REELSCREEN: News & Notes – 03/19/04

A RAD APPROACH I-Cubed’s Arturo edited five spots for Alberto VO-5 through its new agency, Element 79, of which he created three “more radical ?pushed’ versions,” he said. Dennis Manarchy directed and lensed two boarded spots and shot extra footage used by Arturo to shape the three “more radically different” versions. Two spots are currently airing, three are in test. ECD, Dennis Ryan; CDs Debbie Fries and Carolyn Bergen-Baba; producer, Elena Robinson.

BONCHER RETIRES. The vivacious talent agent Mary Boncher retired March 15 after 13 years as Aria Model and Talent Management and six months after the agency had been sold to Ford Models. (The agency is now known as Ford Models & Aria). Boncher had run her own agency before partnering with Marie Anderson, who had, ironically, worked for Ford. The two created Aria and represented some 1,500 top fashion and commercial print models and actors. Boncher decided to leave the business when her six-month contract expired to pursue personal interests. Anderson continues with Ford.

OUT OF AFRICA. Ch. 32 reporters Darlene Hill and Mark Saxenmeyer went to South Africa to screen their Hugo-winning doc, “Experiment: Gay and Straight,” at the Out in Africa Film Festival. While there, they shot footage for a doc about the tenth anniversary of the end of apartheid, the AIDS epidemic and the uniqueness of South Africa’s constitution, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

EXCELLENT TIMING. Ch. 11 airs “Maxwell Street: A Living Memory” the day before Passover April 4 at 9:30 p.m. Documentarian Shuli Eshel produced the 29-minute doc, subtitled “The Jewish Experience in Chicago.” Although urban renewal captured the legendary market, the children and grandchildren of the Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe who created Maxwell Street, recall their experiences, augmented by rare archival footage and still images.

ONE SHOW JUDGES. Kevin Lynch/Hadrian’s Wall, Paul Hirsch/Leo Burnett and Joe Sciarotta/O&M were tapped to judge the New York One Show competitions (the One Show, One Show Interactive, One Show Design). They were among the jury of 22 who saw some 16,000 entries. Winners announced May 14 at the close of One Show Festival week.

SILVER ANNIVERSARY. “It’s been a great ride,” says FCB’s Nathalynne McGinnis of her 25th years with the agency. She began her FCB career as receptionist and moved successively to creative assistant, production secretary, business manager, assistant producer, producer and her present position. High points: “The great people I’ve met along the way, the great travel, and having the opportunity to learn about the advertising business.” As a producer, McGinnis has worked on almost all FCB accounts and is presently producing for S.C. Johnson products.