PRESS
LIVE DESIGN Press Release
NEW YORK, NY - October 28, 2009.
The New York-based film and talent management firm Creative Entertainment Connections (CEC), founded by Laura Siegel, is celebrating its fifth anniversary and the rapidly budding achievements of its year-old development division.
“This company is, quite simply, exploding with content and talent,” said Siegel. “A lot of the credit,” she added, “goes to the talent, energy and vision of Will Rowbotham, our new development director who comes to us from the Weinstein Company. He’s really put together an awesome slate of projects involving some amazing producing talent.”
That “amazing” producing talent that CEC works with includes Academy Award winner James Moll and Academy Award nominees David Friendly (Little Miss Sunshine) and Nick Morton (Ray). Other name producers on their project roster include Sid Ganis and Lynda Obst (The Invention of Lying).
Among others developing projects at the company are music video producers Burner Media (Madonna, Eminem), who are branching off and creating Docu-Reality series for cable (Little Boat Big Fish, It’s Good To Be King), and director Alex Moors, whose music videos for Bjork and The Chemical Brothers have paved the way for his first feature film, Echo Station.
“We are excited,” Siegel went on, “to be working with some incredible talent on some very original properties. We expect to be revealing more details shortly but, for now, I don’t want to give it all away.”
Asked how CEC’s young development division has reeled in such Grade A talent, Siegel credits Rowbotham’s determination, ability and connections, as well as her company’s now well-established ability to package projects from top to bottom.
“Before we even started working with these great producers, writers and directors,” she noted, “we had assembled a wonderful roster of below-the-line talent that we’ve been handling for half a decade now. From the creative side of the project to the technology side, we can pull projects together very efficiently. ”
And, to that point, CEC’s below-the-line representation continues to thrive with the company booking its clients on major motion pictures and TV series at the studio level. They have clients on projects such as The Other Guys (starring Will Ferrell), Starz Networks’ series Gravity (starring Krysten Ritter), The Big Bang (starring Antonio Banderas), Damages (starring Glenn Close), Gossip Girls and Ugly Betty (starring America Ferrera).
Other films the company is currently involved in packaging include Paper Boy, The Island Chronicles and the remake of Brewster’s Millions.
While CEC is not restricted to New York-based films, Siegel points out that the company is particularly well set up for East Coast moviemaking. “We know this region like the back of our hands,” she said, “and can pull talent and location together better than anyone.” Recently on a New York feature, CEC packaged six key crew members, stunt team, camera gear and crew van rentals.
The company’s continued success has also put it in a position to assist film makers with financing and many other production resources.
All in all, while CEC has certainly had a successful first five years, Laura Siegel sees even brighter times ahead.
“We are a company on the move!” she declared to her team at the company’s stylish Manhattan office. “With our team of agents, mangers and newly formed business development division, we have the confidence, dedication and ability to take CEC to new heights.”
And, the evidence suggests, she may just be right.
October 20, 2009
Signings and Bookings -- Peter Caranicas
"...Signed by Creative Entertainment Connections: script supervisor Stacy Rowe, first a.d. Jon Campbell and costume designer Mirena Rada. CEC bookings: Steadicam operator Ari Robbins on Darren Lynn Bousman's "Mother's Day"; costume designer Eden Miller on Starz's "Failure to Fly"; d.p. Matthew MacCarthy on Jason Venture's "Zellwood"; first A.D. Joe Suarez on Tony Krantz's "The Big Bang"; and makeup artists Craig Lyman on Adam McKay's "The Other Guys" and Linda Grimes on Fox's "White Collar." ..."
September 22, 2009
Signings and Bookings -- Peter Caranicas
"...Creative Entertainment Connections has signed editor Jennifer Lilly ("Before the Devil Knows You're Dead"), 1st a.d. Joe Ciccarella and line producer Lauren Silver. CED bookings: d.p. Adrian Correia on Mustapha Khan's "Rocksteady"; costume designer Amela Baksic and script supervisor Andrea Ulrich on "The Gonzo Files," with Amy Sedaris; production designer Travis Zariwny on "Barry Minkow"; and editor Lilly on John Doe Entertainment's "A Girl Like You With a Boy Like Me."..."
CEC Press Release - Wednesday, July 9, 2008
CREATIVE ENTERTAINMENT CONNECTIONS
STARTS DEVELOPMENT DIVISION
NEW YORK - Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Creative Entertainment Connections, the New York-based boutique talent management firm founded by industry veteran Laura Siegel, has opened an in-house film and television development arm.
The new division will focus on managing writers and shepherding their projects from inception through production. The company is in the process of compiling a slate of projects that will range from big screen films to TV series (scripted and unscripted).
CEC’s new roster of writers will join a company talent pool that encompasses a creative and technical union of producers, directors, cinematographers, special effects artists, production designers, casting directors, hair and make-up artists, costume designers, script supervisors, location managers, stunt coordinators, line producers, steadicam operators, ADs and UPMs.
To head the development department, Siegel has tapped writer-producer John Kennedy whose experience includes stints at CNN, High Noon Entertainment, Epiphany Pictures and Sirius Satellite Radio. Siegel has also promoted Nicholas Soviecke to the post of development manager.
They will work with the CEC packaging team that includes talent managers Tara Kromer, Colleen Davie Janes, computer graphics artist Ryan Feltner and operations manager Anisha Jhaveri to promote CEC clients and their creative visions to film studios, television networks and new media.
Laura Siegel, who previously was responsible for sales and marketing at Panavision, launched CEC in 2005 – utilizing her experience to create a first-of-its-kind company connecting film makers with talent and production crews, as well as technology companies that provide the movie-making equipment.
CEC has established a network of strategic alliances and partnerships worldwide that provides a “one-stop” solution for production needs on a global scale. Looking ahead toward the global market, CEC utilizes in-house multi-lingual resources fluent in Hindi, Japanese, German, French and other languages.
CEC is also an associate member of the Association of Independent Commercial Producers, working with other companies in the industry to improve effectiveness and efficiency of commercial production.
Ms. Siegel is on the board of the Long Island Film and Television Foundation and is a member of New York Women in Film and Television.
24DP Press Release
Head over to 24DP's website and check out their latest press release.
Live Design Press Release
Check out Live Design's newest press release all about CEC.
CEC Annual Entertainment Ski Jam 2007
[ CEC Entertainment Ski Jam 2007 flier (.doc 1MB) ]
CEC in Below the Line (www.btlnews.com)
CEC Launched as Rep Firm to Package Below-the-Line Talent With Technology
November 20, 2006
Former Panavision New York executive Laura Siegel has launched Creative Entertainment Connections (CEC), an independent talent management company that represents below-the-line talent like cinematographers, production designers, and makeup artists—in addition to providing production services by uniting crew with technology companies.
The idea behind CEC came about following numerous requests from DPs who asked Siegel to represent them as an agent while she was at Panavision. This led to the concept of repping technology companies alongside crew talent in order to provide vertical packaging for production.
“Not only can CEC provide the image-maker, they can offer support for the technology to create the image as well,” says Franz Wieser, VP of international marketing for ARRI. “I believe that Laura’s concept will suit existing and future clients extremely well.”
“We recognized Laura’s industry knowledge and talents over the years and are pleased to have her on board as an ARRI/CSC representative,” adds Hardwick Johnson, VP of operations for ARRI/CSC.
“Laura’s positive attitude, connections and strong work ethic are exactly what this industry needs,” says Richard Crudo, former president of the American Society of Cinematographers. “Her honesty and integrity in dealing with the clients are applauded by everyone I know in this business.”
Siegel holds the post of president at CEC. Prior to Panavision, she worked at Bulbtronics’ Entertainment Lighting Division.
“I am excited about the future of CEC as we work towards expanding our roster of cinematographers, production designers, costume designers and makeup artists,” says Siegel. “We are currently working with a European production company by supplying the DP, Steadicam operator and camera operator, as well as the camera and lighting package. We can package the client’s production needs and services by one-stop sourcing.”
CEC on LiveDesign (www.livedesignonline.com)
“What sets CEC apart is their representation of cinematographers, production designers, and makeup artists, as well as the technology for the production to complement the crew. Laura Siegel, president and founder, is excited by the synergism that will emerge by representing the technological tools and the talent who will use them.”