Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has appointed Katherine Oliver as commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting, New York. She replaces Patricia Reed Scott, who held the post from 1983 to ’90 and from ’94 to 2002. Prior to her appointment, Oliver served as general manager of Bloomberg Radio and Television International….Director Dave Borthwick, founder of and principal in the Bristol, U.K.-based studio Bolexbrothers, has joined ka-chew!, the Hollywood-based live-action commercial division of animation studio Klasky Csupo, for exclusive representation in the U.S.….Bicoastal Villains has added a pair of comedy directors to its roster: Axel Laubscher and Bjorn Stein….John Bonito, a director/creative at NBC’s in-house agency, has secured representation as a spot helmer with Hollywood-based Level 7….Director Nick Egan, fomerly of now defunct Cognito Films, is working out of Los Angeles-based Arsenal. Most recently, he helmed a music video for Splender’s "Save It for Later," which Arsenal produced….Editor Jack Douglas has joined Crew Cuts/West, Santa Monica. He comes over from Santa Monica-based The Mint….The Whitehouse has added a couple of editors to its roster in Chicago: Melanie Barter, formerly of The Whitehouse, Santa Monica; and Patrick Burns, formerly of Northern Lights Post, New York. Burns is slated to join The Whitehouse effective July 1. The Whitehouse maintains full-service shops in London, New York, Chicago and Santa Monica….Director Jesus Rodriguez has signed with International Legacy Films, a Los Angeles-based spot/music video house under the aegis of executive producer Michelle Colbert….Cibolo Films, San Antonio, Texas, has signed director Elyse Lewin for representation in the U.S. Hispanic market. Lewin continues to maintain her Los Angeles-based Lewin Pictures for general-market assignments….Barbara Gans Russo, formerly head of broadcast production at Publicis, New York, has been named president of New York operations for The Albert Company, a provider of celebrity talent and popular music rights for advertisers….Billy Corben and Alfred Spellman have launched Sea Spot Run, a commercial/music video shop in North Miami….
Actor Steve Guttenberg Returns To L.A. Neighborhood Now Charred By Devastating Wildfire
Steve Guttenberg awoke Thursday morning to a grim reality: The treacherous wildfire that tore through the Pacific Palisades had left his once-lush neighborhood charred and unrecognizable.
With homes smoldered, streets emptied and friends scattered by evacuation orders, Guttenberg counted himself among the fortunate. His property was miraculously spared. But the actor-producer still struggled to reconcile his relief with the haunting sight of his ravaged, once lavish community.
"Just this morning, I woke up and I was really conscious of my mental state and my mental health, because the last three days, I've seen so much tragedy," said Guttenberg, pacing through the ruins of his neighborhood. He said his home has electricity but no running water.
Guttenberg thanked God that his block was safe, but he said about 20 homes were burned "pretty bad" in his 80-home community after wind-whipped fires tore across Los Angeles, destroying homes, clogging roadways as tens of thousands fled as the fires burned uncontained Wednesday. He said the fires are the worst he's ever seen in his 66-years.
The wildfires have burned the homes of several celebrities including Billy Crystal, Carey Elwes and Paris Hilton.
Guttenberg said he never expected all of this to happen.
"It's like when someone dies suddenly," he said. "It's like when someone gets hit by a car. You never expect that to happen. That's how shocking it was."
During Guttenberg's stroll, it was an eerie scene with scorched palm trees, homes reduced to ash and rubble, and the daytime skies casted an ominous twilight over the devastation.
"I've seen people scared, people in wheelchairs, mothers and fathers trying to find their kids, people having anxiety and panic... Read More