Though some details were sketchy at press time, SHOOT confirmed that A Band Apart’s spot operation has closed. Managing director Jeff Armstrong said company principal Lawrence Bender informed him of the decision to shutter the shop last week. Armstrong in turn made staffers and directors aware of the closure. A SHOOT phone call to Bender had not been returned at press time. Armstrong said he was disappointed over the decision to shut down A Band Apart in that he felt there were viable alternatives. There’s been some speculation that some of the talent at A Band Apart might stay together and form another venture; Armstrong related that he was still considering his options. He said his immediate priorities were trying to help staffers deal with the turn of events while also making creditors aware of the situation. Armstrong added that he is among those creditors. Among the directors on the A Band Apart roster were Marcel Langenegger, Coodie & Chike, Brendan Donovan, Per Dreyer, Derek Horn, Jennifer Little, Michael Palmieri, Corbett Scott, Martin Weisz and James White……EUE/Screen Gems has shuttered its New York-based Highway 61 production company satellite. Highway 61 was most recently headed up by exec producer Marc Rosenberg and at the time of its closing represented directors Rupert Wainwright, Eddy Chu, Tom Cartier and Doug Coleman. “The decision to close Highway 61 is part of an ongoing strategic plan here at Screen Gems that will include the opening of additional satellites in the future,” said EUE principal Chris Cooney in a released statement. “We’re also going to focus on further developing our growing business in the areas of branded entertainment, television and feature film production and distribution.”….Saville Productions, Beverly Hills, has signed director Joachim Hellinger, a.k.a. Helli, for exclusive U.S. representation. He is best known for his work in European action spots and documentaries….Director Jeff Labbe has joined Fools and Horses, Los Angeles….U.K.’s Passion Pictures has added directors Carl Zitelmann and Nathasha Rand….Troika Design Group, Hollywood, has brought Dale Everett on board as creative director….
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