Honors and Hires: Roger Deakins Named CBE in Queen's Recent Birthday Honors List

This column in THR’s Behind the Screen blog -- which runs on Fridays -- covers members of the crafts and technology community who have been honored, hired, signed, or have otherwise made news. See below for how to submit your news for consideration in future columns.

Honored:

Roger Deakins, one of Hollywood’s most respected cinematographers, was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in Queen Elizabeth II’s recently released annual Birthday Honors List. He is the first cinematographer to receive the honor of Commander.

"Gobsmacked is a word that comes to mind. I am so extremely honored to be included in such an esteemed group,” said Deakins. “It's not something a country boy from Southwest England ever even dreams of."

A frequent collaborator with directors Joel and Ethan Coen and Sam Mendes, Deakins has won three BAFTA Film Awards, three ASC Awards and four BSC Awards. He has been nominated for 10 Academy Awards for films including Skyfall, True Grit, No Country for Old Men, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, The Man Who Wasn’t There and The Shawshank Redemption.

Deakins is also a recipient of an ASC Lifetime Achievement Award and a Camerimage Special Award for outstanding achievement in the art of cinematography.

Hired:

Paradigm announced the following client news: Director of photography Lex du Pont has boarded NBC series Night Shift; Byron Shah will serve as director of photography on CBS’ The Crazy Ones. Production designer Kitty Doris-Bates has joined Sundance Channel series Red Road. Maher Ahmad will be the production designer on Marvel’s Avengers 2.

Company news:

Technicolor announced that it has delivered the 100 millionth set-top box for DirecTV, via a partnership that goes back more than two decades. “Technicolor is pleased and honored to support DirecTV, providing high-quality direct-to-home video services to so many customers throughout the U.S. and in Latin America, for more than 20 years,” said Barbara Bessolo, senior vp of Technicolor’s Connected Home Americas, in a statement.

SIM Digital has expanded its presence in Atlanta, moving the local operations into a new, nearly 7,000-square-foot facility. SIM Digital Atlanta houses both the company’s rental operations and its Bling Digital unit, which provides postproduction services.

Paramount Hires Sabrina Ironside as Senior VP, Brand Management

Paramount has appointed Sabrina Ironside to the position of senior vp, brand management, the studio announced Tuesday.

Ironside, who joins Paramount from Wildbrain Entertainment, will report to president of consumer products & evp worldwide marketing partnerships LeeAnne Stables, who made the announcement of the hire.

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A USC graduate who spent 10 years at 20th Century Fox, Ironside will oversee the overall lifecycle of Paramount’s film brand activities from the pre-theatrical, consumer products, theatrical and home media windows and develop overall strategies for enhancing its film brand profiles with retailers.

“Sabrina brings to Paramount a wealth of studio marketing experience and an exceptional track record working with many of the world’s biggest brands,” said Stables in the announcement.

Ironside most recently held the position of vp of worldwide marketing at Wildbrain, managing numerous family entertainment brands, including the children’s program Yo Gabba Gabba!

During her 10 years at 20th Century Fox and its parent company News Corporation, Ironside held roles in licensing, integrated media and marketing, and home entertainment.