Vista Group International Limited has appointed Derek Forbes to the newly created role of chief operating officer. Forbes, currently president, Vista Entertainment Solutions USA, will continue to be based in Los Angeles. Leon Newnham, currently vice president, operations, VES USA will take over from Forbes as president. The announcement was made today by Murray Holdaway, Vista Group chief executive.
The Board of Governors of the American Society of Cinematographers has elected Kees Van Oostrum to serve as president of the organization. This is Oostrum’s first term, which will run for one year, beginning immediately. The ASC Board also selected its slate of officers. They include: Bill Bennett, Dean Cundey and Lowell Peterson as vice presidents; Levi Isaacs as treasurer; Fred Goodich as secretary; and Roberto Schaefer as sergeant-at-arms.
Hybrid digital production studio Cognition has hired Eileen Godoy as executive producer. Godoy will manage film and television projects through the processes of editorial finishing, color grading and deliverables. She will collaborate with sales and play a role in setting strategy and planning growth.
Post-production industry veteran Domenic Rom has been promoted to the role of president and general manager, Deluxe TV Post-Production Services. Rom, formerly the managing director of Deluxe's New York studio (Encore/Company 3/Method), will drive Deluxe's global services for television; specifically, the Encore and Level 3 branded companies. He will be based in Los Angeles, reporting to Deluxe CEO John Wallace.
As Alamo Drafthouse moves closer to the opening of its Downtown Brooklyn theater, the company is pleased to announce the addition of Mike Sampson to its New York City team as senior marketing and promotions manager. Along with New York creative manager & programmer Cristina Cacioppo, Sampson will be a key member of the team guiding and executing the creative vision for Downtown Brooklyn, as well as future NYC venues.
Continuing to add depth and experience to its team in Vancouver, FuseFX has hired VFX supervisor and producer James Tichenor.
Veteran supervising sound editor and sound designer George H. Anderson has joined Sony Pictures Post Production Services. Anderson brings a deep and varied resume in sound with more than 75 credits in film and television. He has completed several recent projects at Sony Pictures, including Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, Pee-wee’s Big Holiday and Trainwreck.
The Los Angeles Greek Film Festival has announced that it will honor Twentieth Century Fox chairman & CEO Jim Gianopulos during the Sunday, June 5 Orpheus Awards at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. Gianopulos will be feted alongside previously announced fellow Orpheus honoree Academy Award winning actor J.K. Simmons. The awards will be hosted by American Horror Story star Mena Suvari.
Laser protection was one of the big stories of last month’s CinemaCon convention. All four projector manufacturers featured laser technology in their exhibits and all four announced significant sales. Many people can claim some measure of credit for laser projection’s success in digital cinema but none more than Bill Beck. His advocacy for the technology, which goes back more than a decade, has justifiably earned him the title The Laser Guy.
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.
