Director George Jecel has joined the commercial roster at HELLO! and Company. His spot credits span such clients as Adidas, Blue Cross, Boeing, Cadillac, Canon, California Tourism, Chrysler, Coca-Cola, Dannon, Evian, Ford, Gatorade, Ikea, Mazda, McDonald’s, Nike, Reebok and Travelocity. Last year he co-wrote, produced and directed his first full-length feature film, Little Dancer, which won the best feature award at the Moondance Film Fest in NY. The film is currently circulating the international festival circuit and is due to be released world wide in 2013….Director Xander has joined the roster of Backyard. He comes over from production studio East Pleasant. His directorial endeavors include nine episodic spots for Covergirl starring Holland Roden for the exclusive sponsorship of the MTV VMAs, dozens of films for Chevrolet Malibu to highlight its design partnership with Isaac Mizrahi, an Ultimat Vodka campaign, and spots for Royal Caribbean, Yahoo!, the NFL, HSBC and Adidas. He has already been awarded his first job at Backyard, a Gillette assignment for BBDO New York. Earlier, Xander served as an agency producer at JWT NY….Exec producer/director Jonathan Lia, exec producer Brian Welsh and managing director Ryan Heiferman have launched N.Y.-based production house GOODCOMPANY with a directorial roster that includes Lia, Aaron Platt, Alexandre Moors, Daniel Gomes, Noah Conopask, Scarlett Johansson and Surround (co-helmers Brian and Brad Palmer)….
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