A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM STAR FARM PRODUCTIONS

Cyn opsis: Kids!

10/19/06

Good morning. It’s Thursday, October 19, 2006 and this is your first early morning Kids! briefing. 

Nielsen Media Research has unveiled plans to launch GamePlay Metrics, an all electronic video game rating service.  The service will establish new metrics for the buying and selling of advertising in video games, while also tracking the activities of gamers across other media platforms, such as TV and the web.  Slated to begin releasing video game ratings results in mid-2007, the new data will support the video game industry’s development of an advertising business model to help offset the growing development costs of game titles for new next-generation consoles.  Nielsen says the data will also provide advertisers, agencies, and marketers as well as hardware manufacturers and game developers with demographic information, while also offering information about how video game play impacts the use of various other electronic media, such as what gamers are watching on TV when they aren’t gaming, all of which will support advertisers ability to better negotiate ad deals and target digital gamers with both in game and around game advertising.  GamePlay Metrics will be the first offering from the newly created Nielsen Wireless and Interactive Services division.

NEW PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT

Emily Osment has been cast to star in Don’t Think About It, a family targeted direct to DVD thriller and the first movie title under the R.L. Stine Presents banner.  Directed by Alex Zamm, from an original screenplay by Dan Angel and Billy Brown, Don’t Think About It will begin shooting on October 25, in Pittsburgh.  The movie follows the story of 13-yr-old Cassie a lonely teen who is struggling to adapt to a new neighborhood and new school.  Feeling like an outsider, Cassie plans a series of pranks to frighten her new classmates, only to get caught in the plot of a mysterious stranger.  Osment plays Lily on Disney Channel’s Hannah Montana and the little sister of actor Haley Joel “I see dead people” Osment.  Slated for a Halloween 2007 release, Don’t Think About It will be marketed and distributed by Universal Studios Home Entertainment in partnership with The Hatchery.

MORE KIDS STUFF

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse will feature classic story and fairytale themed episodes every day the week of November 13, 8:30a on Disney Channel’s Playhouse Disney block.  The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse fairytale schedule for the week is as follows: Donald and the Frog Prince (11/13); Daisy Bo Peep (11/14); Minnie Red Riding Hood (11/15); Donald and the Beanstalk (11/16); and Sleeping Minnie (11/17).

Toon Disney hosts the world TV premiere of the animated movie Bambi II, and the basic cable debut of Kronk’s New Groove on Friday November 3 (5-7p) and Wednesday, November 8 (5-7p) respectively.

Anime Channel will host the US VOD premiere of the anime series Paniponi Dash on November 30.  The launch of the series on VOD will be followed by the release of Paniponi Dash Volume 1 on December 5, 2006.  The series is filled with everything that made high school great, wait … high school was great?  Anyhow, this 10th grade class has a nasty girl, angry nerd, identical twins, an invisible girl, a freaky class president, drama geek, a gamer, a princess and of course the teacher, an 11-yr-old MIT graduate named Becky who is prone to crying fits.  Targeted to teen and up, the series is adapted from a manga of the same name.

Southern Star International sold preschool series Hi-5‘s American version rights to Discovery Networks Latin America/Iberia for its Discovery Kids channel.  The song/dance format was produced in Australia by Kids Like Us and Nine Films and Television but includes an American cast.

MARKETING/LICENSING

Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products (NVCP) and Sanrio, the Japanese character licensing group, have established a new multi-pronged creative partnership that includes an exclusive co-licensing venture and master license agreement to develop Nickelodeon’s Blue’s Clues property in Japan.  This new pact comes on the tails of NVCP’s June 2006 multi-year license deal with Sanrio Far East Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Sanrio, to represent Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer as well as Comedy Central’s South Park in Japan.  So far this year the SpongeBob SquarePants merchandise has brought in $20 million at retail in Japan.

• The agreement will see Nickelodeon’s star Blue, of Blue’s Clues, and Sanrio’s popular Hello Kitty come together in a new original concept product line that will be targeted specifically to tweens/teens/young adults.  Sanrio will introduce the limited edition Hello Kitty/Blue’s Clues line at select retailers in spring 2007.
• Additionally, NVCP has granted Sanrio the master license for Blue’s Clues across all toys, apparel, packaged goods, home furnishings, stationery, gifts, accessories, consumer electronics, party supplies and sporting goods categories.  Blue’s Clues merchandise will being rolling out in Japan in summer 2007.

Playmates Toys, Inc., has entered into a multi-year licensing agreement with Microsoft and 4Kids Entertainment to serve as master toy licensee for Viva Pinata property.  Under the pact Playmates will have the exclusive master toy rights to develop and distribute a range of products including interactive and electronic character-based figures, electronic hand held games, playsets, and role-play items. The initial launch of the Viva Pinata toy line is expected o be available in the US and Canada by fall 2007.  Viva Pinata is both an animated series airing on the 4Kids TV Saturday morning block on Fox, and an upcoming video game from Microsoft Game Studios and Rare, Ltd., for Xbox 360.  Additional licensed product announcements for categories including social expressions and party goods and Halloween costumes are forthcoming.

With the release of the movie adaptation of the fantasy/adventure book Eragon set for December 15, Fox has updated the Eragon website ( http://www.eragonmovie.com ).  The website also features information about the movie and the story as well as various downloads and so on.  In addition, The Eragon Mobile Scavenger Hunt, which can be played via mobile texting, has also been launched and can lead to winning various Eragon items.

Inspired Distribution has signed has picked up the exclusive North American distribution and non-exclusive rights for the rest of the world for Bed Red Frog’s Body Mechanics, a new kid-targeted, healthy lifestyle centric brand.  Under the deal Inspired Distribution will release the Body Mechanics 2-DVD set on its edutainment label, Peter Pan, on February 20, 2007.  The DVD set includes a 60 minute, 3D CGI animated movie and an interactive DVD game.  The Body Mechanics features a series of superheroes that live within the human body including, Soolyn (insulin) and Gluke (glucagon) who go up against bad guys such as Beetez II (diabetes 2) and Col Esterol (cholesterol).  360ep, helmed by CEO Bill Jemas, is the brand agent for licensing and merchandising for Body Mechanics.  Inspired Distribution is part of the Inspired Corporation, f/k/a Peter Pan Industries.

CCI Entertainment’s licensing program for Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs is set to launch in the UK and Australia.  With Fisher-Price serving as the master toy license partner for the property, the licensing program will also be supported by a range of products including apparel, accessories, housewares and outdoor toys.  Additionally, home videos and the first series of TV tie-in books have been created, and a live Harry touring show is currently in development.  The Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs animated series, which is based on the book series of the same name, is a co-production by CCI Entertainment (Canada) and Collingwood O’Hare Entertainment/Silver Fox Films (UK).

• In the UK, Fisher-Price is set to release six Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs themed products this month at 65 Toys ‘R Us stores in the UK.  Following the launch of the Fisher Price products in the UK will be a range of puzzles from Falcon Games as well as outdoor toys and wooden games from Halsall International. Additionally, Puffin Books will begin an all-new publishing initiative in 2007 including storybooks, easy readers, and activity books.  Harry airs on the Milkshake block on Five Network in the UK
• In Australia, Fisher Price will launch its first six Harry products at 171 K-Mart stores nationwide in November 2006.  Funtastic will debut its newly designed a line of Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs-themed clothing at K-Mart later this year.  In 2007, Dryen will release a complete line of Harry-themed bedding and Penguin Publishing will publish all new Harry storybooks, easy readers, and activity books.  Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs airs down under on ABC Australia and Nickelodeon.

EXECUTIVE MOVES

4Kids Entertainment, Inc. has upped two of its executives.

• Alyssa J. Tucker moves up to the SVP/Marketing and Licensing Sales.  Tucker will be responsible for licensing sales for Chaotic, the trading card-based property that airs as part of 4Kids TV on FOX.  Additionally, Tucker will continue to oversee sales and marketing for several other key properties, including The American Kennel Club and The Cat Fanciers Association.  Tucker, who joined 4Kids in 1996, was most recently VP/Sales and Marketing.
• Julie Dill has been upped to VP/Marketing and Licensing.  In her new role Dill will oversee brand management, marketing and licensing efforts for Viva Pinata, the 4Kids and Microsoft property (e.g. CG animated TV series, video game).  Dill will report to Rosalind Nowicki, SVP/Marketing and Licensing.  Prior to her promotion, Dill was 4Kids Entertainment’s, Director/Marketing and Licensing.  Previously, she was a marketing executive at Mattel, Inc.

Answer to Yesterday’s Trivia Question: If you were to hear or see Fuzzy Lumpkins playing his instrument, who might you run into? ONE OF THE POWER PUFF GIRLS!    Kudos to:  David Stern-BARD Entertainment/NY; Cheyney Barrieau-Pak Mail/W. Hartford CT;  Ali Farsun-Alcone Marketing Group/Darien; Joe Swaney-Cartoon Network/Atlanta; Erin Bartley-The Cookie Jar Company/Toronto

Today’s Trivia Question: This animated cowardly ghost was Revolutionary Soldier Jonathan Muddlemore who hid and died in a grandfather’s clock from the approaching British Soldiers. We know him as what?  ( click here) 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!
10.19.06

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

JOB OPENING: A/P ACCOUNTANT/Int’l animation prod. & dist. Co/LA: Minimum 2 yrs ent. experience. Need computer savvy team player. Benefit Pkg.  Send resume & salary requirements to: [email protected] (10/26)

JOB OPENING: SALES MGR/Wizard Entertainment/NY: Seeks salespeople to sell advertising space for magazines conventions and website. 2 years min sales experience req. Base+ comm+benefits. Email sal req: to [email protected]  (10/26)

JOB OPENING: MGR, PR/CORP COMM/Wizard Entertainment/NY: Shape and drive PR strategy and execution for pop-culture dynamo with mags, events and website. 5+ years exp min. Email sal req: [email protected] (10/26)

JOB OPENING:SALES PLANNER/Fox Cable/New York, NY: Day-to-day management of accounts; assist in RFPs & proposal development; 2-3 yrs sales/agency experience; strong communication skills & attention to details; www.foxcareers.com (10/26)

JOB OPENING: SR. WRITER/PRODUCER/National Geographic Channel/Washington, DC: Concept, write & produce promotional spots for shows, short form content, vignettes, on-air interstitials; 5-7 yrs in tv mktg/promo, www.foxcareers.com (10/26)

JOB OPENING: RESEARCH ANALYST/ LIFETIME TV NY: support LFT Networks prgmng and mkting functions; analyze LFT Networks ratings perf; BS/BA ; exp. using Nielsen a plus Apply at: http://www.lifetimetv.com/about/jobs.html (10/25)

JOB OPENING: SALES ASST/LIFETIME NY: Assist in all facets of the ad sales process; interface with clients/media and advt agencies. Strong math, writing and Excel skills BA/BS Apply at: http://www.lifetimetv.com/about/jobs.html (10/25)

JOB OPENING: SALES PLANNER/Galavision/NY: Generate upfront/scatter plans. Handle all aspects of ongoing deal maintenance/stewardship. Dealmaker/VCI/media experience & Spanish a plus. Apply: [email protected]. EOE  (10/25)

JOB OPENING: PT ASSISTANT/Galavision/NY: Exc. comm./organizational skills, prioritize proj’s & team player. MS Office a must. Quantitative skills& Spanish a plus. Apply:[email protected]. EOE (10/25)

JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR, INTEGRATED MRKTG/CMT/NYC: 5+yrs exp in TV/Adv/Media Mrktg, Strng presentation & creative writing skills. Mgmt exp. Required. Strng knwldge TV/Sales, BA/BS req, EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvncareers.com (10/25)

JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR, DEVELOPMENT/VH1/NYC: 7+yrs exp development/production, Strng knwldg 1980s-presnt, Strng relationships w/agents/prodco’s/writers, Strng knwldg VH1 brand & progrmng EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvncareers.com (10/25)

JOB OPENING: MANAGER, INTEGRATED MARKETING/MTV2/NYC. 4+yrs exp TV/Adv/Promo Mrktg, Strng knwldge Male Teens/VidGames/Xtreme sports, Exp mrktng online&digital, Strng writ/present skills EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvncareers.com (10/25)

JOB OPENING: VICE PRESIDENT, SPORTS & SPECIALS/SpikeTV/NYC. 8+yrs Prod in content, Strng knwldge Sports&Ent/Male18-35/SpikeTV brand, Strng Writ/Negotiation skills, LiveSports exp A+ EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvncareers.com (10/25)

JOB OPENING: ACCT SVC REP/Univision/LA: Create upfront/scatter plans. Handle all maintenance/stewardship.Excel written/verbal/quantitative skills a must. Dealmaker/VCI/media & Spanish a +. [email protected](EOE) (10/25)

JOB OPENING: A/P ACCOUNTANT/Int’l animation prod. & dist. Co/LA: Minimum 2 yrs ent. experience. Need computer savvy team player. Benefit Pkg.  Send resume & salary requirements to: [email protected] (10/25)

JOB OPENING: MGR, PROMOS MKTG/Nick & Nick Jr,/ NY: Mng, dev, execute Nick/NickJr on air/off-air ad sales promos, cre8tve conception  execution, strng client interaction, sales/negotiation skls.EOE/M/F/D/AAP. www.mtvncareers.com (10/24)

JOB OPENING: COORDINATOR, PORT. MRKTNG & PARTNER APPS/NY: Manage daily online content & comm. needs for MTVN AS&M, focusing primarily on mtvn.com & related activities. Apply : www.mtvncareers.com EOE (10/24)

JOB OPENING: FREELANCE MANAGER/Integrated Marketing, MTV/NYC: 4+yrs esp marketing in TV/Agency & Online/digital, Strng comm. skills & client skills, Exp w/ events&prod. a+. EOE/M/F/AAP. Send resume to [email protected] (10/24)

JOB OPENING:  PRINT MEDIA BUYER/Pearl River, NY (15 miles from NYC): Min 4 yrs exp. in both magazines and newspapers buying req’d. Resumes to: Rgoodman @activeinternational .com or call 845-732-8943 (10/24)

JOB OPENING: WRITER/PRODUCER/EDITOR  EMERG NETWORKS/NBC UNIVERSAL/LA: Conceive, write, edit & finish cable on-air promo spots & campaigns (SD & HD). 3 yrs on-air promo & AVID edit exp reqd. www.nbcunicareers.com job # 553844 (10/24)

JOB OPENING: MGR, PROD/MTV TR3S/NY: Prod. Plan’g for newly launched Hispanic themed ntwrk. Dvlpng green lit shows, strategizing, fin. Plan’g/budgeting. Run Prod. Mgmt & Prod. Ops. Knwldg Latino mus/culture, huge+.  [email protected] (10/24)

JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR OF PROGRAM RESEARCH/NYC: Provide high level ratings support. Knowledge advanced Nielsen data. Strong analytical skills/detail oriented/writing skills a must. 6+ yrs exp. Resume to: [email protected] (10/24)

JOB OPENING: PROD MGR, ONAIR PROMOS/Rainbow/NYC:  or several cable nets; create & oversee budgets & project mngmt for post-prod/shoots/gfx. 3+ yrs ent/media exp. Strong detail/org/comm skills. Resumes to [email protected] (10/21)

JOB OPENING: MRKTNG MGR/Wizard Ent/NY: Help take mag, event & retail businesses to next level. On-line and Viral specialist w/ strong background in trad mrtkng. Database analysis a +. Email sal req: [email protected] (10/21)

JOB OPENING: COMEDY WRITER/New York City: Experienced comedy writer needed for a humorous reality show. Prior reality and/or comedy program experience only.  Please send resume to:  [email protected] (10/21)

JOB OPENING: RESEARCH ASST/IMG Media/NYC: Asst in the preparation of Nielsen ratings data, reports & related analysis dealing w/ ntwrk & syndicated prgrmng. Research exp req. Freelance position. Send resumes: [email protected] (10/21)

JOB OPENING: STRAT PLANNING MGR/Turner Broadcasting/NY: Develop all fin’l planning models for Court TV. 4-5 yrs in Sales/Strat Plng. Media Math. Manage inventory, acquisition analysis, etc. [email protected]  (10/20)

JOB OPENING: ASSOCIATE PRODUCER/National Geographic Channel/Washington, DC: Write & produce promotional spots for shows, create short form content, 1-2 yrs in mktg/promo or TV production, cable exper pref; www.foxcareers.com (10/20)

JOB OPENING: MARKETING COORDINATOR /TV Guide Channel/New York, NY: 1+ years media/advertising exp., Photoshop exp. preferred. Apply: www.gemstartvguide.com/careers, under New York-New York City (10/20)

JOB OPENING: SCHEDULING MANAGER/Rainbow Media, NYC:  Supervise scheduling of original programming, acquisitions, and ad assets for two VOD networks.  5 yrs exp in broadcast or cable.  Resume to [email protected]          (10/20)

JOB OPENING: SR RSRCH ANALYST/Turner Ent Research/ATL: 3+yrs MK Rsrch,new tech & online; strong analyt’l skills, ability to interpret/position data;exc. comm skills; info www.turnerjobs.com 68090br; Res: [email protected] (10/20)

JOB OPENING: DEPT COORD, DEVO/MTV/NY: Track pitches, maintain databases, devo slate, coord 360 content, clear titles, acq websites.1-2yrs exp coord’g on devo/prod team. Extremely det oriented. [email protected] (10/20)

JOB OPENING: SALES PLANNER/Univision Online-NYC: Assist w/creation & maintenance of sales presentations. Exp w/in an AD Agency & Ad sales. 1-2 yrs of exp w/ strong written & comp skills.  Email: [email protected] (10/20)

JOB OPENING: ACCT MG/MTV Networks/CA: Strong relationships w/nat’l advrtsrs/agencies (3-5yrs exp. cable ad sales req’d). Leadership skills & knwldg  “media math”. Customer-oriented sales training a +. Apply www.mtvncareers.com EOE (10/20)

FALL INTERNSHIPS – These positions are for credit only – nobody gets paid here. They are 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] .

SITUATION WANTED ADS, POSTED BY THOSE LOOKING TO BE HIRED —

SITUATION WANTED:  17+ year BROADCAST PROFESSIONAL in research, programming and marketing seeks lucrative work from home. Excellent reputation. Fast, efficient,creative.  Worth your while. [email protected] or 716-439-4464 (10/25)

SITUATION WANTED: EXPERIENCED NATIONAL TV MEDIA BUYER seeks position with NYC agency. 5+ years negotiating Broadcast, Cable, and Online for $100MM+ brands. Experience with Pharmaceuticals, CPG, Sports & Kids. [email protected] (10/21)

SITUATION WANTED: MKTG/AD/BRAND DEV – SF  Hi-level creative exec team looking to move from ent. to new challenges in marketing/advertising/branding. Successful, 20+ years combined experience. Email  [email protected] (10/21)

SITUATION WANTED: HIGHLY REGARDED SR CREATIVE DIRECTOR/NY: 15+ yrs creative/mktng exp in film/TV and music. Worked w/David Chase, Dick Clark, Simon Fuller & Clive Davis. A strong leader with passion to win. Contact: [email protected]  (10/21)

E-mail Trish Pihonak for rates and specs for Job Openings.

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