The Sim Group’s board of directors has appointed a new president and CEO, James Haggarty, effective May 16. After successfully expanding and diversifying the company he founded 34-years ago, Rob Sim is moving into a new role as vice chairman. The company has expanded rapidly over the past few years, encompassing a network of complementary brands that service the production and post-production industries.
Slightly Distorted Productions, in association with the Oklahoma Film + Music Office, has announced production of the upcoming feature film Stillwater to be filmed entirely in Oklahoma. The production will utilize the Oklahoma Film Enhancement Rebate Program administered by OF+MO and commence principal photography on May 14 in Stillwater.
Ymagis Group has announced a complete corporate rebranding initiative effective immediately, which will be rolled out through the second quarter of 2016. This rebranding encompasses all aspects of the visual identity of the Group’s portfolio of brands as well as the complete revision of the company tagline, mission and vision statement. All exhibitor services activities (dcinex, Ymagis, R2D1 and shortly Proyecson) now operate under the name CinemaNext.
Viking Destiny, an epic odyssey adventure following the lives and legendary crusades of Scandinavian explorers is currently in pre-production and will be introduced at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival by Clay Epstein’s Film Mode Entertainment. David LG Hughes is slated to direct, and will also produce along with Andy Ryder (Alleycats).
Following on the heels of their 2014 hit, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, directors Anthony and Joe Russo have done it again with the Marvel-Disney franchise blockbuster Captain America: Civil War. From a script written by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, which blends dramatic spectacle with legit emotion and humor, the filmmakers once again turned to cinematographer Trent Opaloch, who shot The Winter Soldier. The Technicolor color finishing team led by senior supervising finishing colorist Steve Scott, worked with Opaloch, the Marvel team (producer Kevin Feige, and executive producer Victoria Alonso), and the Russos to provide final color-grading, digital intermediate services, mastering for a wide array of HDR theatrical deliverables, and HDR home masters.
The New England Section of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers will offer a free day-long New Technologies Boot Camp dedicated to fostering a better understanding of working with high resolution (UHD, 4K, and beyond), high-dynamic-range imaging, and higher frame rates; maintaining resolution independence on screens of every size; and leveraging internet protocol and ATSC 3.0 for more efficient movement of this media content. The boot camp will run from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on May 19 in the Terrace Room of the Holiday Inn in Dedham, Massachusetts.
First Look Media, a new-model media company supporting independent voices, and co-financer of Academy Award winning best picture, Spotlight, announced today that Annie Marter has joined the company as Senior Vice President, Feature Film, ramping up their studio’s efforts in film.
DoPchoice has redesigned the classic softbox into the quick-deploying Snapbag, a lightweight, elegant solution for LED lights.
Underscoring its focus on nurturing ties with creative-minded directors and advertising agencies, TWC Films has rebranded as Cultivate.Media. The Santa Monica-based production company’s new name, logo and website are meant to suggest its mission to build relationships and the evolving nature of advertising production. “Our name speaks to our story,” says managing director/executive producer Mark Thomas. “We cultivate relationships with directors and we cultivate relationships with agency creatives to pursue our common goal of #doingfamouswork. That’s our hashtag.”
Deluxe creative editorial company Beast has named Melissa Lubin executive producer of its New York office. Bringing a decade of deep experience across all facets of production and client services for editorial, sound and graphic design, VFX and finishing, she will lead talent development, build production teams and introduce new clients to Beast’s talent and services.
