Hollywood-headquartered Post Logic has closed its Santa Monica visual effects unit Creo Collective. Creo had been winding down operations since the beginning of the year, and wrapped its final job over the past couple of weeks…..Word is that director Eden Diebel, formerly of bicoastal HKM Productions, has come aboard Great Guns: USA, Santa Monica, for spot representation….Director Alex Proyas is back from a two-year hiatus on the feature film I Robot and is again taking on spots via bicoastal/international Chelsea Pictures–the first being for Goodyear via Leagas Delaney…..The Film, Recording and Entertainment Council (FREC) has launched in Florida. The collective of recording, post, film, TV, radio, production, graphics and other creative companies is primarily from South Florida and hopes to promote economic development for the industry in that region. The group’s Web site address is www.frecouncil.org….At press time, Los Angeles was about to unveil a Film Inventory Management System Web site that will enable users to access info about lesser known lensing locations throughout the city….
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