Director Fredrik Bond has come to in a sense reflect the globalization of the business on a couple of fronts over the past week-plus. For one, Supernoodles "Face Off," which he directed through London-based Harry Nash for agency Mother, London, was one of the honorees in the AICP Show’s Advertising Excellence/ International category. This category represents the first time that the AICP has opened its spot honors showcase to entries produced for markets outside the U.S. (see story, p. 1). Meanwhile in the U.K., Bond’s announced move from Harry Nash—the company that helped establish him as a commercialmaker—to bicoastal Morton Jankel Zander’s recently formed London office, has generated controversy, the catalyst being an alleged mega bonus paid by MJZ to help secure him from Harry Nash. Several members of the U.K. production community have expressed concern that the signing smacks of the bidding frenzy mentality for directors that has proven detrimental to the U.S. market. They do not want to see the same dynamic gain momentum in the U.K…..Marc Klasfeld has left bicoastal/international hungry man and will be directing commercials via Rockhard Films, New York, his current music video roost….After a hiatus from the business, director Gary Johns—a co-founder of Johns+Gorman Films and then JGF, Hollywood—is returning to commercialmaking. He will be available via bicoastal Coppos Films. Johns is also represented in Canada by Imported Artists Film Company, Toronto….Matthew Marquis, former executive producer at Slo.Graffiti, Los Angeles, has teamed with creative director/designer Jake Banks to form Venice, Calif.-based design house Stardust. The new venture is already involved in work for Burger King via agency Amoeba, Santa Monica…. Director Paul Andresen has joined Z group films, Chicago, and Venice, Calif., for exclusive representation….Three post vets—Hope Schenk, Rick Greenwald and Newt Bellis—have teamed to launch Post Solutions, a Toluca Lake, Calif.-based video postproduction facility. Schenk is president of the new venture, with Bellis serving as CEO and Greenwald as editor/engineer….Nicolas G. Hayek, co-founder/chairman/CEO of the Swatch Group, will be named Advertiser of the Year at the 49th International Advertising Festival this month in Cannes….This year’s ADDY Best of Show Broadcast honor goes to BBDO New York for its "Cheerleader" commercial directed by Marcos Siega of bicoastal/international hungry man for Frito Lay’s Doritos Extremes….
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 โ but not the trigger โ 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