In an effort to keep more commercial editing within the agency, The Assembly Line, the in-house editorial division of Fallon, Minneapolis, is looking to establish a strategic alliance with an outside editorial company. Per the arrangement, an edit house will relocate one of its cutters to the Minneapolis shop for one year to cut spots at The Assembly Line….Harry Nash, the London production company under the aegis of managing director Julia Reed, has shut its doors. Meanwhile, director Ringan Ledwidge, formerly of Harry Nash, and his long-time producer, Sally Humphries, have launched production company Small Family Business, London. He continues to be repped stateside by Claire.Alden Partners, New York….Jason Harrington has signed with Large, London, for representation in the U.K. He remains with bicoastal/international Believe Media for U.S. work. Additionally, director Steve Bendelack has signed with Large….Wild Brain, San Francisco, has signed animation director Jan Carlée for commercial and feature work….BeachHouse Films, Santa Monica, has added directors Bill Werts and the mono-monikered Karsten to its roster…..Agency Bates Worldwide, headquartered in New York, is closing its doors….Laura Rosenblatt has joined Company X, New York, as executive producer. She comes over from New York agency Margeotes|Fertitta+Partners, where she served as a producer and business manager….Editor Adam Parker, formerly of Jigsaw, Santa Monica, has joined Chrome, Santa Monica…. Viviana Pendrill, the founder and former co-founder of Hispanic ad agency Casanova Pendrill Publicidad, Irvine, Calif., has been hired by Warner Bros. Pictures as VP of targeted marketing. In the newly created position, she will research and develop feature film marketing strategies for select niche audiences, including Hispanic, teen and urban demographics….Director Todd Phillips is back at bicoastal Moxie Pictures and available for spots after wrapping the feature film Starsky & Hutch….Julie Shevach has joined bicoastal Trollback & Company as executive producer. She was most recently head of production at Treehouse Animation, New York….Partners Michael Waldron and Erik van der Wilden have opened motion graphics company NailGun, New York….
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