Company Launches & Partnerships
NBCUniversal has launched the NBCU Content Studio, a creative unit aimed at developing and producing branded, original content for NBCU’s advertising partners. NBCU executive Wendy Wildfeuer has been upped to SVP of The Content Studio and will run the studio, overseeing a staff of one dozen. The Studio’s content will be available on NBCU platforms, as well as on clients’ retail channels, apps, and mobile sites.
As part of a geographical rebalancing of its activities special effects company Double Negative will close its Singapore production facility to take effect by May 20. The company said the closure will result in the redundancy of the majority of its staff in Singapore.
Univision Digital has launched Univision Beta, an in-house innovation lab with the aim to accelerate digital reach and innovation across social and digital platforms, with a particular focus on news and information. The initiative was created as part of a three-year collaboration between Univision Digital and the MIT Media Lab. The Univision Beta team will be led by Carlos Martínez de la Serna, Univision’s Director of Digital Innovation.
Thor Bradwell has launched his own shingle, Thirty Three Management and will be the Principal. He was formerly the Manager at LBI Entertainment. He will bring over clients including include Bella Thorne, Ashley Benson, Dianna Agron, and Justin Kelly.
AOL will not renew their partnership with Whalerock Industries, the media firm that has worked to build up Moviefone’s website and apps since 2013. As of April, Moviefone will be back in-house at AOL. AOL will seek to expand Moviefone’s social reach and mobile capabilities, and invest in original video content, both internally and via deals with production companies.
Discovery Communications has launched One Discovery, an expansive marketing platform with a particular emphasis on reaching younger viewers. One Discovery will include Discovery Engage (Discovery’s data management and analytics platform), Discovery Digital (Discovery’s TV Everywhere platform), as well as Discovery VR, Discovery Web-Native Networks, and the in-house production team Discovery Brand Studios.
Chinese streaming giant iQIYI has inked a content deal with the British Film Institute. BFI will curate a selection of films for iQIYI, all of which have screened at the BFI London Film Festival and iQIYI will be BFI’s exclusive Chinese VOD partner for the collection. The collection will include 20 titles to start and is expected to grow.
Japan’s Softbank has invested $250 million in WME-IMG, placing the value of the agency at $5.5 billion. Private equity firm Silver Lake is the biggest shareholder in WME-IMG, with an investment of $200 million for a 31% stake back in 2012. Softbank’s key media investment advisor is Raine Group, which had an integral role in the Endeavor-William Morris merger that led to the creation of WME. Previously Softbank has invested $250 million in Legendary Entertainment.
Film
The Marketing and Distribution department at Sony is getting a reorganization under President Josh Greenstein to evolve Sony’s international marketing operations. As part of the reorganization, 20 of its 600 worldwide staffers will be laid off. Sony executives Danielle Misher and Damon Wolf have been named the Co-Heads of Marketing for Screen Gems, TriStar and Acquisitions. On the International Marketing side, Joseph Liao has been hired as the CMO in China and Stephane Huard as Managing Director in France.
Fred Berger has been named a Partner at Automatik where he will focus on filmmaker-driven prestige films as well as high-end commercial films. Berger will retain his current projects and jointly produce going forward including producing the Damien Chazelle musical La La Land.
Robin Chandler is launching his own, as yet unnamed, independent consulting practice. He was formerly the Head of Theatrical Publicity at DreamWorks Animation. Terry Curtin will take over as Head of Theatrical Publicity at DreamWorks Animation (as of April 11th, 2016). He was formerly the Head of Strategic Marketing & Global Communications at STX Entertainment.
Tamara Hunter has been named the VP of Casting at Sony Pictures Entertainment. She was previously the VP of Features Casting at 20th Century Fox.
Jason Rogers is now a Support Producer, Social Media Specialist at Buck Productions. He was formerly the Production Assistant at ACQUA Films and Ultra 8 Pictures in Toronto.
Dominic Rustam has been upped from VP to the SVP, Production at Voltage Pictures. Michael Wickstrom has been upped from VP to the SVP of Royalties, Merchandising, and Music Administration at Voltage Pictures.
Marco Shepherd has been upped to Head of Production and Development at Centropolis Entertainment. He will oversee development and production for all of Centropolis’ film and TV projects, as well as licensing for consumer products. He started at the production company in 2005.
Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum have been named the Co-Heads of Production at Fox Searchlight in addition to their roles as EVPs. They will responsible for Fox Searchlight’s annual slate of films and work together on all aspects of production for the company including development, packaging, budgeting, casting and production.
Thomas Lesinski has been named the CEO of Sonar Entertainment. He had been serving as interim CEO since September to replace Gene Stein. Lesinski has served on the Sonar board since 2013. He was previously the CEO and founder of Energi Entertainment and prior to that, the President of Paramount Pictures Digital Entertainment and president of Worldwide Home Entertainment for Paramount.
TV
Casey Kyberh has been named the VP of Drama Development at 20th Century Fox TV. She was formerly a Research Executive at 20th Century Fox TV and oversaw the studio’s primary and secondary research efforts, from providing ratings analysis and tracking series awareness, to leading focus group testing of both new and returning shows.
Christine Davis has been named the Director of Animation Production at Tricon Films & Television in Toronto. She was previously the Founding Partner at Animated Solutions. Cheyanne Dillenberger has been named the Director of Factual Development at Tricon. She was previously the Director of Development at Discovery Studios. Dan Miller has been named the VP of Factual Development. He was formerly the Executive Producer, Showrunner of the series Going Deep with David Rees.
David Ellender is now pursuing other opportunities. He was formerly the Chief Executive Officer at Slingshot Global Media.
Tara Gaule has been named the VP of Format Sales & Development, Europe at Small World IFT. She was previously the VP of Sales at Zodiak Rights in London.
Cindy Kelly has been named the President of Advertising Sales at Entertainment Studios Networks. She was previously the SVP of Strategic Sales & Solutions at ION Media Networks in New York.
Mike Kim has been named the SVP of Content Distribution at Ovation TV. He was formerly the VP of Affiliate Distribution & Partnerships at Participant Media.
Mark Linsey has been named the Director at BBC Studios in London. He was formerly the Acting Director at BBC Television.
Phil Zimmerman has been upped from Senior Director to the VP of Communications at Discovery Channel.
Kareem Chin has been named the VP of Investor Relations at Viacom. He was formerly the SVP of Investment Banking, Media & Technology Group at Jefferies & Company.
Michael Klein has been named the EVP of Original Content at MTV and he will oversee all original programming across MTV and its related brands. He most recently was the EVP Programming and Content Strategy, Digital Channels, for Condé Nast Entertainment in charge of the development and production for the company’s portfolio of Millennial-targeted digital channels.
Pauline Bohm has been upped from SVP to the EVP of International Marketing & Communications at NBCUniversal International Distribution.
Management, PR, Agencies
CAA has promoted several Agent Trainees. David Ball has been upped from Agent Trainee to Music at CAA in London. Natalie Drye is now an Executive, Property Sales at CAA Sports in London. Matt Brownstein has been upped to Agent in the Baseball department at CAA Sports. Angela Dallas, Phil Quist, Lanell Rumion and Ben Schildkraut (New York) are now TV Agents. Janet Kim and Ali Spiesman (New York) are now Music Agents. Allison Wruble is now an Executive in the Innovation Group at CAA.
Music, Digital, Publishing, Misc.
Richard Beckman has left his post as Chief Revenue Officer at Vice Media to pursue other opportunities.
Bob Pilon has been named the EVP of Social Impact at Participant Media. He was formerly the Chief Development Officer at The ONE Campaign.
Matthew Borst has been named the Director of Connected Content at MTV. He was formerly the Director of Social Media & Integrated Marketing at Endemol Shine North America.
Jeffrey Glaser is now the President at Wondery. He was formerly the EVP of Current Programming at 20th Century Fox Television.
Michael Schneider has been named the Executive Editor at Indiewire (as of April 11th, 2016). He was formerly the Chief Content Officer at TV Guide Magazine.