Steve Caplan, senior VP, external affairs for the Association of Independent Commercial Producers (AICP), has been elected to the executive committee of the Entertainment Industry Development Corp. (EIDC), which oversees the joint Los Angeles City/County Film Office. Caplan gives the spotmaking community a seat on the exec committee of the EIDC, an organization that was revamped last month (SHOOT, 12/12/03, p. 1). Caplan is also a member of the 33-member EIDC board, which includes two other representatives from the commercial production biz: former AICP West Coast chapter president Gary Rose, a partner/exec producer at bicoastal Go Film; and Randy Winograd, COO/general counsel of bicoastal HSI Productions, which is active in spots, music videos and longform….The three spotmaking groups of Hollywood-headquartered class-key chew-po, inc.—class-key chew-po animated commercials, live-action shop ka-chew! and class-key chew-po broadcast design—now operate under the overall ka-chew! banner. The change is designed to maximize talent across all three disciplines while maintaining continuity, as creative director John Andrews still oversees animation, Paul Babb remains executive producer of live action and Sam Schoemann heads broadcast design. The commercialmaking operations are all part of noted Hollywood animation studio Klasky Csupo….Vancouver-based Global Mechanic—an animation and live action production company founded by Bruce Alcock and Ann Marie Fleming in 2000—has opened an office in Boston. Matthew Charde will serve as executive producer of Global Mechanic, Boston. Most recently, Charde was senior VP/director of Circle Studios, the in-house multimedia production unit of interactive agency Euro RSCG Circle, Boston….Director Geoff Moore has joined Blueyed Pictures, Los Angeles.… Director Richard Carroll, formerly of the helming/design team Felt, has come aboard Santa Monica-based production house Pusher for exclusive spot representation in the U.S….John Scar-cella has been named president of Sony Electronics’ Broadcast and Production Systems Division (BPSD), headquartered in Park Ridge, N.J. He will succeed Patrick Whittingham, a 29-year Sony vet, who elected to take advantage of the company’s early retirement program. In addition to his new role, Scarcella will maintain his current responsibilities as president of Sony Electronics’ Business Solutions Division. In other BPSD organizational changes, Robert Wilcox has been named general manager of BPSD’s content creation unit, succeeding Larry Thorpe, who also elected to accept the early retirement option. And Alec Shapiro has been named senior VP of marketing, a role previously held by Stephen Jacobs, who will be the division’s senior VP, responsible for strategic planning and alliances….Designer/animator Shell Blevins has joined Fuel, Santa Monica….Monica Macdonald, former AICP West Coast chapter regional events director, has joined Quixote Studios, West Hollywood, as director of studio services. Founded by Mikel Elliott and Jordan Kitaen in ’95, Quixote provides stage facilities and production-related services to the film and spotmaking industries….The Clio competition has added an award category, Content & Contact, which will recognize innovation through the marriage of creative content and contact with a target audience. Nick Brien, president of corporate business development for Starcom MediaVest Group, Chicago, will chair the Content & Contact executive jury….If you are a member of the commercial production community who has a film that will be screened during the 2004 Sundance Film Festival and would like the project to be considered for coverage in SHOOT’s Sundance roundup, send a screener to senior reporter Christine Champagne c/o SHOOT, 770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003. You can also e-mail info to cchampagne@shootonline.com….
Breakout Films and Major Takeaways From This Year’s Sundance Fest
Film wasn't the only thing on people's minds at this year's Sundance Film Festival, which comes to a close Sunday in Park City, Utah ( and online ).
The effects of the wildfires in Southern California loomed large, as did the bittersweet knowledge that this year will be the second to last Sundance based in Park City. Some films offered an escape from reality; others were a pointed reminder of the domestic and international political landscape, from transgender rights to the war in Ukraine.
Here are some of the key takeaways from the 41st edition of the festival.
The effects of the Southern California fires were deeply felt
The wildfires were still burning in parts of Los Angeles when Sundance began last week and reminders of its devastation were everywhere, even on screen. Max Walker-Silverman's "Rebuilding," starring Josh O'Connor as a cowboy who loses his ranch in a wildfire and forms a community with fellow survivors in a FEMA camp, hit close to home for many.
Filmmakers Meena Menon and Paul Gleason lost their home in Altadena where they filmed some of their zombie apocalypse movie "Didn't Die." Sundance artist labs head Michelle Satter lost her Palisades home as well. Satter had an audience of Sundance Institute donors in tears early in the festival while accepting an honor at a fundraising gala.
"It's a deeply devastating time for us and so many others, a moment that calls for all of us coming together to support our bigger community," Satter said. "As a friend recently noted, and I have to listen to this, 'Take a deep breath ... We lost our village, but at the end of the day we are the village.'"
The festival's move to another city dominated conversations
It was a topic... Read More