Cynopsis: Kids!

03/17/09

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

Red Willow Films is moving forward on Eco Company, its new half-hour environment focused series.  Set to launch in fall 2009, Eco Company is a FCC friendly Educational and Informational (FCC E/I) series with clearances from station groups including Tribune Broadcasting, Cox Communications, Granite Broadcasting, Local TV, Newport Television, and the Journal Broadcast Group among others.  Hosted by a group of teens, the live-action series explores the importance of making ‘green’ choices and understanding how our actions impact the planet.  The series will be supported by the interactive website www.eco-company.tv, where teens will be invited to submit their ideas and upload their videos, which will be displayed on the site.

The Weinstein Company acquires the US, Latin American and German rights to Nowhere Boy, from producer Ecosse Films, per The Hollywood Reporter.  Currently in production, Nowhere Boy is based on John Lennon‘s turbulent early life in Liverpool.  Raised by his Aunt Mimi from the age of 5, John’s mother, Julia, re-enters his life when he is 15 and they develop a strong relationship.  Mimi and Julia then wage in a battle for John.  Sam Taylor-Wood is directing the coming-of-age movie from a script by Matt Greenhalgh (Control), which stars Aaron Johnson (The Illusionist) as the young Lennon, with Kristin Scott Thomas as Aunt Mimi.

Paramount and DreamWorks unveiled plans to release the third Transformers 3 movie on July 1, 2011, giving it the July 4 holiday push, per Variety.  No word on if Michael Bay will return to direct his third movie in the series or if it will again star Shia LaBeouf or Megan Fox.  Oh, and there is no writer yet, nor, according to the report, is there official confirmation that there will be a third movie  but if there is … it now has a release date.  Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen releases nationwide this June 24.  Paramount also shifts the release of Marvel Entertainment’s feature adaptation of Thor to May 20, 2011, from June 16, 2011.

MORE KIDS STUFF

Jack Black will guest star on a new episode of Nickelodeon‘s preschool series, Yo Gabba Gabba!, which premiers Friday, April 3 at 1:30p.

9 Story Entertainment heads to MIPTV where it will showcase the first completed episodes of two new properties:

• Survive This (13×22)  targeted to tweens, Survive This is a live-action reality series that features eight teens 14-16 vying to survive in the wild on their own.   The series is created by 9 Story and survival expert/filmmaker, Les Stroud, and commissioned by YTV (Canada).
• Wibbly Pig (52×10) – this animated series is based on Mick Inkpen’s books, Wibbly Pig is a co-production between 9 Story and Wish Films (UK) and commissioned by Cbeebies (UK), TVO and Knowledge Network (Canada).  Set for delivery in fall 2009, Wibbly Pig is co-distributed by 9 Story and BBC Worldwide.

Mediatoon will showcase a new 3D/HD animated preschool series, Taratabong, The World of Meloditties (26×6) at MIPTV later this month.  Co-produced by Rai Fiction, Toposodo, and Ellipsanime, Taratabong introduces young kids to the world of music through the Meloditties, little musical beings.  Mediatoon will also offer the new CGI/HD animated series The Garfield Show (52×11); Bird Squad (26×11)  a preschool CGI series that revolves around birds that help other animals in danger; and the new season of Cedric (52×11, for a total of 156 episodes).

MARKETING/LICENSING

Chapman Entertainment launches a new Fifi and the Flowertots (www.fifiandtheflowertots.com) website in the UK with full content management system (CMS) capabilities.  Developed by Chapman with Bionic Communications, the new website offers kids monthly episodes and clips from the show, interactive games for kids, including the new Fifi’s Flying Flower Petals title, as well as videos, songs and coloring and activity sheets.  For parents, the site features frequently updated information on Fifi events and promotions, competitions and TV schedule information, as well as regular newsletters for those who sign up. Additionally, the Fifi and the Flowertots shop has also been refreshed to tie in with the new changes.  International roll out of the new Fifi and the Flowertots site will take place in coming months focusing on territories including the USA, Canada, Australia, France, Benelux, Poland, Croatia, Serbia and Slovenia. Fifi and the Flowertots airs daily in the UK on Five’s Milkshake! and Nick Jr.

Bulldog Licensing acquires the UK rights for the preschool interactive property Super Why, which airs there on Nick Jr.  RC2 is already on board to bring the Super Why toys into the UK.  Created by Angela C. Santomero (of Blues Clues fame) and Samantha Freeman, and produced by their company Out of the Blue, Super Why aims to help kids learn the early fundamentals of reading via interactive adventures.  Super Why is

Chorion inks a raft of licensing deals for The World of Eric Carle, as the author/illustrator Carle’s famous book The Very Hungry Caterpillar prepares to turn 40 on March 20, 2009.  The new The Very Hungry Caterpillar pop-up book is being published this year.  New deals for The World of Eric Carle brand in several regions include:

• Recently signed US deals: Dunecraft (terrariums); Pacific Playtents (play tents, tunnels and play parachutes); Bioworld (headwear, bags and wallets); Epicuren (kid’s skincare products); Meadwestvaco (calendars); Rasta Imposta (Halloween costumes and accessories); and Vtech for VSmile Baby (software).
• New UK pacts: Brecrest (apparel and infant bedding); H&A (bath products); Character World (bedding); Rainbow Designs (wooden and soft toys); Shreds Limited (aprons, tabards, bags and painting sets); UK Greetings (the new partner for greetings cards); Fabric Flavours (kid’s t-shirts); Funky Feet (infant footwear); Talking Tables (party goods); and If (bookmarks).
• New deals for Germany: Schmidt Spiele and University Games (partners for games and puzzles); Nudnik (infant apparel and plush); Gerstenberg (stationery and cardboard storage boxes); and Werkhaus (wooden toys).
• In Australia: Portmerion (ceramic dinnerware, storage jars and money banks)

Paramount Licensing signs deals with international licensing agencies, Exim Licensing Group for Latin America, FremantleMedia Enterprises for Australia and New Zealand, and Rubicon for the Middle East and North Africa.  The agencies will handle all properties and product categories represented by Paramount Licensing, including film properties currently in production and films in the studio’s library.

• Exim Licensing Group, FremantleMedia Enterprises and Rubicon will handle upcoming theatrical releases, including Rango and The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn, among many others.
• Brazin Retail Group, which operates Sanity and Virgin MegaStores in Australia, is granted rights to Paramount Pictures’ properties for the Australian market.  Brazin will create products appealing to college kids, including apparel, accessories and novelties.
• Renewed Scandinavian agent, Alicom, inks a deal with Paramount Licensing’s international group with H&M Stores (Hennes & Mauritz) to produce fashion tops for women based on various Paramount Pictures’ music-themed titles.

EXECUTIVE MOVES

Jeff M. Framer is named President, Image Entertainment.  Framer, who has been Image’s CFO for the past 15 years and will also continue in that role, takes over for David Borshell, who was named President in April 2008 and has exited the company.  Executive officer Bill Bromiley will continue to serve as Chief Acquisitions Officer, overseeing Image’s content acquisitions, marketing and sales, and executive officer Rick Eiberg, who served as EVP/Operations and CTO since April 2008, has been promoted to COO.

Studio100 Media appoints Peter Kleinschmidt as Director/Marketing, Licensing & Merchandising.  Kleinschmidt will report directly to Patrick Elmendorff and Hans Bourlon, Managing Directors of Studio100 Media.   Most recently he served as Managing Director for CTM Concept  TV & Merchandising.

Digital Rights Group appoints Ben Hall to the newly created position of Chief Creative Officer/Entertainment.  Hall is charged with managing the format development fund at DRG.  Hall previously served as Creative Director, BBC Worldwide and, prior that as co-founder of format company, The Chatterbox Partnership.

RATINGS

Live + Same Day Ratings Kids Cable Network Averages (000) for Friday, March 13, 2009, 6am-11pm, ranked by K2-11:
NICKELODEON:         K2-11 1097; K6-11 506; TWEENS 9-14 360
DISNEY CHANNEL:     K2-11   973; K6-11 648; TWEENS 9-14 529
CARTOON NETWORK: K2-11   573; K6-11 349; TWEENS 9-14 234
DISNEY XD:               K2-11   125; K6-11   81; TWEENS 9-14   71
Source: MTVN Research from Nielsen Media Research Data

Answer to Yesterday’s Trivia Question:  In Disney’s film Fantasia, what was the name of the Sorcerer?  YENSID (Disney spelled backward)  Kudos to: Mark Krause-WXMI/Grand Rapids; EJ. Offurum-Tru TV/New York; Dusty Ratledge-Scripps Networks/Knoxville; William “Chip” Beaman-Soundelux Design Music Group/Hollywood; David McDermott/Venice CA; Kimberly Luce-Disney Channel/Spain; Sarah Hussain-Decode Entertainment/Toronto

Today’s Trivia Question:  When this ’50s family sitcom (based on a popular comic strip) was cancelled, oversized sandwiches stacked with meats and cheeses were still referred to by the name of the lead male character.  What was the name of the sitcom?   (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!
03.17.09

Cynopsis Kids Ad Sales:
Chuck Bolkcom – 646-468-6180 / [email protected]
Mark Bohn- 203-583-1224 / [email protected]
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JOB OPENING: VP PRODUCTION/Discovery/MD: Focus on specials and series. Req editorial interest and proven exp from a domestic cable network. 10+ yrs exp in film or video documentary. Apply: www.discovery.com/careers #8845 (3/21)

JOB OPENING: BRAND RESEARCH MANAGER/ DIY NETWORK/ Knoxville, TN: Develops, analyzes, & interprets research. 5 yrs exp in market research at a TV network/ studio. Nielsen exp required. www.scrippsnetwroks.com #388 (3/21)

JOB OPENING: ACCT EXEC, AFFIL SALES/MKTG/WWE/Stamford CT: Seeks for distribution of all products to implement marketing, P.O.S. &community relations campaigns. Must have 3+ yrs experience & willingness to travel www.wwe-careers.com (3/21)

JOB OPENING: DIR AUD DEV/BBC/NY: Grow mkt BBC online news. Dev traf-driving initvs, cons mktg, prtnrshp mngmnt. Anlyz traf & usage pttrns, mng synd rltnshps, up 3^rd party links to bbc.com news cont. www.bbcamerica.com/employment.jsp (3/21)

JOB OPENING: RSRCH ANALYST/BBC/Miami: Rsrch for Programming & ad sales. Maintain rsrch sales systems, track performance of shows, monitor industry trends. 2+ yrs exp. Apply: www.bbcamerica.com/employment.jsp (3/21)

JOB OPENING: GRP REPORTING MGR/BBC/NYC: Prod, consolidation & reporting for BBCWW. Set acct’g policies, analyze & challenge perf., improve process, ensure fin. control maintained. CPA pref’d. Apply: www.bbcamerica.com/employment.jsp (3/21)

JOB OPENING: SALES DIR/BBC/NYC: 5+ yrs exp mng sales team, solid sales track record, media licensing exp, direct selling. Est & imp strat, mng sales pipeline, lead team to grow biz. Apply: www.bbcamerica.com/employment.jsp (3/21)

JOB OPENING: DIGITAL NTWRK OPS MGR/BBC/NYC: ensure dig ad campaigns supported & trafficked. Set-up, insert orders & comm discrepancies. Analyze success of campaigns & relay to ad sales team. Apply: www.bbcamerica.com/employment.jsp (3/21)

JOB OPENING: SR ACCT EXEC/ACCT DIR Out-of Home media sales/NY: 5+ yrs nat’l sales exp w/clients & advrtsng agencies strat. plan’g groups. Proven track rec of new bus/acct dvlpmnt req’d. Exp w/Youth mkt a + Res to: [email protected] (3/21)

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JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR, INTEGRATED CONTENT & BREAK STRATEGY/MD: Work with Programming/Development, Ad Sales, Marketing& Digital for TLC. 8+ yrs in sales is required. Apply: http://corporate.discovery.com/careers/ #8817 (3/21)

JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR – OPERATIONS/LA: work with special projects relating to new business development with TLC. 5+ yrs in buds. dev.& production required. Apply: http://corporate.discovery.com/careers/ #8836 (3/21)

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JOB OPENING: EXEC ASSISTANT, CONTENT DEVELOPMENT/MTV/NYC: 2+yrs exp. Exec Assist, Strg org/detail skills, Superior Cust. Service, Strng comm/comp skills, Able to prioritize/Meet deadlines EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvncareers.com (3/20)

JOB OPENING: RSRCH PROJECT MGR/CNN/ATL: Supporting Strat Mktg & On-Air Promo w/ ability to translate raw data into useable & actionable insights. Solid media math skills/5+ yrs. brdcst and/or cable TV Apply: [email protected] (3/20)

JOB OPENING: SR. COUNSEL, BUSINESS & LEGAL AFFAIRS/NY: Negotiate production, programming & talent agreements for AMC NETWORK. L.A. Contacts, JD & 8+ yrs ent law experience required / M&A exp a +.  [email protected] (3/19)

JOB OPENING: OFFICE MGR/MGM AD SALES/NY: Mng all aspects of A/R including prep of wkly & monthly accounting reports. Provide sales & admin support to dept. Back up Sales Plan & Traffic Mgrs. Apply www.MGM.jobs #6440 (3/19)

JOB OPENING: TRAFFIC MGR/MGM AD SALES/NY: Resp for proper plcemnt of commercials & copy assgnmnt. Mng prod & reconcil of logs. Liaise betw Ad Agncies, Sls, Mktg & Prog depts to gather fitting copy materials. Apply www.MGM.jobs #6441 (3/19)

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SUMMER INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: MARKETING/Urtak.com: user-generated public opinion site. Resp: Prdct dev, mkt expansion, corp svcs, for innovative startup. Work remotely, w/ few meetings in NYC. ~35hrs/wk. Send cv & CL to [email protected] (3/19)

SUMMER INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: PROGRAMMER/Urtak.com: user-generated public opinion site. Resp: prgrm’ing & user interface design for innovative startup. RubyOnRails exp. Work remotely, w/ few NYC meetings. ~35hr/wk. Send cv&CL to [email protected] (3/19)

SUMMER INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY:  Doc production co. seeks exp’d, orgnzd & energetic JRS/SRS. Driven to gain exp in fast-paced envir. Pls specify “dvlpmnt” or “prod” in app. Resp. incl office, shoot, & post-prod & dvlpmnt asst. Email [email protected] (3/19)

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SITUATION WANTED: DOCUMENTARY PRODUCER, DIRECTOR, WRITER in L.A. Credits: National Geo, PBS, Discovery, History CH, TLC and MSNBC. Contact email: [email protected] (3/21)

SITUATION WANTED: OFFICE PA OR EXEC ASST /NY: 3 yrs exp in customer service working at CBS. Former intern at film & talent agencies. Working knwldg of media industry. Creative, reliable, and a team player. E-mail: [email protected] (3/21)

SITUATION WANTED: INTERN IN MEDIA/THEATRE: Seeks work in Film / Theatre in NYC. Theatre and Media Studies at ScrippsCollege. Work experience in communications. Email: [email protected] (3/21)

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] (3/21)

SITUATION WANTED: NON-FICTION PRODUCER/WRITER (STORY & FIELD).10+yrs exp. NBC, VH1, CMT, TLC, E!, Disney, CNN, etc.; reality, ent, news, talk, developmt; LA based, will travel. [email protected] (3/18)

SITUATION WANTED: PRODUCER/ ASSOC. PRODUCER (LA) Out-of-the-box thinker, creative, award- winning, all formats, all genres. Budgets, schedules, breakdowns, crewing, casting, post and more. Over 20 yrs. exp. [email protected] (3/18)

SITUATION WANTED: Top-tier agency ACCOUNT MANAGER/SUPERVISOR seeks full-time employment in LA area. If your agency needs a professional w/ multi-platform technology, entertainment or interactive experience, e-mail [email protected] (3/18)

SITUATION WANTED: SR. MARKETING/BRAND MANAGER with home video, TV, animation and indie film experience is seeking a dynamic opportunity with a Los Angeles area studio or agency. E-Mail [email protected] for a resume (3/18)

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