Cynopsis: Kids!

09/19/08

Good morning. It’s Friday, September 19, 2008, and this is your first early morning Kids briefing.

Jon East, head of CBBC drama and acquisitions, will reportedly step down from his role in December, per C21 Media.  East, who has served as producer of series including Eastenders and Brookside, plans to return to producing and directing.  East’s first project will be as executive producer and director of the new CBBC drama Bo and The Spirit of the World.

NEW PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT

Lincoln Butterfield Animation is heading to Mipcom/Mipcom Junior with several a new multi-platform animation concepts.  Included in that group of concepts is the family-targeted project NIT: The Neighborhood Investigation Team, which follows a group of three neighborhood kids solving the unsolvable and undoing the doable.  NIT is created by Robert Hughes (co-founder of Lincoln Butterfield Animation, director-Phineas & Ferb) and designed by Mitch Schauer (The Angry Beavers).  NIT is available as both a kid’s book series and animation series.  Lincoln Butterfield Animation recently inked a representation deal with PorchLight Entertainment for its animated series Tan.

Gil Kenan and Robert Zemeckis are teaming for a feature film adaptation of author Eoin Colfer’s kids book Airman, per The Hollywood Reporter.  Kenan will direct the movie and Zemeckis will produce.  Previously Kenan and Zemeckis worked together on the movie Monster House as director and executive producer, respectively.  Colfer is probably best known for his kid-targeted Artemis Fowl book series.

In other Eoin Colfer news… the wonderful and funny author has been tapped to write the next book in the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy book series (for teens and up), which will be published by Hyperion.  Colfer continues the Hitchhiker’s Guide series, which was originally created by Douglas Adams as a radio series, who passed away in 2001.  Titled And Another Thing, the new book will be published in October 2009.  And for the skeptics out there, Adams said in an interview that his plan was to write a sixth book for the series, which he hoped would end the series in a more upbeat tone.  Colfer was chosen for the task by Adams’ widow and daughter.

Similarly to how Disney developed a feature film around its Pirates of the Caribbean ride, Disney is developing a movie based on its Tomorrowland theme park attraction that will star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, according to Variety.  Disney has hired Jon Lucas and Scott more to write the script for the movie, which will be produced by Mayhem Pictures.  The space-themed movie will not be set at or titled Tomorrowland.

MORE KIDS STUFF

As if Amy Poehler wasn’t busy enough, the comedienne/actress/writer is producing a new digital TV show for young girls called Smart Girls at the Party, which will launch at On Networks this October 2008.  The program is designed to celebrate girls for being themselves and encourage them to use their talents to follow their dreams and make an impact on the world.  In each episode, Poehler interviews a girl with a specific talent, community interest or point of view, with the conversation running from serious to humorous.  The episodes will also be available for viewing and download exclusively via On’s AllScreen syndication partners (e.g. iTunes, Adobe Media Player, and web, digital TV and mobile partners).  Smart Girls at the Party is created by Poehler along with Meredith Walker, head of talent for Saturday Night Live and former Sr. producer on Nick News, and Amy Miles, recording artist and host of the PBS kid’s show Lomax: Hound of Music.  Poehler’s animated series The Mighty B! airs on Nickelodeon, and she is of course a cast member of SNL, while also working on a new primetime spin-off of The Office, several movies and of course she’s is expecting her first kid this fall.

Discovery Kids will premiere the second season of Bindi the Jungle Girl on Saturday, September 27, at 5p.  Bindi the Jungle Girl is produce by Best Picture Show Company for Discovery Kids Channel.  The new season follows as Bindi, her mom, brother and family friend travel to the Grand Canyon, Indonesia and Africa among other places. The series is executive produced by John Stainton (Best Picture Show) and the wonderful Wendy Douglas (Discovery Kids).

Candace Bushnell, author of S*x and the City and other titles, has entered into a deal with HarperCollins Children’s imprint Balzer & Bray for two teen-targeted novels that focus on Carrie Bradshaw’s (aka the star of S*x and the City) formative years, titled The Carrie Diaries.  The books follow Carrie through her high school years, her friendships and of course romances, and how she came to be a writer.  The first book is slated for worldwide publication in fall 2010.  HarperCollins in London will handle the translation rights for The Carrie Diaries.

In other publishing news, Harlequin Enterprises is launching a new nonfiction imprint that will publish women-centric titles across various categories, including memoirs, health, and diet, fitness, self-help as well as nonfiction books by its roster of authors.  Among the new titles set for release in 2009 is one for tweens, 113 Things to Do By 13 by Brittany and Terri Macleod, which is a celebrity drive book that lists of things that tweens should do, think about and/or talk with their friends about by the time they turn 13.  The rest of the books set for publishing are primarily targeted to adult women.

Breakthrough Entertainment inks licensing deals ahead of Mipcom including two for kids shows:  Cartoon Latin America picks up the third season of Atomic Betty, which includes 26×30; and APTN (Canada) licenses The Adventures of Dudley the Dragon (65×30).

Program Call: If your company is attending MIPCOM with programming, we will include a cynopsized MIPCOM international and multicultural and MIP Junior program Shopping List in Cynopsis: International and Cynopsis: Kids the week before the market. So send along only the following info for your top 5 shows: title, availability date, number of episodes, length, type (i.e., movie, series, special, etc.), genre and your terms (barter, cash, etc.). If your company is interested in being included, please send the details to [email protected] by Thursday, October 2, 2008.

MARKETING/LICENSING

Entertainment Rights (ER) acquires the UK home entertainment rights to CBBC’s animated series Frankenstein’s Cat (30×11).  ER will release the first Frankenstein’s Cat DVD, The Cat From A Kit, on October 20, which includes 8×11 episodes and an interactive game.  Produced by Mackinnon & Saunders, Frankenstein’s Cat is targeted to K6-9 and based on a book by Curtis Jobling.

Target Entertainment inks a group of licensing deals in Latin America for its preschool animated preschool property Fluffy Gardens (40×7):  Deomar Editora will produce sticker albums and activity magazines for Brazil; Also in Brazil, MoviClips Mobile Marketing will offer downloadable wallpapers for cell phones; In Argentina, Editorial Vertice will produce a range of coloring and activity books.  Fluffy Gardens is created/written/directed by Jason Tammemagi of Monster Animation & Design.  Target Entertainment Group handles the TV, global licensing and home video rights.

Three DVD titles are headed our way from Lionsgate and Hit Entertainment this fall:

• Pingu’s South Pole Adventures – the title features a collection of eight stories, on DVD November 11.  Bonus content includes Pingu’s Family Album, a character gallery, and the interactive game Snowball Roll and Bowl Game.
• Shaun The Sheep: Off The Baa!– this first Shaun the Sheep DVD features a collection of eight episodes of the animated series from Aardman Animations on November 11.  Extras include Meet the Animals and a sneak peeks at two new video games, Nintendo’s Shaun the Sheep and Telltale Games’ Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Adventures.
• Hit Favorites: Snow Days – releasing November 4, the title includes six winter-themed episodes of preschool shows including Barney, Thomas & Friends, Bob the Builder, Angelina Ballerina, Fireman Sam, and Pingu.  Additionally, the title includes a bonus episode of Fifi and the Flowertots, Soup of the Day.

Sesame Street’s Oscar the Grouch has been named the new spokes-Muppet for Canada’s 8th annual Waste Reduction Week, which will take place October 19-25.  Oscar and the WRW campaign are looking to kids and adults to promote ‘waste-free’ goals through two public service announcements, promotional posters among other things.

EXECUTIVE MOVES

Several appointments for the recently formed Nickelodeon Kids and Family Games Group, all three will report to the group’s SVP and GM, Dave Williams:

• David Bergantino has named VP/Premium Games Production.  Bergantino will oversee production and creative on all licensed and self-published games across the group’s various platforms.  He will also be responsible for growing the publishing business for AddictingGames and Shockwave, and Nick’s self-publishing business on connected console and new platforms.  An interactive industry veteran, prior to joining Nickelodeon, Bergantino was Head of Game Design, Visual Science in Scotland.
• Shaan Kandawalla moves up to VP/Retail and Licensed Games.  Kandawalla will serve as a liaison between the games team and related Consumer Product group.  She will be responsible for console and retail game partnership development across the Kids and Family portfolio and Shockwave, AddictingGames, Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. properties. 
• Pete Banks becomes VP/Engineering.  Banks will lead the technical strategy and product planning for the group’s online businesses.  He will oversee all site development and continue to grow new e0commerce, community and social networking platforms.
• Additionally, Kate Connally and Ambra Wellbeloved will continue to grow the Shockwave and AddictingGames business as VPs of AddictingGames and Shockwave, respectively.

As part of Spin Master’s international expansion Sara Reader is appointed as its Sales and Business Development Director, Europe.  Reader will work out of Spin Master’s UK office where she will manage and grow the company’s distributor base in both western and eastern Europe, excluding the UK and France where Spin Master has offices.  Most recently, Reader spent the last four years setting up and leading Funrise International Ltd in the UK and Europe.

Friday Fun Fact:  Elephants are capable of swimming twenty miles a day. They use their trunks as natural snorkels.

Answer to Yesterday’s Trivia Question: According to the show’s theme song, what animated character is ‘Bigger than big, taller than tall, quicker than quick, stronger than strong. Ready to fight for right, against wrong’?  GIGANTOR Kudos to: Deborah Skolnik-Parenting Magazine/NY; Keith Manzella-EastWest MG/NY; Emily Brenner-HarperCollins Children’s Books/NY; Chuck Howell-Library of American Broadcasting/College Park, MD; Rosemary Cunningham-MMT/Chicago; Hank Bordowitz-The Bordowitz Media Werx/Macomb, IL; Diane Reed/Chicago; Steve Zuckerman-Creativecombustion.tv/PST; Donovan Jacobs-Walt Disney Studios/Burbank; David McDermott/Venice, CA; Andrew Berman-TMS Entertainment U.S.A./Encino, CA

Today’s Trivia Question:  Who was the voice behind Shaggy from the animated series Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!? (Email [email protected] with your answer and be sure to include your name, company, city and time zone. Unofficial rules: Only the second four correct answers from each time zone will be mentioned; and once you’ve been mentioned in any of the Cynopsis editions, you can’t be mentioned again that calendar week.)

Later — Gwen
 Gwen Billings for Cynopsis Kids!
09.19.08

Cynopsis Kids Ad Sales:
Jennifer Franko – 203-583-9796 / [email protected]
Classifieds – Trish Pihonak- 203-926-9878 / [email protected]

Cynopsis website – Video Resumes, Extended Classified Ads, Archives, and the Cynopsis Daily Video

To subscribe to any Cynopsis edition(s) click here . 
To unsubscribe , click here or click the button at the end of this email.

CableU – Know Networks Better. Pitch Smarter. Click here

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM CYNOPSIS MEDIA: TOP TIER

Cyn opsis CLASSIFIEDS – For More classifieds, visit the Cynopsis.com classifieds page here    .

JOB OPENING: PRODUCTION ACCOUNTANT/Little Airplane Productions/NYC: Oversee all aspects of finance and payroll on several broadcast productions. Must have knowledge of Vista software: [email protected] (9/26)

JOB OPENING: EDITORIAL DIR/Bravo Digital/NBCU/NY: Lead execution of editorial aspects of BravoTV.com, develop content concepts, supervise writing & editing of copy. BA & 5 yrs editorial exp. www.nbcjobs.com , job# 847495 (9/26)

JOB OPENING: VP/DIRECTOR FP& A/MTVN/Harmonix: Responsible for the FP&A, reporting and analysis for MTV’s Harmonix division. Apply: www.mtvncareers.com EOE (9/26)

JOB OPENING: Busy NYC reality TV prod co seeks SR DEVEL EXEC to create/devel new shows. Reports to owners of company. 4+ yrs devel experience–ideally reality/unscripted–& proven track record. Send resumes to [email protected] (9/26)

JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR, PROJECT MNGMNT: Project Dir is needed for creative services dept. of Versus TV ntwrk in Philadelphia, PA. 5 yrs’ exp. and Bachelor’s degree req. Apply online: www.ecentralmetrics.com/url/?u=250554487-261 EOE (9/26)

JOB OPENING: CNS SALES PLANNER/ NY: Will create sales proposals & generate plan’g costs for TV ntwrks. 2 yrs exp. Agency Plan’g or Cable/Brdcst Ad Sales/Sales Support req. Apply: www.ecentralmetrics.com/url/?u=634054621-261 EOE (9/26)

JOB OPENING: ONLINE AE /Stardoll.com: Min 2 yrs online ad sales; Gen rev by cold calls, marketing, relationships for girls fashion, entertainment, social network in LA. [email protected] (9/25)

JOB OPENING: DIR ONLINE SALES/Stardoll.com: Min 5 yrs online ad sales leader; drive team rev, estab territory, strat partners for girls fashion, entertain social network in NYC. [email protected] (9/25)

JOB OPENING: DIR, ONLINE BRAND/Stardoll.com: Min 3 yrs in brand mktg role in online media; prior kid entertainment exp. Dev, manage consumer mktg efforts for girls fashion, entertain, social network in LA. [email protected] (9/25)

JOB OPENING: VP LAW/ RAINBOW MEDIA/NY: Negotiate agreements between networks (e.g. AMC, IFC) and affiliates  e.g. Cable/Mobile Cos. Needs JD and exp. with affiliate agreements. Resume: [email protected] (9/25)

JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR, PRINT + DIGITAL PRODUCTION/BRAVO TV/NY: Manage dept, work flow, team, budget + planning.Strong comm + org skills. Work well under pressure. Previous Network exp req’d. Fill ASAP. Apply nbcjobs.com #846952 (9/23)

JOB OPENING: AFFILIATE RELATIONS MANAGER/iN DEMAND/NYC: Secure carriage, manage accts & relationships. Marketing bkgnd & min 4 yrs cable exp. 40% travel. Reply: [email protected] (9/23)

JOB OPENING: PROJECT MGR/AND COMPANY/LA: Entertainment adv agency seeks strong candidate to manage client comm, deadlines, creative dev. Industry exp req’d, sports mktg exp a plus. BS/BA+min 3-5 yrs exp. Resume to [email protected] (9/23)

JOB OPENING: MEDIA BUYER / WPB, FL: In-house automotive agency, Degree & min 5yrs exp. Knowledge of NSI, ARB, Scar & SmartPlus. Competitive salary & benefits. Resumes: [email protected] (9/23)

JOB OPENING: DIR. PARTNERSHIPS/LIFETIME TV/NY: resp. for utilizing Lifetime assets to lead the Part. division in the dev. & exec. of customized sponsorship packages Apply at: http://www.mylifetime.com/about/jobs.html (9/20)

JOB OPENING: NATL SLS ASST/UNIVISION COMM/NY: Provide support for AE’s, act as liaison w/ stations/clients. Highly orgnz’d, det oriented & proactive w/ exc comm. skills. All MS & Donovan skills req’d. Res: [email protected] (9/20)

SUMMER/FALL INTERNSHIPS – These positions are for credit only – nobody gets paid here. These ads are always posted for free , and students work for school credit only. For more information on the specs for posting an Internship ad, email Trish at [email protected] .

FALL INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: AD SALES INTERN /Oxygen/NBCU:Assists ad sales dept w/researching prospective clients&sending out client materials.Great opportunity! Semester-long, unpaid, must receive credit.post [email protected] (9/26)

FALL INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: CNBC Research Intern : Provides reporting & strategic insights & supports internal functions, incl. prgrmng, editorial, mktg, & BD. Provide reporting & analysis. Semester-long, unpaid. [email protected] (9/24)

FALL INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: CNBC Intern: CNBC gives students real world exp & exposure to a world leader in business news. Enrolled in BS/MS w/ sophomore standing or above. Semester-long, unpaid, for-credit internship [email protected] (9/24)

FALL INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: Lightworks/NY: TV dist. co. needs contract admin intern. Focus on rights mgt, prod. agts, sales licensing agts. Know contract law. LAW STUDENTS ONLY! For credit. Send resume to [email protected] (9/24)

FALL INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: SOCIAL MEDIA/MARKETING INTERN/NYC: Need hard-working, web-savvy college student for assisting in the execution of online marketing programs for TVGuide.com. Res: [email protected] (9/20)

FALL INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: EDITORIAL/MARKETING INTERN/NYC: Need hard-working, web-savvy college student for assisting in the execution of online editorial and marketing initiatives for TVGuide.com. Res: [email protected] (9/20)

SITUATION WANTED ADS, POSTED BY THOSE LOOKING TO BE HIRED … Interested in posting your Video Resume? Contact [email protected] for more information ….

SITUATION WANTED: EXECUTIVE/ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT for 30 plus years. Worked in production for Exec. Producers, Writers, Directors and high level executives. Excellent skills … email [email protected] (9/26)

SITUATION WANTED: ADMIN OR ASST POSITION WANTED / NYC: 3+ yrs admin exp at well-known companies in exec assistance, licensing, prod development, marketing, with specialization in children’s TV. Creative & professional.  [email protected] (9/23)

E-mail [email protected] for rates and specs for Job Openings.

Interested in posting your Video Resume? Contact [email protected] for more information ….

Are you looking for a job? Post your Situation Wanted Ad here — Email [email protected] for specs.

Cynopsis Media LLC
One Corporate Drive, Suite 724
Shelton, CT 06484
203.926.9878