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….
Oscar Nominees Delve Into The Art Of Editing At ACE Session
You couldn’t miss Sean Baker at this past Sunday’s Oscar ceremony where he won for Best Picture, Directing, Original Screenplay and Editing on the strength of Anora. However, earlier that weekend he was in transit from the Cesar Awards in Paris and thus couldn’t attend the American Cinema Editors (ACE) 25th annual panel of Academy Award-nominated film editors held at the Regal LA Live Auditorium on Saturday (3/1) in Los Angeles. While the eventual Oscar winner in the editing category was missed by those who turned out for the ACE “Invisible Art, Visible Artists” session, three of Baker’s fellow nominees were on hand--Dávid Jancsó, HSE for The Brutalist; Nick Emerson for Conclave; and Myron Kerstein, ACE for Wicked. Additionally, Juliette Welfling, who couldn’t appear in person due to the Cesar Awards, was present via an earlier recorded video interview to discuss her work on Emilia Pérez. The interview was conducted by ACE president and editor Sabrina Plisco, ACE who also moderated the live panel discussion. Kerstein said that he was the beneficiary of brilliant and generous collaborators, citing, among others, director Jon M. Chu, cinematographer Alice Brooks, and visual effects supervisor Pablo Helman. The editor added it always helps to have stellar acting performances, noting that hearing Cynthia Erivo, for example, sing live was a revelation. Kerstein recalled meeting Chu some eight years ago on a “blind Skype date” and it was an instant “bromance”--which began on Crazy Rich Asians, and then continued on such projects as the streaming series Home Before Dark and the feature In The Heights. Kerstein observed that Chu is expert in providing collaborators with... Read More