Parent Co. Stoney Road Continues Consolidation.
By ROBERT GOLDRICH
Trail Head— the commercial production/postproduction house launched last year (SHOOT, 8/28/98, p. 1) by Santa Monica-headquartered Stoney Road Productions (which is parent to several spot production companies)—is shifting its focus to the post arena, building around resident editor Patrick Fraser. Two of Trail Head’s production stalwarts—executive producer Gary Buonanno and director Barry Young—have exited. Young has joined Cognito Films, Santa Monica (see separate story, p. 1), and Buonanno has returned to the freelance world as a producer/ assistant director.
Stoney Road president Michael Romersa said that Trail Head was still involved in some production. The company currently has two directors: Marty Weiss and Joe Schaak. At press time, Weiss said he was considering his options while finishing up a couple of jobs and bidding on some others via Trail Head.
Schaak, who continues to work on regional-originated fare out of Minneapolis-based production house Twist, had come aboard Trail Head for national representation earlier this year (SHOOT, 1/29/99, p. 7). He said he is contractually obligated to Trail Head through Jan. 15. Currently he is weighing a couple of alternatives—either entering into a nationwide representation relationship with another major market house, or establishing a national infrastructure at Twist, a company in which he’s a partner.
Romersa said that the rationale behind changing the course at Trail Head was twofold. For one, it continues Stoney Road’s consolidation process. "You have to address the realities of the business," he explained. "Business is generally off and that means we need to consolidate and run leaner." Earlier this year, Stoney Road closed Nitro Films—much of which was consolidated into another Stoney Road production company, bicoastal Reactor Films (SHOOT, 2/12/99, p. 1)—and more recently, Fahrenheit Films was shuttered (SHOOT, 9/17/99, p. 1).
Secondly, the founding concept behind Trail Head—offering production and post services under one roof—wasn’t widely embraced, according to Romersa. He estimated that about 20 percent of the jobs produced at the company also employed Trail Head’s editorial and finishing capabilities. "I personally still believe that the concept is valid—that one-stop shopping for production and post can result in significant savings for clients," related Romersa. "But clients weren’t buying into it."
Romersa said that he asked Buonanno to stay on to run Trail Head and help build its stand-alone editorial/post operation. But Buonanno declined. "I simply decided I didn’t want to stay and develop an editorial/post company," said Buonanno.
Despite the recent consolidation within the Stoney Road family, Romersa said that several moves are in the offing in terms of expansion at individual production companies. Stoney Road’s lineup of bicoastal shops includes Bedford Falls, M-80, Reactor Films, MPH, and Message.
Romersa added that a development is also pending that will extend the reach of Stoney Road’s Santa Monica-headquartered talent management company, Envision.
Microsoft Report Says Efforts By Russia, Iran and China To Sway U.S. Voters May Escalate
Foreign adversaries have shown continued determination to influence the U.S. election โ- and there are signs their activity will intensify as Election Day nears, Microsoft said in a report Wednesday.
Russian operatives are doubling down on fake videos to smear Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign, while Chinese-linked social media campaigns are maligning down-ballot Republicans who are critical of China, the company's threat intelligence arm said Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Iranian actors who allegedly sent emails aimed at intimidating U.S. voters in 2020 have been surveying election-related websites and major media outlets, raising concerns they could be preparing for another scheme this year, the tech giant said.
The report serves as a warning โ building on others from U.S. intelligence officials โ that as the nation enters this critical final stretch and begins counting ballots, the worst influence efforts may be yet to come. U.S. officials say they remain confident that election infrastructure is secure enough to withstand any attacks from American adversaries. Still, in a tight election, foreign efforts to influence voters are raising concern.
Microsoft noted that some of the disinformation campaigns it tracks received little authentic engagement from U.S. audiences, but others have been amplified by unwitting Americans, exposing thousands to foreign propaganda in the final weeks of voting.
Russia, China and Iran have all rejected claims that they are seeking to meddle with the U.S. election.
"The presidential elections are the United States' domestic affairs. China has no intention and will not interfere in the US election," the Chinese Embassy said in a statement.
"Having already unequivocally and... Read More