Chris Abitbol, a long time London-based expat production executive, has found a new home at creative studio Los York as head of Los York Films, a new position. Abitbol is working closely with the division’s executive producer Leticia Gurjao, managing the unit’s work and its diverse, global collective of commercial directors. He will report directly to Los York founder Seth Epstein.
“Chris is here to shake things up,” said Epstein. “He is building the next gen commercial production company – really a home for multidisciplinary directors. We’ve been looking for the absolute right person for the role for a long while and we are excited to have him dive right into our crew of Global Nomads of the Arts.”
Born in Cannes and raised in New York City, Abitbol grew up in the music scene. His father was an agent for rock bands including Skid Row and Kidd Rock, and Abitbol himself became the frontman for Cutting Pink With Knives, a London based synth-pop-grind band. While gigging in the U.K., Abitbol heeded his mother’s advice and went to school, graduating from London’s Kingston University with a BA in film and business. He followed that up with an MA in film and television production from the University of London, and then bounced around jobs as a chef, music producer and filmmaker in London and Paris before founding Bruce, a multiple Grammy-winning creative shop that focused on fashion and music content. He later worked as an executive producer at the boutique London production company Friend before returning to the states to work as an EP at Magnetic Field in Los Angeles.
“I’m all about talent, all about creative,” said Abitbol. “I’m not a follower, I like to drive great projects with great people. Seth and the team at Los York are OGs. They have all the things that I prioritize. They don’t just wait around for scripts to come in, they go out and create them. They make creative and execute it. That is the future. That is the big picture. I’ll be helping drive the Los York brand forward, helping shake things up and challenge convention. They are underdogs in the industry and we are going to be swinging big. Going bold, raw and strong. Being different. Being unique. Being disruptive. We are going to crush it.”
“Scandal” cast will reunite for online script reading for hurricane relief in western North Carolina
The cast of ABC's hit political drama "Scandal" may need to brush up on their snappy, speedy delivery known as "Scandal-pace," because they're reuniting for a good cause. Its stars including Kerry Washington, Tony Goldwyn and Bellamy Young will take part in a live virtual script reading on Nov. 17 to raise money for hurricane relief in western North Carolina.
Beginning Friday, fans can go online and donate to reserve a spot for the online reading. Proceeds will benefit United Way of North Carolina. Everyone who donates will be able to take part in a virtual pre-event with the cast and Shonda Rhimes will give an introduction.
Additional guest stars will also be announced. The online fundraising platform Prizeo is also holding a contest where one person who donates online via their site will be selected to read a role from the script with the actors. The winner should not worry about the "Scandal"-pace, assured Young over Zoom.
"Whomever the lucky reader is can read at whatever pace they want," she said.
Young, who played Mellie Young, the first lady and later Republican presidential nominee on "Scandal," was born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina. She came up with the idea for the effort with a friend and took it to her fellow "Scandal" actors, who all jumped on board. Young said this is the first script reading the cast has all done together since the show ended after seven seasons in 2018.
Which episode they will be reading has not been announced yet.
Young said it's "been devastating" to see so many parts of her hometown badly damaged by Hurricane Helene, which ravaged western North Carolina one month ago.
To research the best use for donations, Young spoke with numerous political leaders, including North... Read More