LOS ANGELES -- Jon Joffin, ASC is no stranger to the winners’ circle at the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) Awards. But at the gala ceremony earlier this month, he made some history in the process, topping the inaugural music video category for Jon Bryant’s “At Home,” a clip which Joffin both shot and directed. This marked the fourth career ASC Award win for Joffin, the first three being for his episodic television work for Beyond in 2019, Motherland: Fort Salem in 2021, and Titans in 2022. In all... Read More 

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) -- A movie set armorer is challenging her conviction on an involuntary manslaughter charge in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer by Alec Baldwin on the set of the Western film "Rust," court records released Monday show. Defense attorneys for "Rust" armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed filed a request for a new trial and urged a judge to release the defendant from jail as deliberations proceed. Gutierrez-Reed was convicted by a jury this month in the shooting on the outskirts of Santa Fe, New Mexico... Read More 

LONDON -- BAFTA has unveiled the nominations for the 2024 BAFTA Television Craft Awards and BAFTA Television Awards, celebrating the best in television broadcast in 2023. A total of 118 programs received nominations today (3/20). The 10 programs with the most nominations are: Eight nominations for The Crown Seven nominations for Demon 79 ( Black Mirror ) Six nominations for Happy Valley, Slow Horses and The Sixth Commandment Five nominations for The Last of Us, The Long Shadow and Succession Four... Read More 

How do you get comedy legend Carol Burnett to sign on to your TV show when her character spends multiple episodes in a coma? That was a task for Abe Sylvia, creator, showrunner and executive producer of the new Apple TV+ series "Palm Royale," streaming now, about a woman's efforts to enter high society. Burnett "was curious as to where it goes," revealed Sylvia, who assured her that she would have more to do. Fortunately, Sylvia already had a great cast lined up — Kristen Wiig, Laura Dern (also... Read More 

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- "Civil War," Alex Garland's election-year provocation, debuted Thursday at the SXSW Film and TV Festival, unveiling a violent vision of a near-future America at war with itself. "Civil War," reportedly A24's biggest budget release yet, is a bold gamble to capitalize on some of the anxieties that have grown in highly partisan times and ahead of a potentially momentous November presidential election. The film, written and directed by the British filmmaker Garland ("Ex Machina," "Annihilation"),... Read More 

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Usher was named entertainer of the year at the 55th annual NAACP Image Awards on Saturday night, which highlighted works by entertainers and writers of color. After Usher accepted his award at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, the superstar R&B singer spoke about being thankful about the journey of his successful career that has lasted three decades. He reeled off several of his recent big moments including his sold-out residency in Las Vegas, getting married, releasing his ninth studio... Read More 

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Justice Department on Thursday announced a sweeping antitrust lawsuit against Apple, accusing the tech giant of engineering an illegal monopoly in smartphones that boxes out competitors and stifles innovation. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in New Jersey, alleges that Apple has monopoly power in the smartphone market and uses its control over the iPhone to "engage in a broad, sustained, and illegal course of conduct." The lawsuit — which was also filed with 16 state attorneys general... Read More 

"Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga," George Miller's eagerly awaited follow-up to "Mad Max: Fury Road, " will make its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May. "Furiosa," a prequel to "Fury Road" starring Anya Taylor-Joy, will roar down the Croisette nine years after Miller's previous "Mad Max" film did. After its 2015 bow at Cannes, "Fury Road" went on to gross $380 million worldwide and win six Oscars. "Furiosa," screening out of competition at Cannes, will premiere May 15. The film, co-... Read More 

LOS ANGELES & NEW YORK -- Serial Pictures has signed DGA Award-nominated filmmaker and Grammy-winning music producer D. Smith for commercials, branded entertainment and music video representation in North America. This marks her first such representation as a director. Smith is a multitalented voice with a fresh perspective, whom Out named one of 2023’s Most Impactful and Influential LGBTQ+ People, calling her “a vital breath of fresh air for trans art.” Her directorial debut, Kokomo City , garnered critical acclaim and... Read More 

NEW YORK -- Creative agency network Droga5 has named multi-industry leader Pelle Sjoenell as its worldwide chief creative officer. Known for his award-winning work and creative leadership at BBH Worldwide and Activision Blizzard, Sjoenell is responsible in his new role for driving a future-forward vision for Droga5 globally, one that plays off the intersection of creativity and technology, and one that is very connected to the creative vision at Accenture Song. He will be based in the U.S. “Since its... Read More 

NEW YORK -- Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG) announced that Kristen Cavallo will be retiring as global CEO of MullenLowe this spring and will remain available to the company in an advisory capacity until 2025. Cavallo said that her next move will include applying her deep and varied communications experience to political and societal causes. A strategist turned CEO, Cavallo is recognized for crafting strategies and competitive positionings that result in business growth. While awarded in her career for her... Read More 

LOS ANGELES & LONDON -- Black Dog Films has signed artist duo PXKRW for worldwide representation spanning commercials, branded content, music videos, installations and tours visuals. Known for creating engaging dream worlds through directing, art and immersive experiences, PXKRW have amassed credits which include collaborations with brands like Nike, Adidas, Burberry and Hugo Boss, and the immersive art experience Meow Wolf. PXKRW have also created visionary pieces with groundbreaking musicians such as Peaches, Sampa... Read More 

NEW YORK -- Joe Maglio has been named CEO of digital creative agency Barbarian. Maglio taking on duties at Barbarian is part of his new remit overseeing Cheil North America as its president. He will also continue to serve as CEO of media and influencer agency McKinney. Cheil North American agencies include McKinney, Barbarian, CYLNDR, IRIS, Cheil Dallas, Cheil New York and Cheil Canada. Over the past five years, Maglio has overseen a tripling in the size of McKinney, including marquee creative wins:... Read More 

LOS ANGELES -- Bicoastal production company Supply&Demand has brought Jay Larson aboard its directorial roster, marking the start of his commercialmaking career. Larson is a hybrid talent with chops as a stand-up comedian, actor and writer/director. His initial entry point into directing came when he directed Self Taught , a short-form sitcom based on his stand-up for Fox. Since then, he has run the writers’ room and directed every episode of The Connor Moore Show , a golf-based sketch comedy show on the... Read More 

Frida Kahlo used her own experiences to inform her art. In that spirit, Kahlo's personal writings are used to help tell the story of her life in a new documentary, "Frida." Filmmaker Carla Gutiérrez blends first person narration with archival footage and interpretive animation of Kahlo's work in the film, which is now streaming on Prime Video. Gutiérrez, who was born in Peru and moved to the United States when she was a teenager, remembers first really connecting with Kahlo's paintings in... Read More 

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Fresh off his awards season high after attending the Oscars with his fellow "Poor Things" stars — and presenting — Ramy Youssef is heading back into more familiar territory. The actor and comedian, known for the critically acclaimed Hulu series "Ramy," will premiere his latest stand-up special Saturday on HBO and Max. In keeping with much of his previous work, "Ramy Youssef: More Feelings" doesn't shy away from fraught topics, including religion, the upcoming presidential election and the... Read More 

LOS ANGELES -- Saatchi & Saatchi has hired Elaine Cox as executive creative director. The advertising veteran will be based in Los Angeles, reporting to chief creative officer Jason Schragger. Cox will partner with the teams in Los Angeles, New York and Dallas to lead creative for the agency’s flagship Toyota client, in addition to supporting creative across the agency. “Getting to be part of such a revered agency that has stellar insights, creativity and media innovation under one roof is a dream for a... Read More 

LOS ANGELES -- World War Seven (WW7) has added Jamaal Parham and Bashan Aquart, known as the directing duo Jams and Bash, to its roster of directorial talent for U.S. representation spanning commercials and branded content. Jams and Bash’s extensive credits include branded content, advertising, documentaries, and narrative fare. Before leaning into mainstream commercial work, Jams and Bash’s campaigns for theatrical brands “The Sound Inside” and “The Inheritance” earned the duo two Clio Awards. Their work for... Read More 

LOS ANGELES -- Two ex-Wieden+Kennedy global creative directors, Ryan O’Rourke and Alberto Ponte, and former W+K global media director Dan Sheniak, who ran the Nike global business for nearly two decades, have teamed to launch their own agency, Someplace. The new venture aspires to break new creative ground, according to its chief creative officer, O’Rourke. “We would never close our doors to an opportunity just because it doesn’t fall within the traditional rules of advertising. In fact, it would be our dream... Read More 

CHICAGO -- Live action production company Strange Loop Studios has added Los Angeles-based documentary and lifestyle writer/director Marta Chierego to its roster for her first official exclusive U.S. commercial representation. Chierego’s journey as a storyteller spans from working with a client roster that includes Netflix, Meta, Google, CDC, Diageo, On-Star and more, to pulling back the curtain on the complex realms of AI and online privacy. Her upcoming documentary, Your Web Reimagined , slated for... Read More 

LONDON -- FCB London has appointed Kyle Harman-Turner as creative partner and executive creative director. Harman-Turner will report to chief creative officer Owen Lee. In his new role, Harman-Turner will lead the Kimberley Clark business which includes Andrex and Kleenex. Having taken a freelance contract with FCB London mid last year, he’s worked on several FCB London clients from government to FMCG and has already made a big impression within the agency. Katy Wright, CEO of FCB London, said, “Anyone... Read More 

Alex Pearlman shut the door on dreams of a standup comedy career almost a decade ago, pivoting from the stage to an office cubicle where he worked a customer service job. Then he started posting random jokes and commentary about pop culture and politics on TikTok. Just over 2.5 million followers later, he quit his nine-to-five and recently booked his first nationwide tour. Pearlman is among the many TikTok creators across the U.S. outraged over a bipartisan bill passed by the House of... Read More 

NEW YORK (AP) -- It seems like a bizarre mishmash: A former Trump cabinet official is saying he wants to buy TikTok just days after leading a group that pumped $1 billion into a beaten-down bank. But it all actually fits in with the complicated career of Steven Mnuchin. The man who served as former President Donald Trump's Treasury secretary is well connected in the world of finance, after all. From 1985 to 2002, he worked at Goldman Sachs, one of the most storied — and criticized — investment banks on Wall... Read More 

LONDON -- Common People Films (CMN PPL) has appointed Melody Sylvester as managing director/executive producer of commercials. She comes over from TBWA\London where she was chief production officer. At her new roost, she will work to boost CMN PPL’s TV commercial and branded content business, building its reputation for standout work and expanding the production company’s agency collaborators. Working with CMN PPL co-founders Tony Roberts and Ramy Dance, she will also work across photography and wider... Read More 

LOS ANGELES -- Executive producer Peter B. Williams and the directorial duo The Norman Brothers (Keith and Kipp Norman) have launched production company Dreamboat. The new venture has evolved through a reworking and rebranding of their prior roost, Norman Brothers Productions. Unlike traditional shops, Dreamboat operates on a semi-exclusive model, prioritizing directors’ active involvement in projects rather than binding them to exclusive contracts. The inaugural Dreamboat production is a collaboration with... Read More 

Elwood P. Dalton is a classy sort of bouncer. While five tough guys circle him outside a bar looking to bash his skull in, he has a question for them: "Before we start, do you have insurance?" And after savagely beating each up, he kindly drives them to the hospital. Dalton — played by a muscular and languid Jake Gyllenhaal — is a former UFC fighter with a dark past in "Road House," a reworking of the pulpy 1989 action film starring Patrick Swayze. "You sure you thought this all the way through... Read More 

It's not your imagination: Sydney Sweeney is everywhere. In the past four months, she's been in a romantic comedy that turned into a sleeper hit, a superhero movie that didn't and, as of this weekend, a bloody horror. Results have varied, quality-wise, but for someone the culture seems to want to (unfairly) pigeonhole as a specific type, she is really blowing through movie genres in record time. She also happened to produce the horror, "Immaculate," in which she plays a young American nun,... Read More 

Forty years after "Ghostbusters" and following a string of sequels that never measured up to the 1984 original — beginning all the way back with 1989's "Ghostbusters II" — it's fair to wonder, well, who else ought we to call? It may be time to, if not give up the ghost entirely, at least give a flip through the ol' rolodex. But as the lackluster 2021 installment, "Ghostbusters: Afterlife" showed, the half life of most film franchises today is an ever-lengthening long tail of diminishing returns... Read More 

"Kung Fu Panda 4" stayed at the top of the North American box office in its second weekend in theaters. The Universal and DreamWorks Animation movie earned $30 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday. The franchise featuring the voice of Jack Black is responsible for over $1.9 billion at the box office since it launched in 2008 and spawned several animated series, shorts, video games and a holiday special. The fourth installment, playing in 4,067 locations in North America... Read More 

University College London (UCL), in collaboration with creative agency INNOCEAN Berlin and audio production company DaHouse, has launched a pioneering project where bespoke songs have been created to help provide relief to the multiple symptoms experienced by people with Parkinson’s. More than 10 million people worldwide are living with Parkinson’s, a number expected to double over the next 20 years. The “Tremors vs. Tremors” project focuses on the individual nature of Parkinson’s and how it... Read More 

March 21 is World Down Syndrome Day, and Italy’s CoorDown--the National Coordination of Associations of People with Down Syndrome--has launched its annual campaign in collaboration with New York agency SMALL. “Assume I Can” is a call for an end to prejudice and to support the potential of every person with Down Syndrome. Stereotypes, biases and low expectations strongly affect every aspect of the lives of people with intellectual disabilities: they represent an often-impassable boundary which... Read More 

Digital Kitchen--a creative studio known for its titles for hit series including Showtime’s Yellowjackets and Dexter, Netflix’s Narcos , Epix’s "Godfather of Harlem," and HBO’s True Blood and Six Feet Under --has unveiled its latest main title sequence for the highly anticipated Apple TV+ series Manhunt . Drawing on the tumultuous backdrop of post-Civil War America and the nationwide pursuit of Abraham Lincoln’s assassin, John Wilkes Booth, the sequence immerses viewers in a visually stunning... Read More 

Toronto-based singer, songwriter, and producer sunsetto has rolled out “PLANS,” a synth-laden, hip hop and drum n’ bass-spiced song co-written with Nathan Ferraro (Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Carly Rae Jepsen) and produced by Ryan “Gray” Hawken (Justin Bieber, BEAM). “PLANS” recaps a former long-term relationship gone south. Dispensing a heartbreaking yet hard-to-forget chorus (“We had plans / Two kids in a yard and a white picket fence”), the track sounds so intimate that it makes listeners feel as... Read More 

Production studio Fela and creative agency TAXI have created “Count Me In”--an inspiring and impactful film for Women’s History Month. Directed and edited by Kat Webber, the call to action for the Canadian Women’s Foundation (CWF) highlights its mission: for every woman, girl, and gender-diverse person to have the power, safety, support, and rights to thrive. This public foundation is doing vital work, yet many Canadians are unaware of CWF’s scope. Enabling women to be leaders, building the... Read More 

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