The Alliance of Independent Representatives, better known as AIR, is conducting a talent search for diverse filmmakers who are not currently signed to any U.S. production houses for representation. Entrants to the Diverse Directors Showcase can earn a chance to introduce themselves and their work to members of AIR, the trade association of the independent repping community for the advertising production industry, and the executive producers of the many production companies they represent.
The top five minority directorial talents, as judged by a panel of AIR members, will be selected to take part in a virtual Diverse Directors Showcase–co-sponsored by Simian–that will be presented on Monday, July 25 at 1 pm ET. Deadline for entering here is July 12.
The event is being organized and led by AIR’s Diversity in Talent committee, led by chair Isabel Echeverry of Kontakto Reps. Also on the committee are Sonia Blum of Sonia Reps and Mary Saxon of Saxon + Partners Presents.
Entry rules for submission and requirements are as follows:
Entrants must be a diverse/minority director including, Women, BIPOC, Latinx and LGBTQ.
Directors cannot currently be represented and must be independent or freelance.
Entrants must submit three pieces of work, with the total running time of their showreel no longer than five minutes. They must also submit bios.
Submissions are limited, so first come, first served.
AIR members will review all entries and select the five directors who demonstrate the best overall work and potential marketability to the commercial production industry.
SMPTE elects board officers, regional governors
SMPTE®,the home of media professionals, technologists, and engineers, has revealed the board officers and regional governors who will serve terms beginning in January 2025.
Three new officers--Richard Welsh as SMPTE president, Eric Gsell as SMPTE executive VP, and Polly Hickling as SMPTE Education VP--have been elected for a two-year term from Jan. 1, 2025, to Dec. 31, 2026. One SMPTE officer, Lisa Hobbs, will be continuing her service as SMPTE secretary and treasurer for another two-year term. Additionally, Raymond Yeung will be stepping into the role of standards VP on Jan. 1, 2025.
“SMPTE’s membership has spoken,” said SMPTE interim executive director Sally-Ann D’Amato. “These officers have been tasked with an important responsibility, one each of them is prepared to tackle head-on. These next two years are looking bright for SMPTE!”
In addition to the officers, 10 regional governors were elected by the Society to serve two-year 2025-2026 terms.
These include the following regional governors, re-elected to continue their service:
Asia-Pacific Region Governor
Tony Ngai, Society of Motion Imaging Ltd.
EMEA - Central & South America Region Governor
Fernando Bittencourt, FB Consultant
United Kingdom Region Governor
Chris Johns, Sky UK.
USA - Central Region Governor
William T. Hayes, Consultant
USA - Eastern Region Governor
Dover Jeanne Mundt, Riedel Communications
USA - Western Region Governor
Jeffrey F. Way, Open Drives
Also elected were four newcomers to the SMPTE Board:
Canada Region Governor
Jonathan Jobin, Grass Valley
USA - Hollywood Region Governor
Allan Schollnick, Voxx... Read More