Millennium Pictures, Santa Monica, has signed director Marshall Vernet for exclusive U.S. spot representation…..Paris-headquartered Thomson–whose Grass Valley unit makes the Spirit–announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire 33 1/3 percent of the issued and outstanding shares of Canopus Co., Ltd, a Japan-based developer of HD desktop video editing software, through a private transaction with Canopus chairman/CEO Hiroshi Yamada, and members of his immediate family. Thomson also disclosed that it will launch a public tender offer for the remaining Canopus shares in order to fully acquire the company….Director Mark Walton has joined Mindfield Pictures, Detroit, for Midwest representation. His credits include spots for such clients as Daimler Chrysler, The Salvation Army, BC Tel and Kraft. Walton’s roots are on the agency side of the business. He worked for J. Walter Thompson and McCann Erickson, both in London, and later served as creative director at Canadian ad shops Leo Burnett and MacLaren:Lintas…..If you are a member of the commercialmaking community who has a film that will be screened during the 2006 Sundance Film Festival and would like the project to be considered for coverage in SHOOT‘s Sundance roundup, send a screener to senior editor/creative and production Kristin Wilcha c/o SHOOT, 21 Charles St., Suite 203, Westport, CT 06880. You can also email info to kwilcha@shootonline.com….
A “Wicked” Welcome From The National Board of Review
Days after "Wicked" went home from the Golden Globes with a single award for box office achievement, the National Board of Review Awards held space for the smash hit musical, celebrating its cast and director in the New York group's annual gala Tuesday. The untelevised but starry NBR Awards were a chance for many of the nominees who didn't win Sunday to trot out their would-be acceptance speeches, including Daniel Craig and Nicole Kidman. Accepting the award for best actress for her performance in the erotic thriller "Babygirl," Kidman celebrated by chugging a glass of milk, a nod to some of the film's kinky sex games. After finishing, Kidman triumphantly announced "Good girl!" and left the stage. It also was an opportunity for some jabs at the Globes. "Isn't this room just a little bit classier than the Beverly Hilton?" quipped presenter Christine Baranski, looking around the elegant marble-columned midtown venue, Cipriani's. Others were less impressed by the old-school New York vibe. "The bathroom attendant, that shouldn't exist anymore," Kieran Culkin said during a typically free-form acceptance speech for best supporting actor for his role in "A Real Pain." The night belonged to Jon M. Chu's "Wicked." The musical was the board's pick for best film, best director for Chu and a special award for the creative collaboration of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. The two, in back-and-forth remarks, continued their mutual praise of each other. "Also you're welcome," added Grande. "I truly think you would have murdered anyone else." "Probably true," responded Erivo. Chu, who was introduced by Lin-Manuel Miranda, used the moment to reflect on his yearslong journey with "Wicked," which will be followed by an already-shot part two due out this... Read More