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….
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