At press time (3/21), the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) had stopped accepting applications for new H-1B visas this current fiscal year. That’s because the INS reached the annual allotment of 115,000 such visas. The allocation was supposed to last a full year, from October 1999 through this September. Two years ago, the allocation was raised from 65,000 to 115,000 H-1Bs to help U.S. high-technology firms—including visual effects and CG houses—cope with a shortage of qualified American workers. Talk has begun on Capitol Hill regarding drafting new legislation that would further increase the number of available high-tech visas….Bicoastal Cylo, with an office in London, has signed director Mark Valentine….Curious Pictures, bicoastal, inked a deal to represent Stockholm-based animation studio Filmtecknarna F. Animation (directors Jonas Odell and Jonas Dahlbeck) in North America….Colin Brown has been named CEO of Cinesite, worldwide, and COO of its European subsidiary, Cinesite (Europe) Limited, based in London. He has headed Cinesite (Europe) since it was founded in ’94. Additionally, Ruth Scovil, who was formerly in corporate strategic planning at DreamWorks, has become president and COO of the U.S. subsidiary, Cinesite Inc., based in Hollywood. Cinesite is the digital motion imaging division of the Eastman Kodak Company….Robin Shenfield has been appointed CEO of London-headquartered The Mill Group, which encompasses post/effects facility The Mill, effects shop Mill Film and Mill Motion Control. Shenfield was one of the original founders of The Mill….
The End of The “Rust” Criminal Case Against Alec Baldwin May Unlock A Civil Lawsuit
The conclusion of a criminal case against Alec Baldwin in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer clears the way for a related civil lawsuit by relatives of the deceased woman and efforts to depose the actor under oath, attorneys for plaintiffs in the civil suit said Tuesday.
At a news conference in Los Angeles, victims' rights attorney Gloria Allred said that the parents and younger sister of deceased cinematographer Halyna Hutchins were disappointed that prosecutors won't appeal the dismissal of an involuntary manslaughter charge against Baldwin. The criminal charge against Baldwin was dismissed halfway through trial in July on allegations that police and prosecutors withheld evidence from the defense.
Hutchins died shortly after being wounded during a rehearsal in the movie "Rust" in October 2021 at a film-set ranch on the outskirts of Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Baldwin, the lead actor and coproducer, 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.
Allred said Hutchins' relatives are determined to pursue damages and compensation from Baldwin and "Rust" producers in New Mexico civil court, and want Baldwin to answer questions under oath in the proceedings. Hutchins' widower and son previously reached a separate legal settlement.
"With the withdrawal that was made public yesterday, we are now able to proceed with our civil case," Allred said. "Clearly, the rights of Alec Baldwin were protected, but the due process rights of the victims — Halyna Hutchins and her parents and her sister — were violated."
Allred said she's ready to prove that Hutchins had a close relationship... Read More