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 Urges Judge To Stand By Dismissal Of Involuntary Manslaughter Case In “Rust” Shooting
Alec Baldwin urged a New Mexico judge on Friday to stand by her decision to skuttle his trial and dismiss an involuntary manslaughter charge against the actor in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on the set of a Western movie.
State District Court Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer dismissed the case against Baldwin halfway through a trial in July based on the withholding of evidence by police and prosecutors from the defense in the 2021 shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film "Rust."
The charge against Baldwin was dismissed with prejudice, meaning it can't be revived once any appeals of the decision are exhausted.
Special prosecutor Kari Morrissey recently asked the judge to reconsider, arguing that there were insufficient facts and that Baldwin's due process rights had not been violated.
Baldwin, the lead actor and co-producer on "Rust," was pointing a gun at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during a rehearsal when it went off, killing her and wounding director Joel Souza. Baldwin has said he pulled back the hammer — but not the trigger — and the revolver fired.
The case-ending evidence was ammunition that was brought into the sheriff's office in March by a man who said it could be related to Hutchins' killing. Prosecutors said they deemed the ammunition unrelated and unimportant, while Baldwin's lawyers alleged that they "buried" it and filed a successful motion to dismiss the case.
In her decision to dismiss the Baldwin case, Marlowe Sommer described "egregious discovery violations constituting misconduct" by law enforcement and prosecutors, as well as false testimony about physical evidence by a witness during the trial.
Defense counsel says that prosecutors tried to establish a link... Read More