Directorial team Anthony Atanasio and Valerie Martinez had joined MTh (Motion Theory)’s commercial roster for U.S. representation. Since teaming up in 2004 after Atanasio’s debut in the Saatchi & Saatchi New Directors Showcase at Cannes, Atanasio and Martinez have emerged as an award-winning pair, creating work for top brands including Nintendo, Nike, Audi, Levis, McDonald’s, Budweiser, General Motors and Toyota….BRW USA, Los Angeles, has signed directing duo The Salto Brothers, Louie and Jesse, for U.S. commercial representation. The pair has built a reel of European spots for Audi, Ubisoft, Toyota, Nissan and L’Oreal, among others. Additionally, they have helmed music videos for the likes of Snoop Dogg and Elijah Harris, and directed several branded and non-branded short films…Miles Jay has joined B-Reel for U.S., U.K. and Scandinavia representation, and will be based in the company’s LA office. Jay co-created the first Facebook Connect music video for Young Empires titled “White Doves,” and later created the interactive short film “Carly’s Caf�,” which this year won him the Young Director Award at Cannes Lions 2012….
Oscar Nominees Gather For Cocktails, Dinner and The Annual Class Picture
Five days before the Academy Awards, nearly every nominee gathered for a cocktail reception, dinner and class picture shoot that served as an Oscars orientation.
The event Tuesday night at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures was a stand-in for the annual Oscars luncheon usually held about a month earlier but scrubbed because of the Southern California wildfires.
With the voting over and winners determined, contenders got chummy and the mood was cheerful. Best actress favorites Mikey Madison and Demi Moore hugged and chatted. So did best actor front-runners Timothée Chalamet and Adrien Brody.
"Everyone say Oscar nominee!" best actress nominee Cynthia Erivo shouted gleefully from the front row of the museum's David Geffen Theater, where the dozens of nominees sat for their group picture.
Clustered in front with Erivo were three best supporting actress nominees: her "Wicked" castmate Ariana Grande, Monica Barbaro of "A Complete Unknown" and Zoe Saldaña of "Emilia Perez" along with Madison, nominated for "Anora." The five women stood in a circle and talked happily together after the photo, and kept the conversation going as they descended the stairs together to dinner.
In the back of the theater, a trio of best actor nominees sat together: Sebastian Stan of "The Apprentice," Colman Domingo of "Sing Sing" and Brody, of "The Brutalist."
After the photo was taken, Academy President Janet Yang gave the orientation presentation, reminding everyone that the 97th Academy Awards will be held Sunday.
She greeted first-time nominees and acknowledged there were also some with more than one.
Denis Villeneuve, director of "Dune: Part 2" and a four-time nominee, raised his hand. Sixteen-time best original song nominee... Read More