Commercial and feature film director Enda McCallion has signed with The Traveling Picture Show Company (TPSC) for exclusive representation in the U.S. A recipient of three D&AD Awards for outstanding direction as well as Clio and Cannes recognition, McCallion said among the factors drawing him to TPSC was its broad range of talent and resources, citing the company’s in-house postproduction services, including visual effects through boutique provider Unit Zero VFX.
“I like the fact that we can do pre-production, production and post all within the same walls,” he said.
Born in Northern Ireland, McCallion, who initially trained as a fine artist, began his directing career in London. His first spot, for men’s underwear maker Brass Monkey, won a Bronze British Advertising Award. He later gained international acclaim for “Judderman,” a spot for Bacardi’s Metz brand and London agency HHCL & Partners, that was inspired by early cinema and shot entirely with a hand-cranked camera.
McCallion moved to the U.S. in 2001 and worked at Los Angeles-based Ritts Hayden. He later joined Epoch Films, which represented him both in the U.S. and the U.K. Most recently, he was represented by Great Guns. Over the years he has directed work for such brands as McDonald’s, General Motors, Opel, Renault, Coca Cola, Bank of Ireland, Nestea, Fanta and Citroen. Most recently, he directed a series of sports-oriented ads for the cable channel Versus.
McCallion made his feature debut with Hit and Run, which was released in 2009 by MGM. He currently has a second film in development.
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