Editor Crispin Struthers, nominated for the Best Achievement in Film Editing Oscar for two David O. Russell-directed features–in tandem with Jay Cassidy for Silver Linings Playbook in 2013 and then this year with Cassidy and Alan Baumgarten for American Hustle— has joined creative editorial house Final Cut for commercials and branded content.
Struthers won the American Cinema Editors (ACE) Award for both Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle. Previously he worked on Russell’s acclaimed film The Fighter. Struthers’ other feature credits include RockNRolla, Eagle Eye, I Am Number Four, and the upcoming Earth to Echo.
While a California native, Struthers grew up in the Highlands of Scotland, and in a unique precursor to editing, received an honors degree in physics from the University of Edinburgh. The move to Final Cut is a return to Struthers’ advertising roots. Struthers began his career in the in-house editorial department of TBWAChiatDay. Just as Struthers has drawn upon his advertising experience when cutting films, he will now have the opportunity to bring his feature film skillset to the 30 second spot.
“In David O. Russell’s films, you get a sense that Crispin cuts for character and emotion. Additionally, he has an incredible sense of pacing and energy, and I am confident these techniques will transition nicely to his commercial work,” said Saima Awan, executive producer of Final Cut.
Sr. editor/partner Eric Zumbrunnen helped shepherd Final Cut’s relationship with Struthers. “We kept running into Crispin while we were on the awards circuit for Her and there was a strong mutual admiration for each others’ work. His ability to seamlessly blend drama and comedy, while interweaving multiple stories made it immediately clear that he was a perfect fit for commercials.”
Struthers joins Zumbrunnen in Final Cut’s Los Angeles office, alongside LA-based editors Adam Rudd, Arianna Tomasettig, Jeff Buchanan, Matt Murphy, Richard Learoyd and Sarah Iben.
Active in commercials, feature films and music videos, Final Cut maintains offices in London, New York and Los Angeles.
California Gov. Newsom Signs Laws To Protect Actors Against Unauthorized Use Of AI
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed off Tuesday on legislation aiming at protecting Hollywood actors and performers against unauthorized artificial intelligence that could be used to create digital clones of themselves without their consent.
The new laws come as California legislators ramped up efforts this year to regulate the marquee industry that is increasingly affecting the daily lives of Americans but has had little to no oversight in the United States.
The laws also reflect the priorities of the Democratic governor who's walking a tightrope between protecting the public and workers against potential AI risks and nurturing the rapidly evolving homegrown industry.
"We continue to wade through uncharted territory when it comes to how AI and digital media is transforming the entertainment industry, but our North Star has always been to protect workers," Newsom said in a statement. "This legislation ensures the industry can continue thriving while strengthening protections for workers and how their likeness can or cannot be used."
Inspired by the Hollywood actors' strike last year over low wages and concerns that studios would use AI technology to replace workers, a new California law will allow performers to back out of existing contracts if vague language might allow studios to freely use AI to digitally clone their voices and likeness. The law is set to take effect in 2025 and has the support of the California Labor Federation and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, or SAG-AFTRA.
Another law signed by Newsom, also supported by SAG-AFTRA, prevents dead performers from being digitally cloned for commercial purposes without the permission of their estates. Supporters said the law is... Read More