Cynopsis: Kids!
03/04/10

Good morning. It’s Thursday, March 4, 2010, and this is your first early morning Kids briefing.

Nickelodeon celebrates the 10th anniversary of Dora the Explorer by launching Beyond the Backpack, a new multi-year/multi-platform campaign that aims to help parents and educators prepare preschoolers socially, emotionally, with early literacy and math skills and healthy living basics, for school, with the support of new partners actress Salma Hayek Pinault and Children’s Defense Fund‘s president/founder Marian Wright Edelman, and the National Parents Teachers (PTA).  Nickelodeon will also mark Dora’s anniversary with four primetime TV specials, an original documentary, and new online content for kids and parents.

• The Beyond the Backpack initiative will include: a Public Service Announcement (PSA) campaign featuring Hayek Pinault and Dora; a fundraising auction of limited edition celebrity designed Dora backpacks around the world (US proceeds to Children’s Defense Fund, international funds to education in each country); dorabeyondthebackpack .com, a dedicated website launching in April, offering downloadables for parents and teachers; and local community activities.  The Children’s Defense Fund and PTA, along with a range of experts, will inform an advisory committee.  The PTA will also help with distribution of educational materials through their infrastructure and will c0-author a parent’s toolkit for distribution.
• Nickelodeon will premiere the first of the new primetime Dora the Explorer specials, Swiper the Explorer, on Sunday, March 21, at 8p.  In mid-August, in conjunction with Dora’s official anniversary, the network will air the one-hour primetime special, Dora’s Big Birthday Adventure.  The Nickelodeon commissioned documentary is produced by Brett Morgen (The Kid Stays in the Picture) and also slated to debut on the network in August.

Toonz Animation India sets up shop in the US by establishing its new LA-based distribution division, Toonz Entertainment, USA.  Headed by Matt Cooperstein, newly named EVP/Toonz Entertainment USA, the new venture will focus on worldwide sales and distribution of animated feature films, direct to video content and TV series.  Toonz initial distribution slate includes Wolverine and X-Men (season 1 and 2), Speed Racer 2, Speed Racer Classic, Mostly Ghostly 2 and 3, and Freefonix, among others.  Cooperstein has worked with a number of studios, including ITC Entertainment Group, Polygram Television, Universal Worldwide Television, IndieArts Entertainment and most recently, Liberation Entertainment.

NEW PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT

Further news from the Disney Channel/Disney XD upfront the other night includes development on a new CG animated Tron series and animated project called Motorcity, both for Disney XD.  Note that neither series has officially gotten the green light as of yet.

• Based on the upcoming Disney feature film Tron: Legacy (December 17, 2010), the animated Tron series is a prequel so that future Tron movies and the series can co-exist.  A production of Disney Television Animation the animated Tron series takes viewers inside a computer system where a young program named Beck stands against the oppressive regime of an evil program, Clu, who grows unchecked after defeating Tron the legendary system defense program.  The kid-targeted series will be preceded by a 10-part micro-series that will premiere in fall 2011 on Disney XD.  The CG animated Tron TV series project is being penned by Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz, with Charlie Bean serving as the director of project.
• Also in development for Disney XD is the boy-targeted animated series Motorcity.  Set in the Detroit of the future, a place and time where cars have been banned and a group of rebel teens, known as The Burners, work to build the coolest cars to help thwart the evil billionaire Abraham Kane from taking over the world.  The clip shown offered a stylized animation featuring chisel-chinned characters and some heavy metal/hard rock style music.  Chris Prynoski (Metalocalypse), a principle of the Titmouse production company, created Motorcity and if it moves forward he will serve as executive producer and supervising director on the series.  David Bickel is writing the Motorcity pilot.

Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale … Warner Bros. and Atlas Entertainment are developing a big screen adaptation of the famous sitcom Gilligan’s Island, which ran for 98 episodes on CBS from 1964-7, per Variety.  Charles Rove (The Dark Knight, Batman Begins, The Bank Job, Get Smart, Season of the Witch) and Richard Suckle are producing the picture for Atlas, with original series creator and executive producer on board to again executive producer with his son Lloyd Schwartz (The Brady Bunch and subsequent TV and feature movies, The Munsters Today).  Brad Copeland (movies-Wild Hogs, Monster Squad and Yogi Bear, currently working on Flight of the Navigator, TV-Arrested Development, My Name Is Earl) is writing the screenplay.

MORE KIDS STUFF

Shaftesbury Films and Family Channel (Canada) are teaming up for the new teen-targeted live-action comedy Baxter (13×30).  Currently in production in Toronto, Baxter is scheduled to premiere later this year on Family Channel.  Set in a performing arts school, the series revolves around Baxter McNab, played by Evan Williams (Degrassi: The Next Generation), and his friends as they deal with the regular school stresses as well as those of auditions, performances and, of course, social life.  Created by Alex Pugsley and Daphne Ballon (Life with Derek), Baxter is produced by Shaftesbury Films in association with Family Channel, and with the participation of the Canadian Television Fund, Shaw Rocket Fund and Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund.  Shaftesbury Sales Company holds the Canadian and international rights to the property.

American Greetings Properties (AGP) extends its deal with Medialink to include Care Bears merchandising rights for the property to the Philippines and Vietnam.  Medialink and AGP have already completed 30+ licenses in Hong Kong, Macau, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand. Partners include Play Imaginative, Big Box Int’l, Tyeyo Enterprise, X-System, Cardomom Int’l, Shanghai Joint Force, Sunasia, Ligo Int’l, Jtex, T&G, among others.

Program Call: Cynopsis Media will be producing our annual MIPTV Shopping Guide sent to all Cynopsis subscribers on Thursday, April 8, the week before MIPTV 2010 in Cannes. If your company is exhibiting and you’d like to have your programming included, please send us 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.) as well as your company’s stand/booth location. To be included in this free and highly-viewed special edition, please send details to [email protected] no later than Thursday, April 1, 2010. A confirmation email will be sent following each submission (if you don’t get the confirmation, please resubmit).

MARKETING/LICENSING

LEGO Systems and TT Games Publishing, a unit of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, extend their worldwide license deal with to continue developing LEGO videogames across various platforms.  TT Games is the developer/publisher of family-targeted titles including, LEGO Star Wars, LEGO Batman: The Videogame and LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures.  Under the deal the next title slated to be released this year from TT Games and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment will be LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4.

EXECUTIVE MOVES

Discovery Education appoints Clint Perez as VP/Marketing.  He will report to Lori McFarling, CMO/Discovery Education.  Perez have strategic oversight across a range of Discovery Education marketing programs designed to support school districts with digital curriculums, student achievement and teacher effectiveness in grades K-12 and higher education.  Prior to this, Perez worked in marketing and brand strategy for Best Buy.  He previously toiled in various roles for Apple Computer, KPMG Consulting and Discovery Communications.

Big Tent Entertainment names Lisa K. Weiner as Director/Brand Development.  Among the brands that Weiner will focus on are Domo, Discovery Kids, Tokyopop and Telemundo.  She previously spent eight years at Random House Children’s Book, where she served as Director/Brand Management.  Prior to that she worked in licensing at Golden Books and Mattel.

Answer to Yesterday’s Trivia:  Who wrote this school essay?  “The most interesting character I have ever known is my father. He does not have an interesting job, he just works hard and takes care of all of us. He never shot things in Africa or not saved anybody that was drowning, but that’s all right with me, because when I’m sick he brings me ice cream and when I tell him things or asks things he always listens to me. And he would use up a whole Saturday to make junk with me in the garage. He may not be interesting to you or someone else, because he’s not your father, just mine.”  THE BEAV … on LEAVE IT TO BEAVER  Kudos to: Brad Stern/NY; Debbie Haut-AdServices/Hollywood FL; Ron Yurman-Short Hills Media Group/Short Hills; Barry Solomon-Retailability/NY; Tod Visdal/Seattle; Richard Quan-Imaginary Time/San Francisco; Rob Chatlin-FX Network/LA; John Mazur-PBS/PT;

Today’s Trivia Question:   Miles Challenger owned a malamute named Buck on what show? (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 Billings for Cynopsis Kids!
gwen @cynopsis.com
03.04.10

Cynopsis Ad Sales:
Mike Farina – Sr. Dir/Business Development & Sales – 203-218-6480 / [email protected]
Classifieds – Trish Pihonak- 203-926-9878 / [email protected]

Member of Interactive Advertising Bureau (iab)

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

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

JOB OPENING:  WRITER/PRODUCER /iN DEMAND/NYC: To create promos/marketing campaigns. Conceptualize, write, edit & prod thru post-production.Bachelor’s degree.Min 3-4 yrs exp writing/producing in cable. Apply: [email protected] (3/11)

JOB OPENING:  ATTORNEY/iN DEMAND/NYC:Analysis/counsel on entertainment issues.Draft/negotiate/review contracts. Standards& Practices. Copyright & trademark enforcement. JD, NYS Bar, Min 3 yrs cable/ent. Apply: [email protected] (3/11)

JOB OPENING:  RESEARCH ANALYST/(P/T)/CTAM/DC area: seeks P/T Analyst to provide research support and assist in study production. Description, go to: http://www.ctam.com/collaboration/jobbankview.aspx . Email: [email protected] (3/11)

JOB OPENING:  VP LEGAL AFFAIRS ABC Family/LA: Overall mgmt of ABCF legal issues; leadership/counsel to sr mgmt. Min 15 yrs legal affairs TV series, devl/prod, licensing, media reg, IP, dig. rights. Apply www.disneycareers.com   230572  (3/11)

JOB OPENING:  ACCT EXEC/Disney Interactive Media Group/Chicago: 4  6 yrs media sales and/or marketing exp  MUST have online experience with a tier 1 or 2 brand. Apply online www.dimgcareers.com , JOB ID 228640 (3/11)

JOB OPENING:  COMEDY WRITER/NAT’L DAILY TV/LA: 4-6 yrs+ of TV writing exp. Applicants should be pop culture junkies who can apprec comedic sensibilities of current pop. talk show hosts. Cover let/resume: [email protected] (3/11)

JOB OPENING:  COUNSEL/Turner Broadcasting/Burbank: Exp. attorney to handle dvlpmnt & production legal affairs for scripted live action/ alternative/ reality programming. Drafting & nego. agreements. Resume: [email protected] (3/11)

JOB OPENING:  DIGITAL AD SALES/Edge Marketing: Freelancer to represent high-profile teen online property. Dvlp new bus selling proprietary ad serving & related technology. Ref req’d. Salary/Comm. Resume to: [email protected] (3/11)

JOB OPENING:  ABC RESEARCH CONSULTANT/ABC Burbank: min4 yrs exp TV research, apt at Nielsen, strong written & analytical skills, college degree req. Resumes: [email protected] (3/11)

JOB OPENING: SR AE/DISNEY/NYC: Responsible for sales prospecting, negotiating & closing of online advrtsng in specific East Coast territory agencies and clients. 5 yrs+ online exp. Disney.recruitmax.com (3/10)

JOB OPENING: VP RSRCH, SALES & MKTG/Disney ABC TV/NY: For integrated cross platform, ratings exp, customize ad opps, asst dev key selling messages, maintain solid, relationships w/exec mgmt over team www.disneycareers.com # 228489 (3/10)

JOB OPENING: CMO /START UP ONLINE COMPANY/NYC: Create a paid membership base + develop partnership with other brands. 5+ yrs Mktg Mgmt exp. Exp. w/SEM, SEO, email acq.,paid search + qualified traffic Apply: [email protected] (3/10)

JOB OPENING: SALES COORD/Univision/NY: Highly motivated. Mng tasks/srvcng agencies/clients daily basis. Det. oriented/comm/PC & math skills. 1-2 Yrs Media Exp, Deal Maker exp a +, Spanish a +. EOE. Res: [email protected] (3/10)

JOB OPENING: VP DIR RESPONSE/Fuse/NY:  Mnges biz to achieve annual revenue goals, determine placement & pricing for DR/PP. 10+ yrs exp in DR/PP mgmt role w/strong knwldge of mktplace & clients. Rez to [email protected] sub “VPDR” (3/9)

JOB OPENING: CROSS MEDIA PROJECT MANAGER/(Syfy)/NBCU/NY: Oversees the production of all marketing materials associated with launch and continuity of original programming, Please apply at www.nbcunicareers.com , Job # 1117560 (3/6)

JOB OPENING:  DIRECTOR RESEARCH TV RATINGS & DIGITAL METRICS/OWN (LOS ANGELES): Oversee Ratings and Digital reporting and analysis. Expert in TV ratings systems. Digital experience a huge +. Apply @ http://careers.own.tv (3/5)

JOB OPENING:  DIR PRGRMNG/HGTV/NY: Mng all aspects of commiss’d shows. Maintain/evolve ongoing series. Showrunning exp req’d along w/ 6yrs cable nets exp in prgrm prod or mngmnt w/sig creative input. www.scrippsnetworks.com #1403 (3/5)

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] .

SUMMER INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: MARKETING INTERN/truTV, NY: Support marketing, brand strategy & digital dept. Projects include website, print/online advertising, social media, sweeps, mailings & more. Send resume to [email protected] (3/10)

SPRING/SUMMER INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: NON-FICTION TV INTERNSHIP/Atlas Media Corp/NYC: Jr/Sr undergrad or grad student. Ideal opp to learn about bus. of commercial TV prod. 2-3 days/wk. Post/ Pre prod exp. Res/cvr letter/info: [email protected] (3/10)

SITUATION WANTED ADS, POSTED BY THOSE LOOKING TO BE HIRED …  There is no charge for placing your Situation Wanted ad … for more information contact Trish Pihonak at [email protected]

SITUATION WANTED: PRODUCTION ASSISTANT/Entry-level pos./Anywhere: ’09 UVa grad, Past production intern and assoc. prod for Fox Sports/former radio personality/ Great writer, creative, self-starting. Email: [email protected] (3/11)

SITUATION WANTED:  20+ yrs. experience in TV Broadcasting & Cable  ACCOUNTING/FINANCE. Seeking FT/PT or Temp-to-Per position:  [email protected] (3/11)

SITUATION WANTED:  WRITER/PRODUCER/DV CAM OPERATOR for Documentary Television. Network experience including History, A&E, Oxygen. Relocated from LA to Nebraska, ideal for any Midwest field production. website: www.thegreenroommedia.com (3/11)

SITUATION WANTED: SALES/TRAFFIC COORD and/or ASST MEDIA BUYER/TV network or agency. (3 yrs exp at children’s ad agency w/ respons ranging from asst buying, traffic, clearance, & finalizing invoices). Email: [email protected] (3/10)

SITUATION WANTED: EXEC BIZ DEV/STRATEGY/HEAD OF DIGITAL MEDIA/NY: D&D player. 18 intel. 17 charisma.10 yrs TV exp rolling 20-sided die. Harvard MBA. 2009 40 Under 40. Your next right hand. [email protected] (3/10)

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] (3/10)

SITUATION WANTED: Educational Media/Coordinator/Researcher/AP//NYC: 3+ yrs. exp. PBS KIDS, CNBC, Oprah, documentaries, production, research. Highly organized & detail-oriented. FT/PT/freelance. [email protected] (3/10)

SITUATION WANTED: WRITER/DIRECTOR/PRODUCER  Exceptional and fast writer, client friendly, EPK/DVD bonus features, webpods, video games for Disney, Universal, New Line etc. In LA, will travel or relocate. [email protected] (3/9)

SITUATION WANTED: Dedicated & Experienced ADV. SALES PLANNER. Sales proposals, resolving client discrepancies, quarterly post analysis, special sales service projects, expert computer skills. Contact- [email protected] (3/9)

SITUATION WANTED: CORPORATE CONCIERGE/LA: Years of experience with Los Angeles A-List companies and celebrities. Looking for new assignment. [email protected]  (3/9)

SITUATION WANTED: DEVELOPMENT EXEC/LA-based Development Exec:  10+ years exp. developing successful unscripted and format-based programs at top-tier companies including ABC, CBS, Warner Bros. and Eyeworks – [email protected] (3/9)

SITUATION WANTED: 9xEmmy winning CREATIVE PROD in ATL seeking freelance. Great w/clients. 15yr exp in promo/creative TV. Also ON-AIR HOST/EMCEE -see raycomsports.com   (ROAD TRIP) [email protected] site: www.pack30productions.com (3/6)

E-mail [email protected] or call Trish Pihonak at 203.926.9878 for rates and specs for Job Openings.

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

All outgoing e-mails are scanned and sent out virus free. Copyright Cynopsis 2010