Andre Caraco and Gigi Semone were named evps of publicity for the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group.
Caraco and Semone will coordinate publicity efforts for the studio's motion picture division with Caraco overseeing the West Coast publicity team based in L.A. and Semone performing the same duties for the East Coast Office. Caraco and Semone will work together to develop key publicity strategies on all feature films released by Columbia Pictures and Revolution Studios. Both executives will report directly to Valerie Van Galder, president of marketing for The Columbia TriStar Marketing Group.
"Andre and Gigi have consistently developed and executed Columbia's successful and extraordinary PR campaigns on a range of projects including THE DA VINCI CODE and TALLADEGA NIGHTS: THE BALLAD OF RICKY BOBBY," said Van Galder. "Publicity continues to play an even more critical role in the success of our films and Andre and Gigi provide the leadership, creativity and experience necessary to SPE's continued success."
Of the 11 #1 films launched by Sony's public relations team in 2006, Caraco and Semone have been directly responsible for devising the press strategies and overseeing the launch of some of the studio's biggest hits this year including GRIDIRON GANG and THE PINK PANTHER. Since 2002, Sony Pictures PR teams have launched 40 #1 films 18 more than any other studio.
The two will oversee the publicity department as the PR teams launch such highly anticipated motion pictures including; MARIE ANTOINETTE, starring Kirsten Dunst, THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS, starring Will Smith, Columbia's horror thriller THE GRUDGE 2; the Will Ferrell comedy STRANGER THAN FICTION; Nancy Meyers romantic comedy THE HOLIDAY, starring Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, Jack Black and Kate Winslet; Columbia and MGM's action/adventure CASINO ROYALE introducing Daniel Craig as James Bond; and Columbia's SPIDER-MAN 3, directed by Sam Raimi and starring Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst.
Caraco, who began his career at sister company TriStar Pictures in 1989, most recently held the title of svp of publicity. Caraco rose from a junior publicist in the field department at TriStar to vp of national publicity at Columbia within a five-year period.
Semone joined the studio in 2001 as svp of publicity responsible for devising campaign strategies and overseeing all publicity efforts with the New York media. In 2004 she created the "Little Apple Heroes" program with Mayor Bloomberg's Volunteer Center of New York City. Inspired by SPIDER-MAN and his role as a hero, this program provides resources for NYC children to volunteer.
Prior to joining Columbia Pictures, she served as vp of east coast publicity for Buena Vista Pictures marketing, where she worked on such campaigns as THE SIXTH SENSE, RUSHMORE, TOY STORY, TOY STORY 2 and THE INSIDER, among many others. She previously worked for The Peggy Siegal Co.
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