Mark Thomas, managing director of Area 51 Films, Santa Monica, has confirmed that he is in the process of leaving the company he’s been at the helm of for the past seven years. Thomas hopes to make an announcement shortly regarding his future plans….Noted still photographer Timothy White has signed with the recently launched Phil’s Films, Venice, Calif., for representation as a director. Phil’s Films is a division of Electric Avenue Films, Venice….Director Jean-Marc Piché and executive producer John Gilliland have joined Directorz, Dallas…Executive producer Gregg Stern has departed Santa Monica-headquartered M-80 Films. His future plans weren’t known at press time….Director Rodolfo Pagliere has come aboard the roster of Letca Films, Miami….Red Truck Films, a production company headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., has named Amy Diamond executive producer. She was formerly a producer at Raleigh ad agency McKinney & Silver. Red Truck represents directors Conrad Fink, Charlie Watson, Greg Hoey, Garye Kostner, Allen Weiss, Steve Murray, Kevin Bourland and C.B. Harding in the Southeast…. Editor Jim Ulbrich has joined 89 Editorial, New York. He was formerly an editor at Day For Night, the in-house editing arm of Berlin Cameron/Red Cell, New York.…Eric Silver, who left his post as executive VP/creative director at Cliff Freeman and Partners, New York, is joining Saatchi & Saatchi, New York, as executive VP/creative group head….
Alec Baldwin Sues For Malicious Prosecution After Judge Dismissed “Rust” Case
Actor Alec Baldwin has filed a civil lawsuit for malicious prosecution and civil rights violations in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on the set of the Western movie "Rust." The lawsuit was filed Thursday at state district court in Santa Fe, where a judge in July dismissed a charge of involuntary manslaughter against Baldwin in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Baldwin also alleges defamation in the suit, saying that prosecutors and investigators intentionally mishandled evidence as they pursued the case. Defendants named in the lawsuit include special prosecutor Kari Morrissey and Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies, along with three investigators from the Santa Fe County sheriff's office and the county board of commissioners. "Defendants sought at every turn to scapegoat Baldwin for the acts and omissions of others, regardless of the evidence or the law," the lawsuit states. It also says prosecutors and investigators targeted Baldwin for professional or political gain. Hutchins died shortly after being wounded during a rehearsal for the movie "Rust" in October 2021 at a film-set ranch on the outskirts of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Baldwin, the lead actor and co-producer, was pointing a pistol at Hutchins when it discharged, killing Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza. Baldwin has said he pulled back the hammer — but not the trigger — and the revolver fired. Baldwin's trial was upended by revelations that ammunition was brought into the Santa Fe County sheriff's office in March by a man who said it could be related to Hutchins' killing. Prosecutors said they deemed the ammo unrelated and unimportant, while Baldwin's lawyers say investigators "buried" the evidence in a separate case folder and filed a... Read More