Sea Level Names New Exec Prod

Rick Hassen has joined digital effects boutique Sea Level as executive producer. Hassen, a former senior vice president with Pacific Ocean Post, Santa Monica, will oversee in-house production and other day-to-day activities for the company. He will also work directly with Sea Level founders Jim Bond and Ben Gibbs in charting the future direction of the company and developing new markets for its services. In making the announcement, Bond cited Hassen's broad background in production and post-production. "Rick has solid experience and extensive skills that will be invaluable in helping Sea Level grow and evolve," Bond said. "He is a skillful manager and has a thorough understanding of production, technology and the creative process. We are delighted to have him as a member of our team." Most recently, Hassen served as executive producer with Colorado production company Conscious Wave. Hassen exited Pacific Ocean Post in 1997 after 11 years with the company. Hassen, who met Gibbs at POP where the latter was a lead artist, noted that he is enthusiastic about the opportunity to work with him again. "Jim and Ben have created a company that is based strictly on quality," Hassen said. "You sense that from the moment you walk in to the moment you walk out with your project in hand. It inspired me and I realized that what they are building here has a great deal of potential."