Category: People
Hornet Signs Santa Maria
Hornet has signed a new directing team, Santa Maria, comprised of Josh Goodrich and David Hill. Santa Maria will be represented by Passion Pictures in Europe through Hornet's ongoing collaboration with the European production company.
Turner Hires Former Disney Marketer To Asia VP Post
Lucien Harrington has been appointed to the newly created position of VP, Branding & Communications -- Turner Entertainment Networks Asia (TENA).
Carol Ashley Joins Crawford Post
Crawford Post Production, a service area of Crawford Communications, Inc. and largest post production operation in the southeast U.S., hires Carol Ashley as senior vfx designer. Ashley came to Crawford from Los Angeles, where she was involved with the creative process on feature films and TV for nearly 20 years.
She has worked with DreamWorks Animation, Sony Pictures Imageworks and most recently for Technicolor Interactive as art director. Her career began with the California Raisin commercials as animator and character designer on the award-winning campaign.
Guerilla FX Welcomes John Bair, Vivian Connolly
Guerilla FX continues its expansion with the addition of Creative Director/Effects Supervisor/Director John Bair and Executive Producer Vivian Connolly.
Bair and Connolly come to GFX from Edgeworx (New York, NY), where they worked as a team, and will be concentrating their energies primarily on feature film effects and titles, medium and long format broadcast effects and titles, and broadcast design.
LipSync Post Appoints MacCuish as Managing Director
Alasdair MacCuish has been promoted to the position of Managing Director at LipSync Post, after five years as Head of Digital Film at the company.
Jon Diamond, Managing Director of The LipSync Group, said, "I am confident that Alasdair will bring a lot to this role. He has plenty of ideas and enthusiasm to contribute to our future, and help make the services we offer even better in terms of technical excellence and customer service."
RealNetworks Appoints John Barbour to Head Casual Games Business
Digital entertainment services company RealNetworks has appointed John Barbour as President of its games division. Barbour joins Real after more than 20 years of success in consumer entertainment businesses, particularly in toys and games.
Crackle Mixes Things Up
Eric Berger, SVP, digital networks, will take over the reins of Crackle, Sony Pictures Entertainment's online video network.
In this role, Berger will oversee content development and programming, marketing and distribution for Crackle.
"Eric has a clear vision for the future of Crackle," said Sean Carey, senior exec VP, Sony Pictures Television. "one that takes advantage of the studio's current relationships and assets as well as looking for breakout talent. His passion for the space and for Crackle's potential are certain to take it to the next level."
Gibbs & Navone Rev Up 'Cars Toons'
Bill Desowitz gets under the hood of the new Pixar interstitial series with co-directors Rob Gibbs and Victor Navone.
Autodesk & Softimage Talk Quantum of Convergence
VFXWorld goes deeper into Autodesk's surprising acquisition of 3D rival Softimage with Autodesk Media & Ent. SVP Marc Petit and Softimage General Manager Marc Stevens.
Steve Dellerson Joins LOOK Effects as Feature Films Exec Producer
Visual effects veteran Steve Dellerson has joined LOOK Effects Inc. Hollywood as Exec Producer for feature film production. At LOOK, Dellerson will promote additional growth and provide guidance to the company's creation of motion picture visual effects. Dellerson's experience in vfx production, from shooting through digital post processes, will enhance client communications and support production efficiency across LOOK's simultaneous productions.
Van Court Takes Expanded Role as SVP, GM, NOGGIN, ParentsConnect and Nick Jr.com
Tanya Van Court, who has led Nickelodeon's preschool and parents online businesses, will now expand her position in the company as SVP and GM of NOGGIN, ParentsConnect and Nick Jr.com. Van Court will report to Nickelodeon Kids and Family Group's Chief Operating Officer, Sarah Kirshbaum Levy for TV; and Exec VP, Digital Media, Steve Youngwood for digital.
Digital Domain Names Cliff Plumer CEO
Academy Award-winning digital production studio Digital Domain has named Cliff Plumer CEO. The company also promoted Kevin Weston to Chief Financial Officer. Former CEO Mark Miller remains the company's President.
The appointments reflect Digital Domain's focus on its core business -- visual effects for feature films and commercial production -- and strategic development of its efforts in games and animation.
Zoic Studios Welcomes New Producer, Promotes Key Staffer
Digital production company Zoic Studios, known for its award-winning work in commercials, episodic television and feature film, has signed producer Lisa Pierce and promoted staffer Steve Meyer.
Nancy Cartwright Chats with Jess Harnell
In this edition of her bimonthly column, Nancy Cartwright interviews top-ranked voice-over actor Jess Harnell.
Mind Your Business: How Will Artists Vote?
In this month's column, Mark Simon reveals the results of his own survey, arguing his case for the Obama/Biden ticket.
Dan Smiczek Joins Ring of Fire
Dan Smiczek has joined Ring of Fire as Head of CGI/Visual Effects Supervisor. He will be working in collaboration with owners and partners Creative Director Jerry Spivack, Executive Producer John Myers and their producing team, overseeing and supervising 3D, animation and visual effects.
Image Metrics Expands Executive Marketing Team
Image Metrics, the provider of facial animation for the entertainment industry, continues to expand its executive management team with the appointment of industry veterans Stephen Peacock and Eric Schumacher to the roles of VP of product marketing, and VP of marketing, respectively. Peacock and Schumacher will work closely together on industry marketing efforts.
Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer Signs New Long-Term Agreement
Lionsgate Co-Chairman and CEO Jon Feltheimer has signed a new long-term agreement with Lionsgate extending his tenure until March 2014. His previous contract ended March 2011.
Separately, Michael Burns has also reached agreement to extend his contract as Vice Chairman until September 2011. Feltheimer and Burns now will have 25 years' combined experience at the helm of Lionsgate by the end of their respective contracts, reflecting exceptional long-term stability.
Guerilla FX Adds Character Animator/Technical Director
Independent production, design, effects and post finishing house Guerilla FX (GFX) has signed Vance Miller as Character Animator/Technical Director.
Click 3X Enlists Motion Designer/VFX Compositor J.D. Yepes
New York-based design and effects studio Click 3X recently expanded their roster, signing artist J.D. Yepes, a specialist in editing, motion design and vfx compositing. The hire is the latest in a series of efforts to widen their production capabilities to offer a full suite of visual solutions for commercials, feature films, television, music videos and broadcast clients.
Vitale Promoted At Sci Fi Channel
Thomas Vitale has been promoted to Exec VP, Programming and Original Movies for the Sci Fi Channel. Vitale will continue to report to Dave Howe, President, Sci Fi Channel. Vitale, who started at the channel in early 1993, soon after the network's September 1992 launch, has played a vital role with Sci Fi throughout its history, most recently serving as SVP, Programming and Original Movies.
New Research VP At Turner's Animation Group
Veteran research strategist Lanie Richberger has been named VP of research for Turner Broadcasting System's Animation, Young Adults and Kids Media (AYAKM) group, it was announced Monday by Jon Marks, SVP of Turner Research. In this capacity, Richberger will be responsible for managing all aspects of research, including organizing, analyzing and reporting on audience ratings, delivery, and user information supporting the cable television networks Cartoon Network, Adult Swim and Boomerang, along with their online businesses and digital enterprises.
Eric Goldberg: The Guy from Cherry Hill
Tom Sito chats with the veteran animator about his life, his work, his new book, and the time he substituted for a gorilla.