Ute Leonhardt

Vice President, Panorama Films (Italy 

Ute Leonhardt began working in 1985 in special effects at Praxis Film Works (Los Angeles) for Academy Award winner Rob Blalack (Star Wars). She started in motion control camera work for miniature and matte painting photography, moving on to become an assistant editor proficient in optical camera work. In 1988 she became an optical supervisor specializing in traditional film optical procedures (Superman IV).

In 1989, Leonhardt joined Propaganda Films as Head of Post Production. She supervised all post-production of Propaganda's music videos, commercials, TV projects and feature films. Her responsibilities included budgeting and crewing all projects and creating and maintaining relationships with all labs, post production facilities and crews. In addition she managed the in-house post-production facility which comprised of 5 off-line edit bays.

Leonhardt's relationship with Propaganda changed in 1991 when she became associate producer of a series of Michael Jackson short films (budgeted between $300,000 and $7 million each) for his Dangerous album. She worked, among others, with directors John Landis, John Singleton, David Lynch and David Fincher. Her primary responsibilities included co-ordinating the relationship between the directors, the production companies, the artist and his management team, as well as organizing the international shoots while Jackson was on his world tour.

In 1994, Leonhardt became a freelance production manager, primarily of commercials, working with clients such as Canon, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell.

In 1995, Leonhardt became Associate Producer on Jane Campion's film, The Portrait of a Lady, working closely with its producer, Monty Montgomery, from development through to the release of the film. She continued working on new projects with Montgomery for three years.

In 1998, Leonhardt joined forces with Marco Valerio Pugini in Panorama Films, as c0-owner and Vice President of Short Format production services. Leonhardt line produces for commercial companies and advertising agencies from around the world including J Walter Thompson, Grey Worldwide, McCann-Erickson, Bruce Dowad & Associates, Propaganda Films, Villains Films, Epoch Films and the Irish Speers Film. The ads have promoted products ranging from Bridgestone Tires to Oil of Olay to DeBeers diamonds. Magazine clients include In Style and British Vogue.

Leonhardt line produces film and television projects as well; her credits include the Italian portion of The Lizzie McGuire Movie for Disney and extra photography for Under the Tuscan Sun. She is currently working on an HBO project in France.

Education:
University of California, Los Angeles
Bachelor of Arts degree in Design 1985

Languages:
English, German, Italian. Proficient in Spanish & French.