Director Jeff Labbé, who first gained industry recognition as an agency creative, has joined bicoastal/international @radical. media. Labbé exited his post as a senior VP/creative director at Leo Burnett USA, Chicago, last year to pursue a directorial career. He has since independently helmed several notable projects; @radical becomes his first formal production company roost….South African director Peter Pohorsky—who is partnered with producer Di Hellman under the Plank banner in Cape Town—has joined the roster of Mechaniks, Venice, Calif., for U.S. representation. Mechaniks is a satellite of Venice-based Cucoloris….FM Rocks, Santa Monica, has signed director Marcus Raboy for exclusive music video representation. Raboy will also be repped for spots by FM Rocks’ sister shop Boondoggle…..Hispanic ad agency La Agencia de Orci & Associados, headquartered in Los Angeles, is opening a New York office, which will be headed up by Jaime Ramirez, VP/general manager of New York operations….The Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival has recast the Titanium Lion—introduced in 2003 to reward groundbreaking and innovative concepts—as an integrated campaign award. The Titanium Lion will honor work that uses at least three distinct communication channels, including traditional and nontraditional outlets. A 10-person jury will select the honors, including a Grand Prix….
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