Pliny Porter has joined CanWest-owned FireWorks Pictures as head of production and development. He will work with CanWest Entertainment chairman and CEO Jay Firestone and Fireworks president Daniel Diamond in growing the company's production and development activities. He joins the company, which is enjoying current success with Rat Race and Hardball, from Joe Roth's Revolution Studios where he had a first-look deal.

He will spearhead the development and production of theatrically driven features at both the studio and independent levels. As well as Hardball and Rat Race which the company co-financed with Paramount Pictures, Fireworks also backed Who Is Cletis Tout' with Christian Slater and Tim Allen which premiered recently at the Toronto International Film Festival, Bob Gale's fantasy adventure Interstate 60 with James Marsden and Gary Oldman and Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner The Believer directed by Henry Bean.

Before his deal at Revolution, Porter was president of production at Julia Roberts' production company Shoelace Productions and prior to that worked alongside Sally Field at her company Fogwood Films.

Joining Porter in the production and development division is Serena Brosio who has been named creative executive reporting to Porter; she was previously head of acquisitions at internet syndicator Article27 and worked in the marketing departments at October Films and USA Films.

Meanwhile, Angeline Duran has joined Fireworks as coordinator, acquisitions and co-productions. She reports to vice president of acquisitions and co-productions Bob Aaronson. Duran was previously director of development at Craig Ferguson's company Springburn Pictures.