Moves this week at OPC, 75, Agave, Freshwater Films, MacGuff, FilmCore, Finish
New Canadian production company OPC has signed directors Tim Godsall, Michael Downing and Steven Diller for the Canadian market, along with executive producer Harland Weisz. All three directors come to OPC from top Canadian production company Untitled. They join directors Stephan Jay Rayon and Michael Williams on the roster. Godsall's Toronto Zoo spot was on shots 93 and he recently shot Brawny's innovative reality TV Brawny Academy spots. Downing featured on the shots New Director's reel last year and also on shots 93 for his National Ballet of Canada and Scotiabank spots. Godsall will continue to be represented in the US by Biscuit, Downing through Harvest, and Steven Diller remains with MJZ.
Director Matthieu Mantovani has joined Soixan7e Quin5e for French representation. Previously part of a team known as ZOO with David Fauche and Julien Rambaldi, Mantovani went solo in 2004, directing Broadway for Sébastien Tellier, which was awarded best clip at Le Club des Directeurs Artistiques and shown at New York's MOMA.
Oscar-winning DP George Peters has signed with Agave as a car commercials director. Peters picked up an Academy Award for Technical Achievement for his innovative camerawork - made possible through his Magic Arm invention, a completely manoeuvrable gyro-stabilised camera crane which can rotate 360 degrees around any moving vehicle in less then six seconds - on features such as Batman Begins and Mr & Mrs Smith.
London-based Erik van Wyk has signed to Freshwater Films for South African representation and representation in other international markets.
Simon Brewster has signed with FX house MacGuff Los Angeles as its lead inferno artist. Brewster previously worked as creative director/inferno artist for A52 before moving to Australia to pursue a freelance career. He will be working with MacGuff's creative director, Simon Scott.
Editor Michael Hackett has joined FilmCore. Hackett has worked on a broad range of commercials, music videos and episodic television, including a recent Chevy spot with Michel Gondry. He joins FilmCore from Crush Editorial in Santa Monica.
London-based post-production studio Finish has signed producer Claire Signy. Signy's 15 years in the industry include stints at Leo Burnett, Young & Rubicam, WCRS, Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe/Y&R and the Leith Agency. She has recently produced a 15-minute short starring Ricky Tomlinson.