The Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers have delayed their next full bargaining session until June 1. The commercial industry has been keeping a watchful eye on the proceedings, with hopes that a settlement can be reached so that the fall primetime TV season isn’t compromised, causing advertisers to step back from their commitments and to possibly curtail original spot production. Fortunately, there don’t appear to be any WGA strike plans. Between now and June 1, the two sides are scheduled to tackle specific issues in smaller subcommittee, sidebar and caucus conferences….The directing team of Cole & Roy (Joe Cole and Paul Roy), formerly of RAW/Progressive, Hollywood, has come aboard Rock Fight, Hollywood….Director Elliott Lester has joined Trio Films, Venice, Calif….The Association of Independent Creative Editors (AICE) held a national board of directors meeting last week, in conjunction with its AICE Awards. Topics included preliminary discussion about expanding the organization and adding more categories to next year’s Awards, which will be presented in New York.…Editor Peter Odiorne has left Crew Cuts, New York, and joined PS 260. He will edit via the Gotham-based shop while continuing to be available to direct under The Odiorne Brothers banner, which he maintains with Jeff Odiorne, former founder/ creative director of agency Odiorne Wilde Narraway & Partners (now See, San Francisco). The Odiorne Brothers are not formally at a production house and are currently exploring their options on that front. They have been running jobs through bicoastal Moxie Pictures….Global Mechanic, Boston and Vancouver, B.C., has signed live-action feature director Mina Shum for spots. Shum’s film credits include Long Life, Happiness and Prosperity and Drive, She Said. Additionally, Nathaniel Akin, who began freelance animating with Global Mechanic in 2003, has been added to the production company’s directorial roster….Mixer/composer Chris Winston has launched ON Music and Sound, Santa Monica. The new studio will create original music, sound design and audio mixing for spots….Millennium Pictures, Toronto and Southfield, Mich., has opened an office in Santa Monica with Jonathan Miller as executive producer….
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