WHO’S NEW: STORY has added director/cameraman Blair Hayes for exclusive spot representation. He was most recently was represented by L.A.-based Form where his credited included Bud Light, Verizon, Lay’s potato chips and Progressive Insurance.
*Lennie Urbanowski, who had been part of Pixel Brothers’ interactive design and project management group, was appointed director of interactive services. Michael Helm, whom Urbanowski replaces, and Helm’s partner Michael Parker left to form their own company.
*Digital communications and marketing expert Brian Joosse joined national PR giant Fleishman-Hillard as a VP in its digital practice group. Previously, Joosee had been director, interactive initiatives at Donald L. Arends’ Oak Brook advertising and marketing agency. He’ll be based in F-H’s Chicago office.
MUSIC HOUSE COMMA has expanded again — it opened a Santa Monica office earlier this year — by adding Michael Paolettta as its New York-based executive producer. Paoletta will be Comma’s liaison to New York agencies and facilitate its artists’ showcases and licensing arrangements.
CONGRATULATIONS ARE STILL IN ORDER to non-TV station production companies that that took home Emmy statuettes from the Nov. 7 ceremony at the Park West. They are: *Bridges, which won in the category of Outstanding Achievement for Entertainment Programs – Advanced Media Arts/Entertainment Program or Program Segment, recognizing restaurateur (Rocket Bar & Grill and new Sunda) Billy Dec for his performance in “Journey to Sunda,” produced by the Bridges team.
*Michael Graf’s Madison, Wisc.-based Spot Filmworks, won for its Alzheimer’s Association PSA for Milwaukee agency, Serve Marketing, in the Outstanding Achievement in a Public Service Announcement category.
THE CONCEPT OF PROJECT COLLABORATION, brought to the foreground by the Chicago Convergence as a way to accomplish more, quicker, takes another form with Chicago Filmmakers bi-monthly Filmmaker Meet-Up! Thursday night.
The Meet-Up is open to everyone interested in producing independent media. Chicago Filmmakers says, “Bring your resume or business cards and we’ll handle the rest.”
COLUMBIA COLLEGE’S popular Cinema Slapdown presents Rock’NRoll! Nov. 19 at Cinema Row Cinema. The screening of director Todd Haynes’ “I’m not There” will be followed by a debate exploring Haynes work between WXRT’s Terri (“Solid rock!”) Hemmert and WGN Radio’s Garry (“A hard rain’s a-gonna fall on this one”) Meier. Faculty member and host of “Talk Cinema,” Ron Falzone is the referee.
CHICAGO SCREENWRITERS NETWORK is planning to launch its second annual Screenplay Contest next year, based on the large number of entries it received for its debut Midwest-wide contest this year. But it needs your help.
If you would like to be a reader or a judge for the contest, and you are available for orientation on Dec. 6, contact CSN president Sonny Wareham,
