Bicoastal Transmission@RSA has signed New York-based director Brent Harris. Formerly of bicoastal Go Film, Harris joins a directorial roster that also consists of Sean Mullens, Wayne Holloway and ACNE….Michael Crapser, best known for his long tenure as executive producer and head of the commercials division at Rhythm & Hues, Los Angeles, has joined Hollywood-based Motel Films as its executive producer. He had most recently been partner/executive producer at Santa Monica-based CGI/ visual effects house Moving Pixels. Motel’s directorial lineup includes company president Rick Dublin, Todd Korgan and Eric Young….Bicoastal Elias Arts has signed multimedia performance group Fischerspooner (Warren Fischer and Casey Spooner) for spotwork….Mia Films, Miami, has launched a new division to work on branded content. Mia Next will be headed by general manager Sisco Sanchez….Ivo van Riet has departed his position as executive producer of The Haus, New York, a company which he co-founded, and has joined Hyena Films, New York, as executive producer….Laurence J. Hyman has assumed ownership of San Francisco-based audio postproduction house Crescendo! Studios from Bob Shotland and Jack Leahy. Hyman, who comes from a background in still photography, journalism and filmmaking, will work closely with Crescendo’s longtime director of operations, Cindy McSherry. The shop’s ensemble of talent includes senior audio engineers Jay Shilliday, Craig Helmholz and Dave Baker….Millennium Pictures, Southfield, Mich., has launched an office in Toronto headed by executive producer Michael Cooper. The full roster of Millennium directors—Derek Case, Mark Walton, Jamie Way, Bill Scarlet, Charlie Watson and Jb Carlin—will be available via both offices….Thwak!, a New York music production company, has opened an office in Chicago with Cliff Kennedy as producer/creative director….Jeff Odiorne, chairman/executive creative director at Odiorne Wilde Narraway + Partners, San Francisco, has left the agency. Odiorne, who has helmed some spots with his brother, Peter Odiorne, an editor in the New York office of bicoastal Crew Cuts, is expected to pursue a new venture involving directing….
Gene Hackman Died Of Heart Disease; Hantavirus Claimed His Wife’s Life About One Week Prior
Actor Gene Hackman died of heart disease a full week after his wife died from hantavirus in their New Mexico hillside home, likely unaware that she was dead because he was in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease, authorities revealed Friday. Both deaths were ruled to be from natural causes, chief medical examiner Dr. Heather Jarrell said alongside state fire and health officials at a news conference. "Mr. Hackman showed evidence of advanced Alzheimer's disease," Jarrell said. "He was in a very poor state of health. He had significant heart disease, and I think ultimately that's what resulted in his death." Authorities didn't suspect foul play after the bodies of Hackman, 95, and Betsy Arakawa, 65, were discovered Feb 26. Immediate tests for carbon monoxide poisoning were negative. Investigators found that the last known communication and activity from Arakawa was Feb. 11 when she visited a pharmacy, pet store and grocery before returning to their gated neighborhood that afternoon, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said Friday. Hackman's pacemaker last showed signs of activity a week later and that he had an abnormal heart rhythm Feb. 18, the day he likely died, Jarrell said. Although there was no reliable way to determine the date and time when both died, all signs point to their deaths coming a week apart, Jarrell said. "It's quite possible he was not aware she was deceased," Jarrell said. Dr. Michael Baden, a former New York City medical examiner, said he believes Hackman was severely impaired due to Alzheimer's disease and unable to deal with his wife's death in the last week of his life. "You are talking about very severe Alzheimer's disease that normal people would be in a nursing home or have a nurse, but she was taking care... Read More