RSA Films has launched a Latin commercial division headed by industry veteran Ed Rivero. The new venture, called La Division, opens with a directorial roster that includes Angel Gracia, Arturo Pereyra, Augusto Gimenez Zapiola, Felix Fernandez de Castro, Jesus M. Rodriguez, Karina Taira, Magaby Garcia, Simon Bross and Doble Nelson….Director Matt Ogens, formerly with the recently shuttered Headquarters, has joined bicoastal HKM Productions. He has already wrapped a five-spot ESPN package at his new roost for Ground Zero, Marina del Rey, Calif…..Executive producer Valerie Petrusson is launching Beast, a bicoastal editorial house. The new venture will open with a roster of editors that includes Adam Schwartz, Paul Kelly, Igor Kovalik and Kevin Garcia. Petrusson’s exec producer counterpart in New York is Amy Saunders….Animation studio Wild Brain, San Francisco–which is active in commercials–has acquired a majority stake in New York-based limited edition art toy creator Kid Robot. The two companies plan to develop animated TV, feature film, direct-to-video and other entertainment properties, leveraging the equity of Kidrobot characters….Beaucoup Chapeaux, the independent and outsourced in-house production department started by Lisa Dee 11 years ago, has formed Beaucoup Entertainment, a New York-based content development, production and talent management company. The new venture has entered into an exclusive development and representation deal with Andrea Eisen and Beth Fraikorn. Eisen is a programming, distribution, co-production and development executive who heads Hollywood, Fla.-based Hibiscus Media. Fraikorn is an executive producer/sales agent specializing in packaging, development and placement of entertainment properties. Beaucoup Entertainment will launch a slate of programs at the upcoming MIP TV conference; the company’s content includes dramatic series The Floor and reality series Wine Country USA….Adidas will be awarded the Advertiser of the Year honor at the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival in June….
Oscar Nominees Delve Into The Art Of Editing At ACE Session
You couldn’t miss Sean Baker at this past Sunday’s Oscar ceremony where he won for Best Picture, Directing, Original Screenplay and Editing on the strength of Anora. However, earlier that weekend he was in transit from the Cesar Awards in Paris and thus couldn’t attend the American Cinema Editors (ACE) 25th annual panel of Academy Award-nominated film editors held at the Regal LA Live Auditorium on Saturday (3/1) in Los Angeles. While the eventual Oscar winner in the editing category was missed by those who turned out for the ACE “Invisible Art, Visible Artists” session, three of Baker’s fellow nominees were on hand--Dávid Jancsó, HSE for The Brutalist; Nick Emerson for Conclave; and Myron Kerstein, ACE for Wicked. Additionally, Juliette Welfling, who couldn’t appear in person due to the Cesar Awards, was present via an earlier recorded video interview to discuss her work on Emilia Pérez. The interview was conducted by ACE president and editor Sabrina Plisco, ACE who also moderated the live panel discussion. Kerstein said that he was the beneficiary of brilliant and generous collaborators, citing, among others, director Jon M. Chu, cinematographer Alice Brooks, and visual effects supervisor Pablo Helman. The editor added it always helps to have stellar acting performances, noting that hearing Cynthia Erivo, for example, sing live was a revelation. Kerstein recalled meeting Chu some eight years ago on a “blind Skype date” and it was an instant “bromance”--which began on Crazy Rich Asians, and then continued on such projects as the streaming series Home Before Dark and the feature In The Heights. Kerstein observed that Chu is expert in providing collaborators with... Read More