Alan Irvin, former executive creative director of Grey Worldwide South Africa, has jumped over to the commercial production house side of the business, becoming a director at Picture Tree, Johannesburg…….New York-based mister boomboom, a label of bicoastal/international Believe Media, has added director Alistair Taylor-Young to its roster. Taylor-Young is well established in Europe but new to the American ad market; he is slated to move from London to Manhattan next month……Meanwhile designer and live-action director Monica Perez has come aboard Believe Media to helm spots and music videos. She previously served as a designer, creative director and commercial director at global creative agency Attik, New York and San Francisco, for six years…..Attik has opened its first permanent office in Southern California. Initially the West Hollywood quarters will be working on the Scion account. Rachel Newell, Attik’s West Coast business manager, continues to work out of the firm’s San Francisco office. Attik additionally maintains a New York office and its European headquarters in Leeds, England….Rhythm & Hues Commercial Studios, Los Angeles, has signed director Mark Dippe. Additionally, Lisa White has been promoted to head of production at the shop’s Commercial Digital operation….Director Adam Stevens has joined Notorious 24:7, Santa Monica, for U.S. spot representation. His work for New Zealand beverage brand L&P made this year’s Cannes short list and earned a gold award for direction at the ’05 Axis Awards of New Zealand….Washington Square Films, New York, has launched Washington Square International, headed by executive producer Brian Morris. The new venture opens with three directors: Steven Fong, Leandro Sanchez and Nick Santana. Washington Square International is repping these helmers to the general market, to U.S.-based Hispanic and Asian ad agencies, and to multicultural ad shops in foreign countries….Senior producer Andrea Sertz, formerly of bicoastal Brand New School, has come aboard bicoastal Transistor Studios. Meanwhile, relocating stateside is design director Anders Schroder, who’s now based in Transistor’s Venice, Calif., office….Tammy Walters, acting executive producer at FlickerLab, has become a partner in the New York-based design/animation studio….Creative director Mikon Van Gastel and executive producer Saffron Kenny–both formerly of bicoastal Imaginary Forces–have launched A Very Small Office, a design-driven live-action studio in New York….. Charlex, New York, won a BDA World Gold Award for its M&M’s “River Rock” spot via BBDO New York….The Omnilab Group, one of Australia’s largest privately owned media services companies, has acquired AAV Limited’s Digital Media Services group, which includes Digital Pictures Melbourne and Sydney, Iloura Melbourne, Comcopy Imagestream, Flagstaff Studios, Digital Pictures Interactive, AAV PAX, AAV New Zealand, and a 50 percent stake in DubSat. Omnilab adds these assets to its existing independent businesses, which include: The Lab Sydney, Ambience Entertainment, The Playroom Sydney, Cornerpost and Island Films….
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