Director Bernie Roux has joined Portland, Ore.-based animation/mixed media studio Bent Image Lab. Growing up in South Africa, Roux studied film, illustration and 2D animation, landing an apprenticeship under two of South Africa’s top animators–Riccardo Capecchi in 2D animation and Lindsay Van Blerk in stop motion. After getting his foot in the door at a South African production company, Roux worked his way up through the ranks, until he eventually founded his own studio Lovebomb Animation. He later joined New Zealand animation studio Yukfoo in 2007 and then Stockholm’s Against All Odds/Passion Pictures in 2010. Among his notable projects is the short film This Crowded Thought in which his story is told through stop motion photo flashes that he took while walking to and from work in Sweden. The film screened at “Best of the World” in the Hiroshima Animation Festival in 2012 and won a platinum Pixie in 2013. In addition to this Roux has won multiple awards for his commercials including a Loerie Award for his MTN spot, a D&AD award for his Doom “Bugs” illustrations and a Silver Lion for his 2003 PSA for Childline entitled “Lucy Moonflower.” He also directed a pair of Schweppes spots for Africa which featured his animation in such mediums as tin, wood and paint, deployed to express African street culture….Lost Highway Films has added director Robin Hays to its roster. Hays earned inclusion into the 2009 SHOOT New Directors Showcase in part on the strength of her adidas “Sneaker Head” spec spot and has gone on to establish herself as a director known for her fresh take on docu-style and children’s advertising. Hays’ “Blue Skies” for Honda earned Silver at the Digital Marketing Awards. She joins a Lost Highway directorial roster that includes Amy Demas, Elma Garcia, Sasha Levinson, Caitlin Felton, Todd Bellanca, Eddy Chu, Michael Patterson and Peter Rab�t….72andSunny, Los Angeles, has hired Audrey Eden to build the experiential marketing practice at the agency. Eden joins 72andSunny from Deutsch LA where she was executive VP of experiential marketing, leading efforts for brands such as Volkswagen and Target. She orchestrated over 200 events a year for VW, ranging from ride-and-drives to creating VW Area 41 that ended the summer-long sponsorship of the Dave Matthews Band tour. Her body of work also includes experiential work for HTC, American Express and Pedigree….
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