* Paul Gratton has been appointed VP of independent production within CHUM Television’s independent production unit. Gratton will remain as VP for Bravo!, and VP and GM of Space: The Imagination Station and Drive-In Classics in addition to his new responsibilities.

As well, Diane Boehme has been promoted from director to senior director of independent production. In addition to her new position, Boehme is producing and exec producing Going the Distance, CHUM’s first feature film production.

* Brad Van Arragon has been named VP production at Vancouver’s Brightlight Pictures, following eight years in West Coast production (Going the Distance, Edison, The Chris Isaak Show). Previously he was VP of production and development at Shavick Entertainment.

* Richard Rapkowski has left Fireworks Entertainment to be director of legal and business affairs at ThinkFilm, reporting to SVP Randy Manis.

* Susan Flanders (Drop the Beat, Exhibit A) has joined WestWind Pictures as supervising producer, coming over from Minds Eye Entertainment.

* Daniel Weinzweig has joined executive search firm Thorek/Scott and Partners as a managing partner, based in the Toronto office. Weinzweig will head up the media, entertainment and consumer practice at the company. Weinzweig most recently was senior client partner at Korn/Ferry International.

* On Sept. 1, Ron Haney becomes exec director and CEO of the Directors Guild of Canada – Ontario, moving up from the associate exec director spot.