why did I let this person have that hairdo’?” Fincher said in a recent interview with The Associated Press.
He’s OK with the film being a product of its time in most respects. But some things just could not stand in high-definition resolution.
“It was a little decrepit, to be honest,” said Fincher. “We needed to resuscitate it. There are things you can see in 4K HDR that you cannot see on a film print.”
Ever the perfectionist, he and a team got to work on a new restoration of the film for its 30th anniversary re-release. This weekend the restored “Se7en” will play on IMAX screens for the first time in the U.S. and Canada, and on Jan. 7, the 4K UHD home video version will be available as well.
The dark crime thriller written by Andrew Kevin Walker and starring Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman as a pair of detectives looking for a serial killer was somewhat of a career-reviver for Fincher, whose directorial debut “Alien 3” had not gone well. “Se7en” was not a sure thing: It was made for only $34 million (and only got that when Fincher managed to persuade studio execs to give up $3 million more). But it went on to earn more than $327 million, not accounting for inflation, and continues to influence the genre.
Fincher has over the years overseen several restorations of the film (including one for laser disc) but decided this needed to be the last. It’s why he insisted on an 8K scan that they could derive the 4K from. He wanted to ensure that it wouldn’t have to be repeated when screens get more... Read More