Stephanie Seligman Balint has been named the new East Coast Executive Producer at Synthetic Pictures. Balint joins Synthetic’s management team led by founding director Justin Corsbie and West Coast and Austin, Texas EP Allison Smith.
Most recently Balint was EP at design and animation company Scout. Now back in live-action, she will work closely with Synthetic’s diverse roster of directors. Balint got her start on the agency side as a producer before making the leap to the production company side, taking the role of head of production at Chelsea Pictures.
She then launched the New York office for A Band Apart, where she worked closely with feature directors as they transitioned to commercials, including Steve Buscemi and Tim Burton.
Balint also brings to Synthetic extensive experience in international production, the result of years working with Palma Pictures in Spain. Recognition for Balint’s work includes a Gold Lion for her work for Staples while with Industrial Artists.
“Justin [Corsbie] and I both have a long history with New York City, and we felt that we needed someone who was a natural extension of us to help expand our presence there,” noted Smith. “Stephanie fits the bill and brings such a vast level of connections and expertise to the table.
Active in commercials, branded content and filmed entertainment, Synthetic Pictures maintains offices in L.A., Austin and New York City.
Director Pete Marquis Launches Good Behavior
Director Pete Marquis has opened Good Behavior, a comedy-focused production company in which he’s partnered with executive producer Victoria Guenier and producer Adam Lawson.
The trio worked on some 50-plus productions since meeting three years ago at Strike Anywhere, a production house where Marquis was on the directorial roster, Guenier was on staff as EP and Lawson freelance produced.
Marquis, Guenier and Lawson continued collaborating after departing Strike Anywhere. Starting this past June, they picked up five jobs which have since been wrapped. They have five more projects that have been awarded to them, two of which are in post. Their latest campaigns were for Fruit by the Foot, Doordash and White Claw. Good Behavior officially launched today (Sept. 9). Appropriately enough, Marquis has a humorous explanation for the launch date and company moniker. When he was in daycare, a stern German woman looked after him. As a result, one of the first phrases he ever learned was, “Nein. Nein.” A lifetime of being told, “nein nein,” has prepared him to be on good behavior, and to formally open the doors of Good Behavior on 9/9.
Marquis draws on his writing abilities and knack for collaboration with actors and creatives, to mine every scene for truth and humor, and consistently create work that hits a nerve with the zeitgeist. “I’ve been fortunate enough to be making the kind of work I like seeing out in the world. And doing it with the same people I love, admire and enjoy working with, Adam and Victoria. We always challenge ourselves to push the work and stretch the budgets, while keeping the set running smooth and the experience a joy for everyone. I hope to one day retire alongside those two. And hopefully that day’s not... Read More