Buenos Aires-based director David Preizler, formerly of Reactor Films, Santa Monica, is now available for U.S. general and Hispanic market work through his firm, Marlin Films, with production bases in Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo and Los Angeles….. Bicoastal editorial house Lost Planet has added editor/director/cinematographer Jaime Valdueza to its roster. He comes over from Module Zero Media, a shop he has owned and operated since 2002. Valdueza’s work spans the spot, music video feature and documentary worlds. In the latter arena, he edited and co-produced Children Rise directed by Bill Raftery. Children Rise follows the turbulent, dangerous lives of children living on the streets of Durban, South Africa. Valdueza had the daunting task of editing over 200 hours of film footage compiled over a four-year period, a project he calls the most moving and thought-provoking of his life…..Lenora Cushing has joined Hill Holiday’s Boston office as senior VP: and director of broadcast business affairs. In this capacity, Cushing will oversee celebrity and talent contract negotiations, secure trademark and copyright requirements, and ensure the agency’s creative work adheres to proper licensing rules. She spent the last 22 years at Arnold Worldwide, Boston, where she served in several roles. Since 1997, she had been Arnold’s group director of broadcast business affairs.
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