Director Leigh Ogilvie and director/DP Tony Baggott of Frieze Films, Johannesburg, have signed with bicoastal Notorious for exclusive U.S. representation….Director Peyton Reed has formally come aboard bicoastal Moxie Pictures for exclusive spot representation; as reported in SHOOT (3/5, p. 15), he had earlier wrapped a Moxie-produced Target commercial ("Isaac Mizrahi/Spring ’04") for Peterson Milla Hooks, Minneapolis. Reed’s feature films include Bring It On and Down with Love….Bicoastal Hornet has signed design collective Lifelong Friendship Society (LFS) for exclusive representation. LFS includes designers Brian Close, Kaori Sohma and Jason Jones, all of whom were formerly graphic artists and animators at VH1….Director/DP Gil Cope has joined Dark Light Pictures, Hollywood….New York-based independent label Artemis Records and bicoastal spot music producer JSM Music have teamed to form Artemis JSM. The new joint venture will expose Artemis Records’ music talent to the ad community while giving JSM a major window to the record industry. There is also the potential of Artemis JSM serving as a conduit for the release of compilation albums….Editor Bob Jenkis, whose last affiliation was Crew Cuts West, has joined Mad River Post, Santa Monica….Editor Elisa Bonora has come aboard bicoastal Lost Planet….London house Cut+Run, under the aegis of owner/editor Steve Gandolfi, has extended its reach stateside, joining forces with Santa Monica editing shop Swietlik, headed by owner/editor Dan Swietlik, and former Crew Cuts West executive producer Christie Cash. The combined editorial roster of Swietlik and Cut+Run will be repped in the U.S. under the Cut+Run LA banner. Cash has also brought several editors into the fold, including Philip Owens, Ellen Crocker, TG Herrington and Matt Chesse….Producing/directing team Richard O’Connor and Brian O’Connell have opened Asterisk, an animation boutique in New York. The duo had formerly been with The Ink Tank, New York….Bicoastal Crushing Blueprint, a division of Crushing Music, New York, that produces hip-hop music for advertising, and represents select artists for spotwork, has added to its roster. The company now handles Kanye West and KonMan Productions, which includes artists such as producer/songwriter Devon Harris, singer/songwriter John Legend and rap artist Consequence. Also new to the Blueprint lineup are: producer/songwriter Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie and producer/performer/writer Ryan Leslie….
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