Eastman Kodak (NYSE: EK), headquartered in Rochester, N.Y., has completed its acquisition of LaserPacific Media Corp. (Nasdaq NM: LPAC), a leading Hollywood post company, in a transaction valued at $30.5 million. The original deal was agreed upon in August (SHOOT, 8/15-29, p. 7). LaserPacific will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kodak and become a part of the company’s Entertainment Imaging services group, headed by VP/general manager Bertrand Decoux. Emory Cohen, co-founder of LaserPacific, leads the subsidiary as CEO….Calling it a major "setback in our efforts to revive the film and TV production industry in New York," Assemblyman Joseph D. Morelle (D-Irondequoit) criticized Gov. George Pataki’s (R-N.Y.) veto of legislation designed to attract film and TV work to New York State. Sponsored by Morelle, the bill unanimously passed both houses of the legislature in June 2003, and would have amended the Tax Law and the Administrative Code of New York City in relation to the imposition of personal income tax on the accrual of income, particularly income received by an individual through a partnership, S corporation, estate or trust, as a result of that individual’s chance of residency. The bill was supported by such organizations as the New York Production Alliance, the Directors Guild of America, the Association of Independent Creative Editors and the Association of Independent Commercial Producers….Director Paul Santana has come aboard ka-chew!, the live-action commercial production unit of class-key chew-po, Hollywood….Michael Spoljaric has joined Spontaneous, New York, as senior designer. He was formerly with R!OT Manhattan….Paul Hansil, who most recently served as president of Crawford Communications, Atlanta, has returned to the manufacturer side of the business, as director of business development, key accounts, for Mountain View, Calif.-headquartered Pinnacle Systems. He will remain based in Atlanta….Ntropic, San Francisco, added producer Heather Gibbons, who comes over from Mad River Post, Santa Monica. Earlier, Dana Townsend—an alum of Radium, San Francisco and Santa Monica, and SOLdesignfx, Santa Monica—was named Ntropic’s exec producer….The fifth annual Gunn Report—a compilation of award show results over the past year—has named the top production houses, directors, ad agencies and campaigns of ’03. Topping the field of most-awarded production companies is bicoastal/international Morton Jankel Zander, followed by bicoastal/international @radical. media, Bangkok, Thailand-based Phenomena, London-headquartered Spectre (now known as Large, after its merger with Stark Films, London) and two companies tied for fifth place, Gorgeous Enterprises, London, and bicoastal/international Partizan….
Breakout Films and Major Takeaways From This Year’s Sundance Fest
Film wasn't the only thing on people's minds at this year's Sundance Film Festival, which comes to a close Sunday in Park City, Utah ( and online ).
The effects of the wildfires in Southern California loomed large, as did the bittersweet knowledge that this year will be the second to last Sundance based in Park City. Some films offered an escape from reality; others were a pointed reminder of the domestic and international political landscape, from transgender rights to the war in Ukraine.
Here are some of the key takeaways from the 41st edition of the festival.
The effects of the Southern California fires were deeply felt
The wildfires were still burning in parts of Los Angeles when Sundance began last week and reminders of its devastation were everywhere, even on screen. Max Walker-Silverman's "Rebuilding," starring Josh O'Connor as a cowboy who loses his ranch in a wildfire and forms a community with fellow survivors in a FEMA camp, hit close to home for many.
Filmmakers Meena Menon and Paul Gleason lost their home in Altadena where they filmed some of their zombie apocalypse movie "Didn't Die." Sundance artist labs head Michelle Satter lost her Palisades home as well. Satter had an audience of Sundance Institute donors in tears early in the festival while accepting an honor at a fundraising gala.
"It's a deeply devastating time for us and so many others, a moment that calls for all of us coming together to support our bigger community," Satter said. "As a friend recently noted, and I have to listen to this, 'Take a deep breath ... We lost our village, but at the end of the day we are the village.'"
The festival's move to another city dominated conversations
It was a topic... Read More