High-tech/entertainment journalist David Bloom has joined Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. as vp corporate communications. Bloom will help coordinate company-wide publicity and media relations, work on political and technological issues with the MPAA, and assist in all internal and external corporate communications initiatives.

David Miercort joins Miramax Films in Los Angeles as svp of acquisitions and business affairs. Reporting to both Agnes Mentre, head of Miramax’s acquisition group, and co-president of production, Bob Osher, Miercort will be involved in motion picture acquisitions activities from a business affairs/legal perspective and help facilitate agreements for promotions initiatives.

Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution has promoted Cristina Mancini to the newly created position of exec director, marketing, promotion and publicity, responsible for the publicity group within the marketing department reporting to Michael Bessolo, svp of marketing, promotion and publicity.

USC Animation's Christine Panushka reports that Cal Arts founding director of experimental animation, Jules Engel, is critically ill in a hospital in Los Angeles. Engel was also a co-founder at UPA and Format Films. Panushka reports his condition came on very quickly as a result of a fall. If you'd like to send Jules a message, e-mail messages are preferred. Messages should be sent to: panushka@usc.edu and she will read them to him.

or faxes may be sent to:
Jules Engel
School of Film /Video
661-252 7824

Will Clay has joined Serious Robots as lead animator. Clay spent the last three years as a creature technical director at Industrial Light & Magic where he worked on THE HULK and HIDALGO.

Michelle Guy joins Fox Kids U.K. as press and pr manager, replacing Anna Sargent who left the company in June 2003. Guy is responsible for generating press coverage for Fox Kids’ channel, online, interactive and consumer products activities in the U.K. and for promoting the Fox Kids brand to U.K. audiences.

rhinofx has hired former Industrial Light & Magic visual effects producer Camille Geier (GANGS OF NEW YORK and PUNCH DRUNK LOVE) as its new senior exec producer. Her addition represents rhinofx's plan to secure longform projects while continuing its foothold in TV commercials.

Tribune Entertainment president/ceo Dick Askin was elected Aug. 22, 2003 by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' board of governors to replace writer/producer Bryce Zabel as chairman. Askin had served as vice chair and ran unopposed. Current second vice chair John Shaffner has moved up from to vice chairman. Newly elected to the post of second vice chair is Karen Miller becomes the second vice chair. Re-elected to second terms are secretary Daniel Birman, treasurer Leo Chaloukian and Los Angeles-area vice chair Mitch Waldow. New terms begin Oct. 1, 2003.

FilmCore has promoted Tiffany Burchard to editor. For the past five years, she has been an assistant to editor Paul Norling and has worked as an editor for the past four years with Green, FilmCore's boutique for emerging editors.

FilmCore president Steve McCoy said, "Promoting Tiffany to editor is a tribute to her talent. She has an inviting and understated manner and a phenomenal depth of artistry when it comes to bringing a unique point of view to a project."

Nickelodeon has promoted 11-year Nick vets Steve Keller and Eric Coleman to vps in their respective development areas, reporting to Marjorie Cohn, svp of production, Nickelodeon.