John Fragomeni has been appointed president of Mirada, the creative studio founded in December 2010 by filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, cinematographer Guillermo Navarro, and Motion Theory co-founders Javier Jimenez and director Mathew Cullen. Fragomeni will help lead business development efforts for Mirada, implement new creative strategies, and continue to manage and oversee the studio’s diverse portfolio of design, visual effects, animation, digital and interactive production, and developing technology. Fragomeni has been with Mirada from its outset. Over the past two years, he has been responsible for developing the company’s robust technological infrastructure, building its pipeline from the ground up, and curating a growing talent base of over 160 employees. His push into digital production has resulted in IBM’s Centennial THINK exhibit at the Lincoln Center, the Rome interactive music video with Google, and bestselling author Cornelia Funke’s living storybook app, “MirrorWorld.” As Mirada’s sr. visual effects supervisor, he has helped oversee both concept development and visual effects for del Toro’s highly anticipated blockbuster, Pacific Rim. Fragomeni’s previous film credits include Terminator: Salvation and the second and third installments in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise…..Ian Chee joins creative and technology agency MRY as chief strategy officer and Matt Rednor, who previously held the title of chief strategy and innovation officer, has been promoted to the role of chief innovation officer. Both Chee and Rednor will report to MRY’s founder/CEO Matt Britton. Chee, a veteran digital marketer and strategist who most recently served as director, co-head of strategy at AKQA, will lead MRY’s strategy team and oversee all planning and strategic output across MRY’s U.S. offices. In his new role, Rednor will be responsible for navigating MRY’s new agency positioning and creating IP which will continue to drive business growth. He will also be charged with the continued development of the agency’s model and service offering….
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