Company Launches
Comedy writer/director/producer John Hamburg (Meet The Parents) is launching Particular Pictures. The company will develop TV and film projects, and has signed a two-year overall deal with 20th Century Fox Television.
Vanguard manager Bernard Kira has launched BMK-ENT. Kira brings several clients over to his new management and production company: The Killing’s Sterling Beaumon and Levi Meaden, Benched’s Jolene Purdy, Covert Affairs’ Nazneen Contractor, Jersey Boys’ Jackie Seiden, The Tank writer/director Kellie Madison and scribe Milan Tomasevic.
Viacom's Viacom International Media Networks France unit is launching its 18th network, which they say will offer more pay TV channels than any other international media company in the country.
Media financier Ingenious Investments CEO James Clayton has left the company and will join Simon Fuller’s management and production company XIX Entertainment as president. Clayton was instrumental in overseeing Ingenious’ equity relationship with Fox Searchlight as well as Pathe through its raising of an Enterprise Investment Scheme.
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia announced an exclusive deal with 3D printer manufacturer MakerBot to jointly sell designs and materials for products that consumers can produce in their own homes. The first Martha Stewart products for MakerBot’s line of 3D printers are the Trellis Collection: a set that includes a coaster, napkin ring/place-card holder, and LED votive holder.
Studios, Networks and Conglomerates
Disney Animation execs Andrew Millstein of Walt Disney Animation Studios and Jim Morris of Pixar Animation Studios have been promoted to new President posts at their respective studios. Both will continue to report directly to Ed Catmull.
Comcast Corporation announced that Devesh Raj has joined the company as Senior Vice President of Strategic and Financial Planning. Raj will help drive the overall growth strategy at Comcast and NBCUniversal. Turner Broadcasting PR vet Sal Petruzzi has been promoted to the new post of Senior VP and Domestic Communications Officer.
Film
Aaron Janus has been namedVice President, at Platinum Dunes. Previously he was Director, Production, at 20th Century Fox.
Tracey Nyberg is moving into the role of Executive Vice President, Production, Mythology Entertainment after serving as Senior Vice President, Production & Development, Temple Hill Entertainment.
Television
Comedy Central has tapped Lu Chekowsky as senior VP of brand creative. Chekowsky will lead Comedy Central’s in-house creative team and oversee the development of all branding and marketing creative across every platform. The MTV vet will handle shows that includes Broad City, South Park, Drunk History and the upcoming The Minority Report with Larry Wilmore. Lisa Berger is leaving ABC after a one-year run as EVP Alternative Series, Specials and Late Night. ABC's VP Alternative Series Rob Mills is expected to oversee the network's unscripted department until a replacement is tapped.
Dolores Gavin, EVP Development and Production, East has Discovery. Her West Coast counterpart, Denise Contis, EVP Development and Production, West, will now oversee the network’s development and programming slate originating from both the Los Angeles and Silver Spring, MD, offices.
Jeff Fager, Chairman of CBS News and Executive Producer of 60 Minutes, announced he will be stepping down from his role as chairman and will return to full focus on running the newsmagazine, effective at the beginning of 2015.
Tomorrow Studios, Marty Adelstein's recently launched partnership with TV Studios, has tapped Matthew Weinberg as EVP working on development and helping with managing productions. Weinberg will report to Tomorrow Studios CEO Adelstein and president Becky Clements.
Henrik Pabst will take sole charge at international TV sales and financing company Red Arrow Intl., whose slate includes The Weinstein Co./BBC show Roald Dahl’s Esio Trot, with Dustin Hoffman and Judi Dench, Netflix’s Lilyhammer, Amazon’s Bosch, and ABC’s The Taste.
George Cheeks, who oversees business affairs for NBC and the Universal Television production arm, is taking on oversight of the network’s late-night franchises. Blair Levin, who took the lead in writing the FCC’s National Broadband Plan under then-chairman Julius Genachowski, is joining New Street Research as special adviser in the firm’s North American office.
Digital
Beau Bryant, an agent with WME's digital unit, is nearing a deal to become SVP Talent and Programming at Fullscreen. The YouTube multichannel network was recently purchased by Otter Media, the joint venture between AT&T and the Chernin Group.
Agencies, Management Companies, Public Relations and Law Firms
Brad Kaplan joins Primary Wave as Producer, Manager, Literary. He was previously at Evolution Entertainment.
Mark Burg joins Primary Wave as Partner, Manager, Talent, also from Evolution Entertainment.
Varun Monga is moving to Equitable Stewardship for Artists as Agent, Feature Literary. He was a Jeff Berg’s Resolution.