Management-production outfit Bender-Spink has bolstered its ranks with two key appointments and several support staff additions, it was announced by company founders Chris Bender and J.C. Spink.
Charlie Gogolak has been added to the management ranks and will focus on developing new writer and director talent, while overseeing Bender-Spink’s current crop of tyro clients. He comes to Bender-Spink from his post as a creative exec at Jerry Weintraub Prods.
“As we grow, we’d like to continue to provide as much creative support for our writers as possible,” said Bender. “Charlie has great taste, excellent development skills, and knows many of our current clients from working at Weintraub.”
Additionally, former assistant Jim Valdes has been upped to manager and will track open assignments while also developing new talent.
“We want everyone looking for new writers and directors that they creatively connect with, and encourage involvement in all our developing projects,” said Bender and Spink in a statement.
Additionally, the team has beefed up its support staff with a number of exec assistant hires.
Bender-Spink, which celebrated its first anniversary in November, tapped former exec Roy Lee six months ago to spearhead movement in the new media arena. As a result, the company has pacted with ‘Netcaster IFILM, a move which provides the site access to shorts by B-S clients.
The management-production outfit’s stable of young writer and director clients includes Adam Herz (“American Pie”), Mike Mitchell (“Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo”), Jeff Reddick (“”Final Destination” formerly “Flight 180”), Sal Levin (“Black People Hate Me and They Hate My Glasses”) and Jesse Wigutow (“Urban Townie”). It has a slew of films angling for a start date, including “Cheaters” and “The Other Side of Simple” — both at New Line (where B-S has a first-look deal) — and “Fighting Like Cats and Dogs” and “Urban Townie” at Warner Bros.
