Cynopsis: Kids!

09/17/09

Good morning. It’s Thursday, September 17, 2009, and this is your first early morning Kids briefing.

Cookie Jar Entertainment will co-produce the newly greenlit animated series Doodlebops Rockin’ Road Show (26×30) with Argentina-based Illusion Studios and Germany’s Optix Entertainment.  With production set to being on Doodlebops Rockin’ Road Show this fall, the series has already been sold to CBC (Canada).

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM CYNOPSIS MEDIA EVENTS

NEW PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT

Actor David Henrie (Wizards of Waverly Place) is teaming up with Platinum Studios to star in the movie adaptation of Platinum’s 4-episode comic book The Weapon.  Henrie will star as martial arts enthusiast Tommy Zhou who has invented a portable innovation, which evildoers are after.  The movie adaptation of The Weapon is being produced by creator and Platinum Studios Chairman and CEO, Scott Mitchell Rosenberg.  Also producing are Jim Henrie and as Executive Producer Rand Greenberg of The Greenberg Group.

Columbia Pictures will release Spider-Man 4 in Imax theaters simultaneously with the worldwide release of the film on May 5, 2011.  Based on the Marvel Comic book character, Spider-Man, the fourth live-action movie in the franchise will reunites director Sam Raimi along with stars Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst.  Featuring a screenplay by Gary Ross (Seabiscuit, Pleasantville, Big), Spider-Man 4 is being produced by Laura Ziskin, Avi Arad, Todd Black and Grant Curtis.  Executive Producers on the film are Stan Lee, Todd Hallowell and Josh Donen.  Columbia Pictures will distribute the film domestically, while Sony Pictures Releasing International handles overseas.

Universal acquires the screen rights to Wicked Lovely, the first book in a young adult fantasy series by author Melissa Marr, per Variety.  The movie is being produced by Vince Vaughn’s Wild West Picture Show Productions, which is based at Universal, and writer Caroline Thompson (Edward Scissorhands) is adapting the story.  Published by HarperCollins, the fourth book in Marr’s series is set for publication next year.

MORE KIDS STUFF

Shaftesbury Films and Family Channel (Canada) welcome back the cast of the comedy series Life with Derek for a new TV movie, Vacation with Derek.  Currently in production, the TV movie is directed by Michael McGowan and is set to air on Family Channel in 2010.  Vacation with Derek stars Ashley Leggat and Michael Seater, who reprise their Life with Derek roles as rival stepsiblings, along with former cast mates Daniel Magder, Jordan Todosey, Ariel Waller, Joy Tanner and John Ralston.  The movie also features guest star Nico Archambault, he was the first season winner on So You Think You Can Dance Canada, as a dance instructor.

Decode Enterprises enters into new and renewed broadcast deals in Australia for several of its kid-aimed series.  Disney Channel Australia and New Zealand picks up Halifax Films’ preschool motion capture/CGI series Bo on the GO!, with Nickelodeon Australia acquiring Martha Speaks, which is co-produced by Studio B Productions and WGBH Boston.  Additionally, ABC TV re-ups its commitment for more episodes of Franny’s Feet.

Disney Channel UK commissions Rival Media to produce the two-part series The Disney XD Challenge for the new boy-centric Disney XD channel, per C21 Media.  The series is produced in the UK.  The first part, Disney XD Challenge: Diversity Street Dance, features Britain’s Got Talent winners, Diversity, teaching a dance routine to 100 or so young street dancers and then performing the routine with them in London’s Covent Garden.  The second part, Skate Britain, follows skateboarder Pete King as he skateboards the UK bottom to top, making his way from Land’s End to John O’Groats, visiting towns and landmarks and teaching master classes to kids along the way.  Disney XD launched in the UK on August 31, 2009.

The National Entertainment Association (NECA) has acquired a majority of the assets of WizKids, Inc. from The Topps Company.  The deal includes the Clix collectible games, which includes HeroClix, ActionClix, HorrorClix and SportsClix.  Under the deal, NECA will also acquire the WizKids brand, the Pocketmodel Game properties, including the Pirates of the Crimson Coast, Pirates of the Spanish Main and Pirates of the Cursed Seas games, and the Mage Knight line of games.  NECA will house WizKids under a wholly owned subsidiary based at its NJ offices, which will operate under the WizKids name.  NECA has tapped Lax Chandra, who ran WizKids for Topps, as President of the new WizKids subsidiary.  Additionally, former WizKids employees Chas Delong, Wade Sugiyama and Mike Elliott are on board to help with the transition.

Program Call: If your company is attending MIPCOM or MIP JR in early October with programming to sell, Cynopsis Media is producing our annual MIPCOM Shopping Guide available to all Cynopsis and Cynopsis Kids subscribers on Thursday, October 1. To have your programming included, please send 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.). To be included in this free and highly-viewed special edition, please send details to [email protected] by Friday, September 25, 2009.

Correction: Kamen Rider Dragon Knight is, of course, a live-action series.

MARKETING/LICENSING

Universal Orlando Resort and Warner Bros. Consumer Products unveil details about their upcoming The Wizarding World of Harry Potter environment, which is now set to open at Universal’s Islands of Adventure in spring 2010.  Based on author J.K. Rowling‘s stories/characters, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will feature a range of attractions, such as the Dragon Challenge roller coaster and the family coaster Flight of the Hippogriff, the Owl Post  where visitors can send post-marked letters.  Also featured will be shops, including the joke shop Zonko’s and Honeydukes among others, and the Three Broomsticks and Hog’s Head pub dining venues.

STONE SOUP

The NEA Foundation and Nickelodeon’s The Big Green Help initiative are partnering to award grants to public educators nationwide.  Some 40 The Big Green Help Grants in Public Education, ranging up to $5,000/each), will be handed out to support both development and implementation of green-centric teaching programs at public elementary and middle schools.  School administrators can find applications, submission dates and other information for The Big Green Help Grants in Public Education program at www.neafoundation.org/pages/educators/grant-programs/nea-foundation-green-grants/ .  Additionally, information about Nickelodeon’s other grant program and its specific dates, The Big Green Help Grants, can be found at www.bghevent.com/grant .

EXECUTIVE MOVES

Rainmaker Entertainment names Terry Kalagian as VP/Business Development.  She will report directly to President, Catherine Winder.  An animation producer and development consultant, Kalagian will focus on cross-platform distribution opportunities for Rainmaker’s original and work-for-hire properties, with an initial specific focus on newly revived ReBoot property.  Kalagian will also work to expand the company’s work-for-hire business as well as working with Kimberly Dennison, Director/Development, on Rainmaker’s in-house development slate.

Activision Blizzard appoints George L. Rose to the newly create position of EVP and Chief Public Policy Officer.  Rose, who had been the company’s Chief Legal Officer, takes up his new role from January 1, 2010.  Additionally, Activision Blizzard names Christopher B. Walther, formerly Procter & Gamble’s General Counsel/Western Europe, to succeed Rose as Chief Legal Officer.

RATINGS

Live + Same Day Ratings Kids Cable Network Averages (000) for Tuesday, September 15, 2009, 6am-11pm, ranked by K2-11:
NICKELODEON:         K2-11 869; K6-11 372; TWEENS 9-14 312
DISNEY CHANNEL:     K2-11 741; K6-11 486; TWEENS 9-14 391
CARTOON NETWORK: K2-11 573; K6-11 377; TWEENS 9-14 281
DISNEY XD:               K2-11   76; K6-11   53; TWEENS 9-14   40
Source: MTVN Research from Nielsen Media Research Data

Answer to Yesterday’s Trivia Question:  If your Geoffrey the butler, where do you live?  BEL AIR!  Geoffrey is the butler on Fresh Prince of Bel Air  Kudos to: Meredith Rusu-Harper Collins/New York; Scott Jenkins-Tribune Media Services/Queensbury; Amie Lozanski-Hasbro/Rumford; Juli Lennett-The NPD Group, Inc./Port Washington; Mike Patterson-CNN International/Chicago; Heather Floore-KDAF/Dallas; Damon Parry-Horizon Media, Inc./Los Angeles; Alex Westerman-Mattel Digital/El Segundo; John Mazur-KCET PBS/LA; Heather Peterson-Disney Channel/Burbank; Felicity Clive-Turner International Australia/Sydney

Today’s Trivia Question:  Who is “Faster than a rolling O, stronger than silent E, able to leap capital T in a single bound … “?   (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!
09.17.09

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JOB OPENING: VICE PRESIDENT/GENERAL MANAGER Meredith Corp. seeks VP/GM in Kansas City (KCTV/KSMO). Will develop the stations’ full potential for audience, revenue, and profits. More at www.meredith.com (9/24)

JOB OPENING: AD SALES TRAINING MGR/FOX CABLE NETWORKS/NYC: Seeking 2-4yrs training exp in Sales Operations; Cable exp needed; Highly organized & detailed; Integrated Sales systems a plus. Resumes to www.foxcareers.com FNG17312. (9/24)

JOB OPENING: AD SALES ACCOUNT EXEC/Cynopsis Media/NJ office. Sales Exec needed with 5+ years of ad sales/TV industry exp & record of budget beating sales success.  Send cover ltr/Resume to [email protected]  (9/22)

JOB OPENING: NEW MEDIA MKTG MGR/Scripps/Knox-TN: Dev VOD Promos & mktg strategies; dev processes, content package & agreements w/ On Demand affiliates. Analyze distrib models for tech reqs. To apply: www.scrippsnetworks.com (9/22)

JOB OPENING: RESEARCH ANALYST/Univision NY: Support advertising and affiliate sales. 1-2 years Nielsen ratings experience. Program tracking and analysis; create sales materials. Please e-mail resume to [email protected] (9/22)

JOB OPENING: ACCOUNT MGR/The Hotel Networks/Chicago: 3+ yrs Ad Sales Exp, OOH/Digital-Place Based+++, Creative, Aggressive, Proven Sales Pro, Excel Communication Skills A Must, Self-Motivated, Email [email protected] (9/19)

JOB OPENING: SR PRODUCER/Soapnet.com/CA. Proj manage digt’l efforts, site dev initiatives incl; mob, community & viral digt’l mktg. Min 8yrs dev, bldg online prop. PM skills and HTML req. Visit www.disneyabcjobs.com ID 203730 (9/19)

JOB OPENING: ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE/Gaia Interactive/NYC: Seeks dynamic, strategic, savvy Media Salesperson. Resp. for generation & selling online ad/sponsorship. 2-4+ yrs online media sales. Resumes to: [email protected] (9/19)

JOB OPENING: DIR MKTG/PBS KIDS SPROUT/COMCAST/PA: dev & implement mktg plans/strong work ethic & mgmt skills? Req’d 10+ yrs exp. @ TV Ntwrk Mktg, kids prod & leading/managing advertising. Apply: www.COMCAST.com (9/18)

JOB OPENING: MGR OF PROMO MKTG/PBS KIDS SPROUT/COMCAST/PA: strong leading creative concept dev & project mgmt skills? Req’d 5+ yrs exp. @ TV Ntwrk Mktg, kids prod & brand/promo mktg. Apply: www.COMCAST.com (9/18)

JOB OPENING: COORDINATOR, INTEGRATED MARKETING/Nickelodeon/NYC. 2+yrs mrktg/sales exp. in mrkting/ad agency in Ent/Media, Fast paced/Strng multitasking skills, Strng Project/Time Mgmt skills EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvncareers.com (9/18)

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F ALL INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: USA Network STRATEGIC MKTG INTERN: Develop presentations and creative concepts for advertising partnerships, reports, admin tasks. Excel & PPT desired. Grad/Undergrad, 3 days. Reply: [email protected] w/ res/cover (9/19)

FALL INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: RSRCH INTERN: Research art activities, artists, events for Scribble Town community for kids, parents and teachers. Excel, Word & fast learner desired. Undergrad 2-3 days, Reply: [email protected] w/ res/cover (9/18)

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SITUATION WANTED: ASST POSITION/LA: Entry level position in the ent. Industry at an agency or mngmnt firm. Exp in sales & mngmnt as well as audio/video prod and post production. Very organized & fast learner. www.miketannenbaum.com (9/24)

SITUATION WANTED: WRITER’S ASSISTANT/PA position on TV series. 15 years experience in the industry as artist, writer, and PA. Please contact me at [email protected] or 310-772-8248 (9/24)

SITUATION WANTED: MARKETING/PROMOTIONS/Boston: Marketing/promotions professional seeks television, web marketing, social networking focused position. Experienced in international markets. Creative + will travel. [email protected] (9/22)

SITUATION WANTED: MEDIA BUYING/SALES/NY:5+ years experience media buying/mrkng Familiar with brdcst media and multimedia platforms. Results oriented, persistent. Seeking position in buying or network sales. [email protected] (9/22)

SITUATION WANTED: SR FIELD PROD/DIR: 15 yrs exp: CBS, NBC, Discovery, HGTV, Fox, Style, Fine Living, Speed. Xlnt interview & story skills; great w/people, places & things; nat’l & int’l exp. [email protected]  http://tinyurl.com/lrdk6u (9/22)

SITUATION WANTED: BRAND STRATEGIST & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT; Ad Agency & Hollywood Studio experience; content development, distribution & licensing, account mgt, strategy, pitching, closing. [email protected] (9/22)

SITUATION WANTED: SHOOTER/PRODUCTION EDITOR/Graphics-Final Cut, Premiere, CS3-4 Many skills Looking for FT/PT/Temp. in Connecticut. Contact Greg 619.708.5266   Great work ethic, team player (9/22)

SITUATION WANTED: TRAFFIC MANAGER with13 years exp seeks position in Radio/TV/Online or traffic software in NY/NJ Area only.  [email protected] (9/22)

SITUATION WANTED: WRITER/PRODUCER/VO TALENT (LA) 15+ years experience in Creative Marketing, Trailers & On-Air Promo. Seeks Freelance or Staff Position. Reel & Contact Info: www.WormOnTheWeb.com Email: [email protected] (9/22)

SITUATION WANTED: FIELD PRODUCER/DIRECTOR (NYC):8 yrs exp in reality & docs. Local & Int’l prod. Strong story teller. Exp w/ Sony Z-1U & V-1. Bi-lingual (Eng & Span) CREDITS: Bravo, History, Discovery [email protected] (9/22)

SITUATION WANTED: 9 time Emmy winning CREATIVE PRODUCER-based in Atlanta seeking freelance jobs. Great with clients. 15yrs experience in promotional / creative TV.  [email protected] / website: www.pack30productions.com (9/22)

SITUATION WANTED: DIGITAL MEDIA/CABLE/BUSINESS AFFAIRS ATTORNEY Broad in-house exp in content prod& distribution, new media, operations, cable affiliate & ad sales. Avail for project/consultant/FT. Contact [email protected] (9/22)

SITUATION WANTED: Recent grad seeking an ENTRY-LEVEL position in the entertainment industry. Experience in marketing, sales, mgt., project management. Highly organized, eager to learn and contribute. Email: [email protected] (9/22)

SITUATION WANTED: RESEARCH/STRATEGY – 20+ yrs expertise in Nielsen methodology, calcs, Hisp, research, sales, & presentations. Email: [email protected] (9/22)

SITUATION WANTED: EXP’D GRAPHIC DESIGNER/ARTIST (LA) Reality-TV, Film, Commercial, Documentaries & Corp. Creative & Flexible. Seeking Freelance or Staff Position, Remote or In-House. Reel & Contact Info: www.ChaztizedMedia.com (9/19)

SITUATION WANTED: FREELANCE DESIGN & ILLUSTRATION (NYC)20 years experience working concept through completion. Portfolio: www.baerdavis.com Email: [email protected] (9/19)

SITUATION WANTED: WRITER: Children’s writer with exp at various prod co’s & Kids’ CBC. Portfolio in educational & comedic works for kids. Exp. in development, creative consulting, editing. Freelance. Contact [email protected] (9/18)

SITUATION WANTED: CHILDREN’S CONTENT SPECIALIST/NYC: 4+ Years experience representing children’s products (books and multimedia properties), specializing in creating promotional materials. [email protected]  (9/18)

SITUATION WANTED: 20+ yrs. experience in TV Broadcasting & Cable ACCOUNTING/FINANCE. Seeking FT/PT or Temp-to-Perm position: [email protected] (9/18)

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