Director Lionel Coleman has joined Superlounge for exclusive U.S. spot representation. His commercialmaking runs the gamut, from tender moments (Huggies’ “No Baby Unhugged” campaign via Ogilvy), to powerful messages (Children’s Cancer Association/CCA’s “Dear Cancer”) and broad visual humor (LasVegas.com’s “Distraction Curtain” via R&R Partners). Coleman has cultivated a quiver-full of arrows in production: his most recent project is a three-spot package for Barrow Neuro Institute via R&R Partners, which he directed, lensed and edited.
Coleman’s point of view has been shaped by a unique trajectory, beginning with years spent as a cameraman at CBS News. His assignments took him around the world, covering conflicts, natural disasters and more. The experience left Coleman longing for a career in entertainment, possibly as a feature DP. He moved to LA, but was recruited by Nike in Portland. There, he began shooting in-house docs, and a pilot for The Just do It Hour. Nike also opened the door for Coleman to direct spots in-house. That led to his being signed by production company Visitor, and he quickly realized the key to his success as a director would be rooted in diversity. “You survive by being a chameleon,” he said, “so I expanded into sports, cars, healthcare, and so forth.”
Coleman’s clientele in the branded arena grew to include adidas, Ford, Gatorade, Walmart, and Wilson Tennis. At one point, he recalled, “I wanted (DP) Matthew Libatique for a job and he wasn’t available. I thought, ‘I started out as a cameraman, I’ll shoot this one.’ That led me to be unafraid of shifting gears, it allowed me to dream.” As a director who could shoot and edit when necessary, Coleman was free to pursue great creative, regardless of challenging budgets. He also learned that versatility is the sister of reinvention. Coleman’s beginnings at CBS News are now bookended by his acceptance into that network’s diversity program, where he is pursuing opportunities in episodic TV, shadowing directors of NCIS: New Orleans, F.B.I. and God Friended Me.
“Lionel is versatile, agile and inspired,” said executive producer Vicki Williams, who presides over Superlounge alongside EP Dave Farrell. “He has a unique grasp of what it means to be human. He brings that not only to his work, but to his ability to collaborate.”
“I was getting used to being on my own, but the people and philosophy of Superlounge won me over,” said Coleman. “Dave’s take on the production company model, and the team’s commitment to creative, are synergistic with my point of few as a filmmaker.”
Coleman comes aboard a Superlounge directorial roster which includes Jordan Brady, Greg Popp, Russell Bates, Ben Giroux, Jeannette Godoy and John Poliquin.
Alec Baldwin Urges Judge To Stand By Dismissal Of Involuntary Manslaughter Case In “Rust” Shooting
Alec Baldwin urged a New Mexico judge on Friday to stand by her decision to skuttle his trial and dismiss an involuntary manslaughter charge against the actor in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on the set of a Western movie.
State District Court Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer dismissed the case against Baldwin halfway through a trial in July based on the withholding of evidence by police and prosecutors from the defense in the 2021 shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film "Rust."
The charge against Baldwin was dismissed with prejudice, meaning it can't be revived once any appeals of the decision are exhausted.
Special prosecutor Kari Morrissey recently asked the judge to reconsider, arguing that there were insufficient facts and that Baldwin's due process rights had not been violated.
Baldwin, the lead actor and co-producer on "Rust," was pointing a gun at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during a rehearsal when it went off, killing her and wounding director Joel Souza. Baldwin has said he pulled back the hammer — but not the trigger — and the revolver fired.
The case-ending evidence was ammunition that was brought into the sheriff's office in March by a man who said it could be related to Hutchins' killing. Prosecutors said they deemed the ammunition unrelated and unimportant, while Baldwin's lawyers alleged that they "buried" it and filed a successful motion to dismiss the case.
In her decision to dismiss the Baldwin case, Marlowe Sommer described "egregious discovery violations constituting misconduct" by law enforcement and prosecutors, as well as false testimony about physical evidence by a witness during the trial.
Defense counsel says that prosecutors tried to establish a link... Read More