Agencies
Abrams Artists Agency: Actor David Alan Basche has signed with Abrams Artists Agency in Los Angeles. He will be repped by Marni Rosenzweig, Jay Schachter, Justin Baxter, Evan Miller, Sharon Paz and Harry Abrams. Basche is currently a series regular on TV Land’s The Exes, which was just picked up for an additional 12 episodes. He also has an extensive feature film resume, which includes Real Steel, The Adjustment Bureau and War of the Worlds. Basche continues to be managed by Mark Rousso at New Wave Entertainment and represented in New York by Harden / Curtis and Associates.
Gersh: Actor and director Jensen Ackles is now repped by Alex Yarosh and Bob Gersh. Ackles currently stars as Dean Winchester on CW's long-running series Supernatural, a role he has played since 2005. Beginning his career in the mid-nineties Ackles starred as Eric Brady on the soap Days of Our Lives from 1998 until 2002, earning several Daytime Emmy nominations in the process. He's also appeared as Alec/X5-494 on Dark Angel, CJ on Dawson’s Creek and Jason Teague on Smallville. Ackles’ film credits include the 2009 horror hit My Bloody Valentine 3D. In addition to acting in Supernatural, Ackles has directed several episodes of that series as well.
ICM Partners: Writer and actress Arielle Holmes is now repped by Kevin Hussey, Sarah Kelly and Joanne Wiles. A newcomer to the film industry, Holmes is making her big screen debut in the upcoming indie Heaven Knows What, directed by Benny and Joshua Safdi. The filmmaking brothers first discovered Holmes while she was living on the streets of New York and addicted to heroin. Convincing Holmes to write about her experiences in the unpublished memoir Mad Love in New York City, the brothers soon adapted her story into the screenplay for Heaven Knows What. Holmes is now starring in the drama as a fictionalized version of herself. The film has been generating considerable buzz since its Venice premiere and Radius recently picked up the US rights, planning to release the film in 2015.
UTA: Rising French actor Tahar Rahim is now a client. Rahim most recently appeared in the features The Cut, which played in competition at Venice, and Samba, which premiered at Toronto. Last year, Rahim appeared in Asghar Farhadi’s acclaimed feature The Past, as well as Rebecca Zlootowski’s Grand Central, which was screened in Un Certain Regard section of the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. Starting his career in 2006, Rahim first drew international attention with his starring role in Jacquies Audiard’s A Prophet, which racked up numerous awards including prizes at the Cannes and London film festivals. That film also earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. Rahim’s other screen credits have included The Eagle, Les Hommes libres, Love and Bruises, Black Gold and Our Children. Up next, Rahim will appear in the six-part crime drama The Last Panthers, opposite Samantha Morton and John Hurt.
Verve: Writer and director Kimberly Peirce is now repped by Bill Weinstein, Tanya Cohen and Amy Retzinger. Pierce most recently helmed the 2013 remake of Carrie, an adaptation of the Stephen King novel that starred Chloe Grace Moretz and Julianne Moore. Peirce first burst onto the scene in 1999 with the indie hit Boys Don’t Cry, which racked up numerous awards and nominations, including earning Hilary Swank an Academy Award for Best Actress. Since then, Peirce has directed an episode of The L Word, as well as the 2008 drama Stop-Loss, which starred Ryan Phillippe and Channing Tatum. Pierce will next direct an episode of the AMC series Turn. She also recently made an overall deal with ABC Studios, where she has several projects in development. Peirce has just signed with Britton Rizzo at Circle of Confusion for management as well.
Management Companies
Apex Talent Group: Actor Kevin Rock is now repped by Richard Makarewicz. Rock recently guest-starred in episodes of Franklin & Bash, The Kroll Show,and Criminal Minds, and can be seen in his regular role in the PBS Digital series, Frankenstein, M.D. He also recently wrapped the feature, 96 Souls, a sci-fi thriller scheduled for release next year. Rock continues to be repped theatrically by David Shapira & Associates and commercially by Baron Entertainment.
Public Relations Companies
Wolf-Kasteler Public Relations: Veteran actor J.K. Simmons is now repped by Lisa Kasteler. Simmons is currently starring in a buzzed-about performance in the feature film Whiplash, which premiered at Sundance earlier this year and is already generating Oscar talk for the actor. Simmons also has a role in Jason Reitman’s new feature Men Women & Children and the upcoming indie Murder of a Cat. Starting his career in the eighties, Simmons has led a prolific career with numerous credits across film and television. Some of his more notable roles including his portrayal of J. Jonah Jameson in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy, Dr. Emil Skoda on NBC’s Law & Order, Vernon Schillinger on HBO’s Oz and Will Pope on TNT’s The Closer. Next up, Simmons will appear in Terminator: Genisys, set for release next year.