Don Wahlberg, senior editor of Launch, New York, passed away after a sudden heart attack on Jan. 16 while building an ice rink for kids in his neighborhood. Wahlberg, 52, was an editor at Charlex, New York, since May 1990, and joined its recently spun-off Launch division last year. He is survived by his wife, Marianne, and two children, Alexandra and Erik. At press time, plans were being made for a memorial service….Director Dewey Nicks, who received a DGA spot director of the year nomination in ’00, has joined bicoastal Villains. He formerly helmed spots via bicoastal Epoch Films….Director Joel Pront, who works via Good Oil, Sydney, has come aboard bicoastal Go Film for U.S. spot representation…. Editor Paul Bertino, formerly of Venice, Calif.-based King Cut, has joined Mad River Post, Santa Monica….Meanwhile, King Cut has added editor Alexis Chavez, who comes over from Jigsaw, Santa Monica….New York-based visual effects/animation studio Treehouse has added effects directors Mitchell Deoudes and Jay Randall….The recently formed partnership between Los Angeles shops Primal Scream and RubberBand Music (SHOOT, 11/28/03, p. 8) has yielded creative alliances with film composers Ramin Djawadi, Simone Benyacar, Jerry Brunskill and Todd Haberman for spots and film trailers. Prior to formalizing his relationship with Primal Scream and RubberBand, Djawadi worked with both houses on a Ford F-150 spot directed by Eric Saarinen of Plum Productions, Santa Monica, for Zubi Advertising, Coral Cables, Fla. Djawadi’s credits include scoring several pieces for Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl. Haberman has scored Crocodile Dundee III and Cecil B. Demented. Benyacar has turned out music for trailers promoting such films as Lord of the Rings: Two Towers and Sylvia. And Brunskill’s original songs have been on such TV shows as JAG, Crossing Jordan and American Dreams….Audio mixer Jeff Fuller, who had been freelancing in Los Angeles the past few years, has come aboard Eleven, Santa Monica. Meanwhile, audio engineer/mixer Mike Greenberg has left Eleven to return to longform mixing….Keith Ehrlich has joined Eric Kaye Music, New York, as producer….
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