Ending months of rumors and speculation, it has been announced that the Rank Group Plc, the international gaming and leisure group, has reached an agreement to sell Deluxe Film to DX III Holdings Corp., a subsidiary of MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings, whose chairman and CEO is businessman Ron Perelman. The deal is valued at $750 million and is expected to be completed in early ’06. Deluxe, with operations in Hollywood, Toronto, London, Barcelona and Rome, is among the world’s largest processors of 35mm film for the motion picture industry and physical distributors of release and trailer prints for motion pictures. Perelman is also the principal shareholder in Panavision….Director Samuel Bayer and bicoastal/international RSA Films have parted ways…..Director Larry Frey has signed with bicoastal Chelsea Pictures. He brings an agency creative pedigree to Chelsea and previously was repped as a director by such houses as Uncle, Santa Monica, and bicoastal Villains….Sharon Lew, national head of sales for Crossroads Films, bicoastal and Chicago, has additionally assumed the role of executive producer on the East Coast for the company. In this latter capacity, she succeeds Charlie Curran who has moved on to head up a new live-action company, Nola, based in New York….Director Mark Brozel, known for his dramatic work, including BBC One’s contemporary version of Macbeth which debuted last November, has joined London house New Moon for commercials….Executive producer John Ficalora and director Christopher Yurkow have launched Bridge Street Films in Ardsley, N.Y. The new shop opens with a directorial roster that includes Yurkow and Marilyn Agrelo. The latter helmed the feature film Mad Hot Ballroom and is repped exclusively by Bridge Street for spots. Chris Miller, Bridge Street’s director of sales and marketing, will also represent the company on the East Coast. Indie reps Tim Harwood of Tim Harwood & Associates will cover the Midwest, and Rachel Finn and Mary Saxon of Finn Saxon Represents will handle the West Coast….David Lubars, chairman/chief creative officer of BBDO North America, will serve as jury president for the Titanium Lions at the 2006 Cannes International Advertising Festival….
Gene Hackman Tributes Pour In From Francis Ford Coppola, Viola Davis, Clint Eastwood and Paul Feig, Among Others
Director Francis Ford Coppola, actor Viola Davis, director Paul Feig and and actor-director Clint Eastwood are among those paying tribute to Gene Hackman after his death at age 95. Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa and their dog were found dead in their New Mexico home, authorities said Thursday.
"The loss of a great artist, always cause for both mourning and celebration: Gene Hackman a great actor, inspiring and magnificent in his work and complexity, I mourn his loss, and celebrate his existence and contribution." โ Francis Ford Coppola on Instagram.
"There was no finer actor than Gene. Intense and instinctive. Never a false note. He was also a dear friend whom I will miss very much." โ actor-director Clint Eastwood in a statement.
"He was a tough nut, Gene Hackman, but he was really good and he was really difficult. Like, we can say it now, but he was a tough guy because older great actors do not give young directors much of a chance. They're really rough on 'em." โ Bill Murray, recounting to The Associated Press Thursday how Hackman worked on the set of the "Royal Tenenbaums," including doing multiple takes flawlessly when other performers didn't nail the scene. "He was a great one. He was a great actor."
"We have lost a true legend. The magnificent Gene Hackman has passed away. A man whose breath of talent was immeasurable. Growing up on his movies was an absolute thrill for me. To observe his remarkable facility and humanity in every role was something to behold. Whatever film he was in, he made it better. A force of nature like no other and as such there will never be another like him." โ actor Cary Elwes.
"The greatest ... " โ director Edgar Wright on X.
"So awful. Gene was such an inspiration to so many of... Read More