Trail Head, the Santa Monica-based production/post house, is shifting its primary focus to the post arena, building around resident editor Patrick Fraser. Two of Trail Head’s production mainstays have left the company: executive producer Gary Buonanno, who has returned to freelancing as a producer/assistant director; and director Barry Young, who’s joining Cognito Films, Santa Monica….Director Mark Voelpel has joined New York-based production/visual effects house Black Logic. He was formerly the director of CGI at R/GA Digital Studios, New York….At press time, SHOOT received word that director Gregg Snazelle, a stalwart of the San Francisco production scene, had died. Snazelle was instrumental in helping to establish the Association of Independent Commercial Producers on the West Coast….In line with its recently announced restructuring plan, Tewksbury-based Avid Technology has laid off nearly 200 employees, and has also hired Chas Smith as VP/worldwide sales and marketing, a position he held at Avid’s audio division, Palo Alto-based Digidesign….Just Write, the feature film debut of director Andy Gallerani, makes its cable debut this month on Cinemax. The movie, which stars Sherilyn Fenn, Jeremy Piven, JoBeth Williams and Wallace Shawn, is also slated to run on HBO, Showtime and Encore in the near future. Gallerani continues to helm spots via Venice, Calif-based Mohr•Gallerani & More Films….
HBO Inks Two-Year First-Look Deal With Sharon Horgan and Her Production Company Merman
HBO has signed a two-year first-look television deal with BAFTA-winning and Emmy®-nominated actor, writer, and producer Sharon Horgan (“Bad Sisters,” “Catastrophe”) and her multi award-winning production company Merman. HBO has also given a straight-to-series order for a new original comedy series, the first project under this deal, from Horgan and produced by Merman, with Horgan serving as writer, star, and executive producer.
This comedy series follows a 50-year-old divorcee’s search for sex and love while juggling caring for her ailing parents and parenting her should-be grown up son.
Amy Gravitt, executive VP, HBO & Max Comedy Programming, said, “We’re thrilled to be reunited with Sharon. Her willingness to offer up her own experiences through the characters she creates makes us all feel a little less lonely, that is what sets her comedy apart so brilliantly. She also has such a sharp eye for material and a strong desire to shepherd other people’s stories, we’re looking forward to the new talent she will bring into the fold.”
Horgan said, “I’m so happy to once again be working with Casey [Bloys], Amy, Francesca [Orsi] and the team at HBO, and really excited that Merman get to continue to tell stories for a company that’s been home to some of the most iconic television shows ever created.”
Horgan has created and starred in such series as “Pulling,” “Catastrophe,” “Motherland,” “Amandaland” and BAFTA and Peabody winning series “Bad Sisters,” which recently released its second season. She received Emmy® nominations for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series (“Catastrophe”), Lead Actress in a Drama Series, and Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series (“Bad... Read More