Bicoastal/international Satellite Films has signed five directors: Fritz Flieder, Enda Hughes, Jason Goldwach, Norbert Heitker and Richie Smyth….
Director Mark Perez has come aboard Perretti Productions, New York….
Director Phelim Dolan, formerly of Zero 2 Sixty, New York, has joined New York-based TAG Pictures.…
Animation studio Wild Brain, San Francisco, in conjunction with Beverly Hills-based talent agency The Irv Schechter Company, is representing director and animator David Feiss for spot work. Best known as creator/director of the animated TV series Cow & Chicken for Cartoon Network, Feiss just wrapped his first Wild Brain campaign—Frito-Lay Cheetos Whirlz’ "Cool Cat" and Cheetos Mystery Colorz Snacks’ "PSA" out of BBDO New York….
Designer/director Alessandro Swainston has come on staff at Black Logic, New York….
Avid editor Karama Horne has left mad.house, New York, and joined The Blue Rock Editing Company, New York….
The on-again, off-again deal between Pentamedia Graphics and North Hollywood animation studio Film Roman has been resurrected, albeit on a smaller scale than first planned. Now the Chennai, India-headquartered Pentamedia will acquire 49.9 percent of Film Roman in a deal valued at around $10 million. Originally, Pentamedia was to have bought a 60 percent stake in Film Roman, which is best known for its work on such TV series as The Simpsons and King of the Hill. Film Roman also maintains a commercialmaking division….
Crissy Desimone has joined Santa Monica-based editing house Swietlik as a producer….
Director Tim Hamilton of bicoastal Zooma Zooma has wrapped the first six episodes of a Steve Martin-executive produced comedy series and is again available for spots. Meanwhile, Hamilton’s short, Truth In Advertising, is one of a dozen films to make the cut in the Cannes Film Festival short competition. Hamilton’s cult spoof is scheduled to be the opening film of the fest’s short lineup….
Alec Baldwin Urges Judge To Stand By Dismissal Of Involuntary Manslaughter Case In “Rust” Shooting
Alec Baldwin urged a New Mexico judge on Friday to stand by her decision to skuttle his trial and dismiss an involuntary manslaughter charge against the actor in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on the set of a Western movie.
State District Court Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer dismissed the case against Baldwin halfway through a trial in July based on the withholding of evidence by police and prosecutors from the defense in the 2021 shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film "Rust."
The charge against Baldwin was dismissed with prejudice, meaning it can't be revived once any appeals of the decision are exhausted.
Special prosecutor Kari Morrissey recently asked the judge to reconsider, arguing that there were insufficient facts and that Baldwin's due process rights had not been violated.
Baldwin, the lead actor and co-producer on "Rust," was pointing a gun at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during a rehearsal when it went off, killing her and wounding director Joel Souza. Baldwin has said he pulled back the hammer — but not the trigger — and the revolver fired.
The case-ending evidence was ammunition that was brought into the sheriff's office in March by a man who said it could be related to Hutchins' killing. Prosecutors said they deemed the ammunition unrelated and unimportant, while Baldwin's lawyers alleged that they "buried" it and filed a successful motion to dismiss the case.
In her decision to dismiss the Baldwin case, Marlowe Sommer described "egregious discovery violations constituting misconduct" by law enforcement and prosecutors, as well as false testimony about physical evidence by a witness during the trial.
Defense counsel says that prosecutors tried to establish a link... Read More