Cynopsis: Kids!
11/03/08
Good morning. It’s Monday, November 3, 2008 and this is your first early morning Kids briefing.
Sony may team with Paramount to provide financing for the Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson 3D motion capture CG movie series Tintin, based on the Tintin comics created by Belgium’s Herge, according the New York Times. Spielberg and Jackson will each direct a movie in the series. Tintin was dropped in September from Universal‘s slate, with the studio saying that the film project was “too risky.” According to the report the main issue for Universal had been that Spielberg and Jackson had wanted a third of the movie’s gross receipts, which is not an easy give to being with, and add to that a troubled economy is not an easy give, and, well, no deal. If the deal with Sony and Paramount goes forward, the first film in the series could be back underway, directed by Spielberg (who has already shot some of the picture), before years end for release in 2010, with Paramount distributing the Tintin movies across North America and select English-speaking territories, and Sony taking distribution rights for a range of international regions, including Europe and Latin America.
Pulitzer Prize winning playwright David Lindsay-Abaire (plays Rabbit Hole, Fuddy Meers and the upcoming musical Shrek, as well as screenplays for Robots and the upcoming Inkheart) is in the midst of negotiations to write Columbia‘s Spider-Man 4, according to The Hollywood Reporter. As previously reported Spidey director Sam Raimi and star Tobey Maguire have already signed up to return for the fourth movie chapter of Marvel’s Spider-Man, with Kirsten Dunst expected to follow. James Vanderbilt wrote an earlier draft of the Spider-Man 4 script. And don’t forget, a Broadway musical based on the web-slinger, helmed by Julie Taymor and featuring music from U2’s Bono and The Edge is still in the works.
Mike Tollin will produce Joan Ackerman‘s young-adult novel In the Space Left Behind (HarperTeen/Geringer) for the big screen, per Variety. Ackerman, who was a writer on HBO’s Arliss (which Tollin also produced), is set to write the screenplay for her book.
MORE KIDS STUFF
The Wonder Pets star in the new primetime holiday special, The Wonder Pets! Save the Nutcracker, premiering Monday, December 8 at 8-8:30p on Nickelodeon. Inspired by Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker and featuring music from the ballet, the DVD of the Save the Nutcracker, from Nickelodeon Home Entertainment and distributed by Paramount Home Entertainment, has already been launched at retail. To promote the TV debut of the special, select content from The Wonder Pets! Save the Nutcracker will be available on Nick Jr. Video, wireless carriers and via VOD from December 1, 2008. Created by Josh Selig, The Wonder Pets! is produced by his NYC based Little Airplane Productions.
The interstitial series Thumb Wrestling Federation: TWF joins Cartoon Network beginning today. The short-form series will air weekdays on the network between 3-5p, and recap with a weekly 22-minute episode, TWF Rewind, on Saturday mornings. TWF is created and produced by Animation Collective.
Americans for the Arts, The NAMM Foundation and the Ad Council expands its public service advertising (PSA) campaign, entitled The Arts. Ask for More., which was designed to promote the benefits of arts education for kids. Created in collaboration with Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, the new TV PSAs aim to encourage kids pre-K 8th grade to play music, dance and draw together with their family/friends by featuring characters from Disney’s Little Einsteins engaged in the arts. The PSAs are airing online, as well as across both broadcast and cable TV networks, with more information available at http://www.americansforthearts.org/Public_Awareness .
BabyFirst has launched its 24/7 service, aimed at baby/toddler/parent, in Germany via cable operator Unitymedia’s kid’s tier package. BabyFirst is already available across North America, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.
MARKETING/LICENSING
LazyTown Entertainment names AT New Media’s AT Brands as the worldwide licensing agency and consultant for interactive games category. Under the deal AT Brands will negotiate interactive games licensing deals for the LazyTown brand and characters.
Aardman awards Wow! Stuff as the master license for its Wallace & Gromit brand. Wow! Stuff is developing a line of Cracking Contraptions in conjunction with Wallace & Gromit creator, Nick Park. Like the Rube Goldberg style contraptions from Wallace’s workshop in the Wallace and Gromit movies, the line range of Cracking Contraptions will be designed to create complex solutions to simple problems.
Studio X, the publishing arm of mobile media company Player X, acquires the exclusive mobile rights to the console game LEGO Batman. Under the terms of the deal with publisher TT Games, Studio X has the three-year global rights to distribute the mobile game LEGO Batman: The Mobile Game. Studio X is co-releasing the cross-platform LEGO Batman: The Videogame, which is published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. LEGO Batman: The Mobile Game is co-published by TT Games and Studio X, and developed by Cobra Mobile.
Robotgalaxy, a new interactive toy/virtual online property targeted to Boys 5-11, opens its Robotgalaxy Lab today at the Toys “R” Us Times Square store in NYC in conjunction with the retailer. In addition to being able to creating their own robots (a la Build-A-Bear), kids can also connect their robot to the web via USB to play games and create their own robot avatar to interact online, as well as earn points to unlock various robot enhancing downloads. The year-old company, which plans to host birthday parties at the Times Square store, was co-founded by Oliver Mitchell and former Gap Brand Prexy, Ken Pilot. Robotgalaxy products range in price from $20-$75.
Bandai America launches its new product Mugen Pop Pop, which is basically a keychain device that simulates the activity of popping plastic bubble packaging, here in the US. Initially launched in Japan under the name Mugen Puchi Puchi (which translates as “infinite bubble popping”), Mugen Pop Pop features eight bubbles that offer continuous popping and various other sounds (mostly unexpected like a dog bark, door chime, horn etc.). Bandai America believes it may be a stress reliever for adults, but careful it could also be kind of addicting (like the real bubble plastic). Oh and please don’t take it to the movies with you or at least don’t sit near me.
STONE SOUP
Weekend Box Office Estimates for kids/tweens/teens rated G, PG or PG-13; October 31 – November 2, 2008:
High School Musical 3: Senior Year (Buena Vista) G $15.0m-2 wk total $61.8m
Beverly Hills Chihuahua (Buena Vista) PG $4.7m-5 wk total $84.1m
The Secret Life of Bees (Fox Searchlight) PG-13 $4.0m-3 wk total $25.3m
Max Payne (Fox) PG-13 $3.7m-3 wk total $35.6m
Eagle Eye (Paramount (DreamWorks)) PG-13 $3.4m-6 wk total $92.5m
W. (Lionsgate) PG-13 $2.5m-3 wk total $22.4m
Fireproof (Samuel Goldwyn) PG $1.8m-6 wk total $26.1m
Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist (Sony/Columbia) PG-13 $700,000-5 wk total $30.8m
The Duchess (Paramount Vantage) PG-13 $601,000-7 wk total $12.3m
Nights in Rodanthe (Warner Bros.) PG-13 $580,000-6 wk total $40.3m
Source: Box Office Mojo
EXECUTIVE MOVES
Midway Games Inc. appoints Matthew V. Booty as its President and CEO. Booty, who has been with the company since 1991, has served as its interim President and CEO since March 2008. Prior to his appointment he was Midway’s SVP/Worldwide Studios.
RATINGS
Live + Same Day Ratings Kids Cable Network Averages (000) for Thursday, October 30, 2008, 6am-11pm, ranked by K2-11:
NICKELODEON: K2-11 1011; K6-11 469; TWEENS 9-14 350
DISNEY CHANNEL: K2-11 636; K6-11 383; TWEENS 9-14 318
CARTOON NETWORK: K2-11 638; K6-11 399; TWEENS 9-14 284
TOON DISNEY: K2-11 114; K6-11 67; TWEENS 9-14 41
Source: MTVN Research from Nielsen Media Research Data
Answer to Yesterday’s Trivia Question: Based on a seasonal music video aired on Noggin between shows, what kind of Halloween treat is Moose A. Moose opposed to? CANDY CORN (I DON’T LIKE CANDY CORN) Kudos to: Reggie Shah-Univision Communication Inc./NY; Kelly-Ann Fentress-Nick Preschool Brand Creative/NY; Michael Hawkins-PromoDoctors/Irving, TX; Dara Monahan-Studio City, CA
Today’s Trivia Question: Who provided the voice for Hopper in the Disney/Pixar film A Bug’s Life? (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!
11.03.08
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Chuck Bolkcom – 646-468-6180 / [email protected]
Mark Bohn- 203-583-1224 / [email protected]
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JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR, ANIMATION PROGRAM SALES: Resp for coordinating prgrm sales to domestic, internat’l free-TV & pay-TV broadcasters as well as home entertainment distributors. Resumes to: [email protected] (11/8)
JOB OPENING: DIR PRODUCTION OPERATIONS/National Geographic Television: Oversee the production management of documentary programs. To apply, visit www.nationalgeographic.com/jobs Job ID 3676. EOE (11/8)
JOB OPENING: MGR, NEW MEDIA INVENTORY/DISCOVERY/NY: Mng stewardship/optimization of dig. accts. Frcst inventories, analyze site activity, work closely w/ad sales client to guarantee deliverables. Apply: www.discovery.com Req#8394 (11/8)
JOB OPENING: DIR/PROG DEV/TLC/SS: Communicate/Coordinator w/Ind. Producers-Prod, other Companies/Depts outside of Discovery; serve as network liaison btw prod/dev. Apply: www.discovery.com Req#8335 (11/8)
JOB OPENING: SR RSRCH ANLYST/Lifetime (LA): Analyze & prdce reprts- daily ratings & compet perfmnce to guide Prgm, Mktg, & Aff Mktg strat. Exp TV Rsrch/data anlyst/Star Trak/Nielsen/math/stats. Res: [email protected] (11/8)
JOB OPENING: DIR NAT ACCTS/Lifetime/LA/Drive distr prds & srvcs w/aff cable, sat & telco distrs/Ensre cntrct cmplnce & negt/anlyz spec prfrm bnchmrks/Exp: 5+ yrs in sales/Ext trvl/BA,BS or equiv req/Res: [email protected] (11/7)
JOB OPENING: DIR RESEARCH/NY: Min 5 yrs exp in TV/Digital research, primary research(banners &tabs), exp w/Comscore, Nielsen’s, strong written & analytical skills, BA/BS or equiv exp, Rez: http://www.mylifetime.com/about-us/jobs (11/7)
JOB OPENING: SERIES PRODUCER/Chorion/NYC: Experienced show runner with children’s animation experience needed for upcoming TV series. Send resume to [email protected] Must be based in NY (11/6)
JOB OPENING: CLIENT SUPPORT SPECIALIST/NY: Liaison between clients & tech. suppt & dev. groups in co. for software defects, user q’s, tracking, advert. or media indust. exp. DealMaker exp. a + Resumes to: [email protected] (11/6)
JOB OPENING: PUBLICISTS/ANIMATION-WEB-MOBILE/ Beck Media & Marketing/L.A.: Seeks accomplished pros (5+ yrs) with Animation and/or Tech PR experience for web, tech, and toon clientele. Resume and cover letter to [email protected] (11/6)
JOB OPENING: SALES MKTG MGR/Univision Online/NY: Resp for creating/mngng mkt prgrms/materials that will enable Bus Dev to enlist new websites to Ad Ntwrk, in addition help sales close new client bus. [email protected] (11/5)
JOB OPENING: ACCOUNT EXEC/Fuse/LA: Sell national on-air media. Incr exst’ing clnts, gen new biz. Prsnt new prgm’ing, brand pos, mktg opps. Excl. interpers’l/org skills/MS Excel & PP. Send Rez to: [email protected] “AELA” in sub (11/5)
JOB OPENING: DIR, ON-AIR PROMO/LA: Resp for mngmnt of creative/graphics (internal & ext vendors), ops, ovrsee promo schdulng & mgmt. 5-7 yrs on-air mngmnt/ops exp req’d; brdcst &/or cable ntwrk a must. www.foxcareers.com FNG14268 (11/5)
JOB OPENING: DIR MKT/RLTV/MD: Dev & execute affiliate mkt and media plans, set ROI and benchmarks, dev cross-plat partnerships and mkt alliances, 10+ yrs exper w/strong bus skills. Resume: [email protected] (11/4)
JOB OPENING: SR. COUNSEL/HIT Entertainment/NYC: Mid-level atty to draft and negotiate contracts & lic agreements. Exp kids ent, lic and/or branded products. Res: [email protected] (11/4)
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FALL INTERNSHIPS CREDITS ONLY: Fujisankei Communications Intl/ NY: Seeks INTERN for ATAKU CHANNEL, a mobile TV channel for anime broadcast on MobiTV & Sprint Live. Submit cover letters/resumes to [email protected]. More info: www.fci-ny.com (11/6)
FALL INTERNSHIPS CREDITS ONLY: SESAME WORKSHOP/NYC seeks INTERNS for Sesame Street & International Production, dept. for various projects. Knwlg of MS Word/Excel/ email Res: [email protected] Stipend offered (11/6)
FALL INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: Soapbox Studios: An Atlanta based Post-production, Music Engineering, and Creative Design Studio seeks winter 2008 interns. Please contact [email protected] (11/5)
FALL INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: The Research department at CBS Television Distribution, in Los Angeles is looking for qualified paid Interns for Fall 2008. Please send resume to [email protected] (11/5)
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SITUATION WANTED: Passionate & creative market researcher with 12 years exp. seeks to share skills and knowledge w/ companies to grow in challenging consumer landscape. Most recently was VP w/ Top 20 research co. [email protected] (11/7)
SITUATION WANTED: Freelance event planner/mktg director with 8+ yrs of experience in the entertainment/media industry. Available to help w/ event plan’g, proposal writing or mktg prgrm dvlpmnt. [email protected] (11/6)
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