Cody Cluff, former president of the Entertainment Industry Development Corp. (EIDC), which oversees the joint Los Angeles City/County Film Office, was sentenced to three years of probation on charges of embezzling public funds while serving as head of the EIDC. He also repaid $80,000 to the EIDC. Cluff has spent the past three months in jail awaiting sentencing. He could have served up to three years of incarceration for felony embezzlement, but based on the recommendations of the State Department of Corrections, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Larry Fidler sentenced Cluff to probation….The Russo Brothers, who won an Emmy for comedy series directing on the strength of their work on Arrested Development, have joined philsfilms, Venice, Calif., for commercials….Amy Hobby has joined Washington Square Films, New York, as president of its newly formed independent film division….Designer/director David Foote has signed with New York animation shop Asterisk for commercial and broadcast work….Veteran editors Jeff Sternberger and Michael Coe (co-founders of JefCo Editorial, Miami) and audio engineer Steve Johnston (founder of Outpost Audio, Miami) have teamed to form 2150, a Miami-based post facility with three Avid Media Composer suites, three Digidesign ProTools suites, and a Discreet Smoke setup utilizing the talents of effects artist Mike Nonelle….Greg Foster, president of IMAX Filmed Entertainment, has added company chairman to his title. Based in Los Angeles, Foster will assume responsibility for IMAX’s film distribution activities. He also oversees creative development, business affairs, sponsorship and marketing. As earlier reported (SHOOT, 4/23, p. 1), IMAX has a working relationship with bicoastal commercial production house Moxie Pictures—which also maintains a motion picture division—to produce a documentary on sailboat racing. Sponsorship for the branded entertainment project is being coordinated by Brad Ball of Ball Entertainment Group, Burbank, Calif….
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