As 2018 drew to a close, so did the tenure of Nick Maniatis as New Mexico Film Office director. In an open letter, Maniatis reflected on his tour of duty. He wrote, “It has been my absolute privilege to work with the film community in this state. Coming in eight years ago I was greeted with much warmth (and some skepticism!), but I immediately knew I had made the right decision to be here.
“Over the years I have watched as filmmakers grew and flourished across the state, crew members who started out as PA’s came into their own careers and started working regularly, and more and more companies began to know the talent that New Mexico had to offer. One of the highlights of my job was welcoming and introducing new productions to our State and hearing how impressed they were by the talent and infrastructure that existed here.
“For whomever takes over the directorship of the New Mexico Film Office, I know they are in the extremely capable hands of the New Mexico State Film Office and of the entire New Mexico film community. I look forward to watching the New Mexico Film industry continue to flourish in the coming years.
“Thank you all for being a part of my journey, and I hope to bump into you on my journey to come.”
HAPPY FILM TRAILS TO YOU
The Historic Oregon Film Trail (HOFT) has officially begun.
The Astoria-Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce and the Oregon Film Office developed the initial concept of HOFT and identified Astoria movie locations, in partnership with the Oregon Film Museum, that represent the beginning of the Trail. The Oregon Coast Visitors Association provided additional funding and support for the signs.
The Historic Oregon Film Trail, has been designed to showcase iconic locations in the state, and the first official group of signs was unveiled at Alameda Park in Astoria. The group of three signs feature facts and anecdotes from the The Goonies, Kindergarten Cop and Short Circuit–all #OregonMade films shot on Oregon’s North Coast.
One sign in particular has been positioned at the East End Mooring Basin near the Astoria Riverfront Trail to give an alternative view of the “Goonies House” in an effort to eliminate trespassing on the hill of the privately owned residence. Goonies fans, it turns out, never say die, or no, to a photo opportunity. While the sign signifies a location for that viewpoint, the sign copy shares information about the nearby Astor Elementary School which was featured in Kindergarten Cop.
The lesser-known Alameda Park offers a great viewpoint of the Astoria-Megler Bridge and it is the topic of the Short Circuit sign located there. The sign for The Goonies is located by the Oregon Film Museum and speaks to it and the Flavel House’s roles in that film. “Historical markers are typically about famous people and events. Movies filmed here are also an important part of Oregon’s history and culture, so ours offer a twist on that convention.” said Tim Williams, executive director, Oregon Film.
LOCATION LENSING RISES IN L.A.
On-location filming in greater Los Angeles rose 5 percent in the fourth quarter of 2018, a strong finish for a year in which local film production came close to record highs. Area filmmakers logged 10,359 shoot days in the fourth quarter, and 38,795 shoot days for all of 2018.
Reasons for the 1.3 percent year-over-year annual increase include double digit increases in feature film (up 12.2 percent), TV drama (up 10.6 percent) and TV pilot (up 15.2 percent) production, plus a strong showing for commercials (up 8.7 percent).
Nikki Maizel Named President Of Publicis New York
Nikki Maizel has been hired as president of Publicis New York. She reports to Carla Serrano, global chief strategy officer of Publicis Groupe and CEO of Publicis New York.
Maizel brings more than two decades of leadership experience to her new role. Most recently, she served as the head of business leadership and managing partner at McCann New York, where she transformed the agency’s business and growth strategies while shaping its culture and employee training infrastructure, receiving numerous accolades during her tenure.
“Our industry is at a pivotal moment, with clients seeking partners who can challenge them to innovate, impact their bottom line, and move faster than ever,” said Serrano. “Our ‘Power of One’ approach, embodied within Publicis New York, allows us to offer integrated solutions that meet these demands. We’re thrilled to welcome Nikki, who has a proven track record of growing businesses globally, building best-in-class teams, and elevating collective offerings to clients.”
Maizel said, “Publicis Groupe has earned a reputation for pushing the boundaries of what’s achievable. I’m excited to collaborate with our partners and teams to set our clients apart. Publicis New York is the engine behind ‘Power of One,’ the unique model of the future that combines cross-agency capabilities, so I can’t imagine a more exciting time to join and help shape what’s next for our clients and teams.”
Maizel becomes the latest Publicis New York appointment under Serrano’s leadership. Last year, Publicis New York named Patrick White as its chief strategy officer, and welcomed Joe Mongognia as its chief creative officer.
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