Director Jeff Blitz is available once again for commercials via Anonymous Content. Blitz, a regular director on The Office, shot one of the last episodes of the series—”Livin’ the Dream”—which aired May 2, and also just wrapped directing the full first season of Comedy Central’s new series Review (starring UCB’s Andy Daly) which he also executive produced. Blitz also directed the pilot of Playing House (starring Jessica St. Clair and Lennon Parham), picked up this month by USA Network. Blitz was honored with an Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Directing for The Office‘s “Stress Relief” episode. His debut documentary, Spellbound, was nominated for an Oscar. Blitz has directed commercials for Yahoo!, John Hancock, Southern Comfort,
MasterCard and Monster.com, to name a few….Director David Betteridge–whose ad credits span such clients as Google, Nokia, Sony, Visa, British Airways and Mercedes-Benz, has come aboard the roster of Oil Factory. As for longer form fare, Betteridge has helmed branded content for Kenco, commissioned by Kraft Foods through JWT in London, which focuses on a family run coffee empire that utilizes every by-product of the coffee bean harvest to run a sustainable and clean plant. Another short documentary shot in the USA, France and Thailand explores how Prometheum’s smart board technology in the classroom is changing teaching….NY-based video, digital media, and film post facility DuArt has added Craig Gordon as sr. editor. Prior to joining DuArt, Gordon was HD specialist/editor for Brass Monkey Post (BMP), where he edited a wide range of projects including commercials, feature films, corporate videos, promo packages, music videos, documentaries, episodic television and museum exhibitions. Before BMP, Gordon was head of HD development and the HD project manager for Rhinopost in New York. Gordon’s credits include a number of high-profile projects, including the Academy Award-nominated and Sundance Grand Jury Prize Winner film Trouble the Water, the Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or Award-winner Fahrenheit 9/11 directed by Michael Moore, and the acclaimed documentary A League of Ordinary Gentlemen. Gordon’s extensive TV portfolio includes series for CBS, A&E, MTV, History Channel, PBS, and Discovery….
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