Director Eric Steinman, formerly of bicoastal Headquarters, has come aboard Trio Films, Venice, Calif….A Band Apart has signed director Thomas Krygier. The Los Angeles-based production company will represent Krygier for spotwork in the U.S.… Director Jb Carlin has joined Metro Pictures USA, the Venice-headquartered shop headed by executive producer Craig Farkas….Prodigy Films, Melbourne and Sydney, has added director Charles Williams and producer Joel Kohn to its team….Ross Scroble has joined Charlex as senior character animator in its 3-D department. He comes over from Blue Sky Studios, Harrison, N.Y, where he served as technical lead animator….John Schwartzman, ASC rode Seabiscuit to victory in the feature film competition at the 18th Annual American Society of Cinematographers Outstanding Achievement Awards. Schwartzman, who is repped as a director/cinematographer for commmercials by bicoastal RSA USA, said after the ceremony, "I’m honored to be a member of ASC. This [award] is the greatest honor for me that there is because it comes from my peers … The opportunity to work with someone like [Seabiscuit director] Gary Ross was the ride of a lifetime." Schwartzman, who mixes commercial and feature work, recently lensed a Dodge spot directed by David Kellogg of bicoastal Anonymous Content. At press time, he was about to embark on a Gatorade shoot with director Baker Smith of Santa Monica-based harvest….
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