May was a month of incredible accomplishments for our talented LA Film School alumni! From major awards to blockbuster films to iconic albums, our alumni are making their mark on the entertainment industry. Check out this month’s alumni highlights and learn about the incredible projects they’ve been involved with.
Sports Emmy Awards 2024
Maddie Goldberg (Animation 2022) was personally nominated for the Outstanding Graphic Design – Event/Show award for her work on the Mr. Spell animations for ESPN’s Toy Story Funday Football. The match won three Sports Emmys in total.
Airbenders
Zachary Dych (2008 film) And Brandon Rennick (2018 film) I work at Picture Shop. They are credited on the Apple TV limited series Airbenders—Zachary as DI Finishing Editor and Brandon as Assistant Colorist.
Zachary’s previous credits include editing work for Shadow and bones And Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin. Brandon’s previous credits include Julia, Florida Man, WalkerAnd Fargo.
Also credited on the show as a digital colorist, he was Mark Farago (2005 film). He works for post-production house Picture Head as a finishing artist. His work can also be seen in the upcoming Marvel movie Deadpool and Wolverine and Apple TV Black matter.
The parcel
The acclaimed Airbenders follows 10 men inside an aluminum bomber known as the “Flying Fortress” as they battle anti-aircraft fire and relentless flocks of German fighters during World War II. Steven Spielberg produced the show. Watch the entire series on Apple+.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
Keep an eye on Nathan Runyan (2022 Movie)! He works for Halon Entertainment and has been credited on several 2024 releases, including For Argy And Atlas. He contributed to Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes as VFX/Mocap coordinator.
You’ll also see Nathan’s name attached to a few other major releases coming in the not-so-distant future, including Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning, part two And Minecraft.
The parcel
Several generations after Caesar’s death, a young ape sets out on a journey that will lead him to question everything he has been taught about the past and make choices that will define the future for apes and humans alike. Find it in the cinema now!
The Rebel Moon franchise
Julia Ruscio (Animation 2023) And Marlon Rivas (Animation 2015) worked as a digital composer and visualization artist respectively on Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver. Marlon also contributed to Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire as a post-visualization artist.
Julia has contributed to several projects through Mammal Studios since graduating in 2023, including Lawmen: Bass Reeves And Lioness. Julia also participated in the Academy Gold Rising 2023 program.
Marlon’s career in animation includes dozens of credits, Avatar: The Way of Water has Stranger Things. In these projects he combined disciplines such as tracking, animation, lighting and compositing.
The parcel
In this double feature film from writer Kurt Johnstad and director Zack Snyder, a fictional galaxy ruled by the imperialist Homeworld and its army, the Imperium, threatens an agricultural colony on the moon of Veldt. A farmer with a mysterious past assembles a group of interplanetary warriors to fight back. Both films are now available to stream on Netflix.
All of us strangers
Andrew Haigh (2004 film) recently received widespread praise for his independent film All of us strangers, which was nominated for several BAFTA awards. Paul Mescal won the 2023 British Independent Film Award for Best Supporting Actor in his role as Harry.
Andrew has also signed on to adapt and direct Universal Pictures’ upcoming Leonardo da Vinci film. The film will be based on the acclaimed biography by Walter Isaacson, starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
The parcel
A screenwriter returned to his childhood home begins a new relationship with his downstairs neighbor while discovering a mysterious new way to heal from the loss of his parents 30 years ago. Stream the movie now on Hulu.
Discovery of Warner Bros.
Colby (CJ) Lindsey (Entertainment Business 2018) works at Warner Bros. Discovery as senior director of children’s films and strategy Max. CJ is the lead on-platform strategist for all films and documentaries on HBO Max in the US, a few of which include DC, Wizarding World, WB, TCM, WB Animation and Studio Ghibli titles.
CJ’s previous industry work includes serving as HBO Max’s Director of Editorial Strategy – Kids & Family, Fandom; Children’s entertainment media specialist at Cyberwise/Cyber Civics, where he hosted the podcast “Parents’ Guide to What Kids Watch.” He also served as Head of Content Strategy – DC Universe.
Mary J. Blige | Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Mary J. Blige signed with Uptown Records in 1989, becoming the label’s youngest and first female artist. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2024 induction ceremony is scheduled for October 19 at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio. Fans can watch the event live on Disney+, with an ABC broadcast to follow and availability on Hulu the following day.
Ready to revisit Blige’s iconic career? Check out some of these projects our alumni have worked on:
- Jaycen Joshua (2003 Recording) contributed to several Blige albums as a mixer and assistant mixer. Some of his album credits include Mix for my life II… The journey continues, Stronger with every tear, Growing painsAnd Discovery. Check out Jaycen’s discography for his full list of credits!
- Adam Shattuck (2016 film) worked as an assistant editor on the documentary Mary J. Blige: The Making of Strength of a Woman – An Album Documentary, chronicling Blige’s emotional process of bringing the album to life.
- Alan Manzo (2012 film) worked in the art department as a production designer on the music video for “Why?” ft. Rick Ross.
- Charles (Chuck) Bailey (1999 Recording) was assistant engineer on Blige’s 1999 album, Married.
Happy hello
With a professional background that spans cinema, music and photography, Kayla ShaDay (Entertainment Business 2022) is an old one to know. Currently, she is the artistic director of the K-Pop group Merry Hey Day, but you should also keep an eye out for her immersive phototherapy book based on her travels through South Korea. Learn more about Kayla’s professional journey in our recent article.
Industry overview: May 2024 review
Indie TV pilots are having a moment
In a context of a somewhat paradoxical slowdown in the financing of TV pitches, could independent filmmakers chart the course for financing their own series? Some filmmakers think so. Learn more about the seemingly growing trend of independent TV series here.
Is the music industry too afraid of big, bad AI?
Will AI kill music? According to some music industry executives, AI may not be the death knell for human creativity that we fear. Learn more about the future of music in the age of AI.
IATSE and AMPTP conclude planned negotiations on regional standards agreement
The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) concluded the second of two planned weeks of Regional Standards Agreement (ASA) negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) on Saturday. Follow the negotiations on the IATSE website.
MLC sues Spotify for bundling and cutting royalties for publishers and songwriters
The Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) filed a lawsuit against Spotify for bundling products in a way that ultimately led to a lower royalty rate for publishers and songwriters. Learn more about the MLC’s lawsuit against Spotify.
Billboard’s Top International Players for 2024 Revealed
Executives driving music success outside the United States have contributed significantly to a ninth consecutive year of growth in the global recorded music industry. Find out who’s who among the music industry’s leaders.
We love finding out what our alumni are working on in the entertainment industry. If you’re an LA Film School alum and have an upcoming project, tell us! Connect with us and send your project details!