The ex-president of the CBS Network Television Group who’s now a CBS Inc consultant has become a non-executive director of the UK’
Tag Archives: Production
Brad Pitt bidding to make movie on Chilean Miners
[HMG Celebrity News] – When the 33 Chilean miners emerged from their ten-week ordeal in the Atacama desert’s San José mine, a film deal was inevitable. And now that film may get made by no less than Brad Pitt. Brad’s production company ‘Plan B’ has ‘
NBC Universal International Acquires UK Production Company Monkey Kingdom
EXCLUSIVE: NBC Universal International has acquired independent U.K. production company Monkey Kingdom. The pact represents the first acquisition at NBCU International by the company’s TV production president Michael Edelstein. It also marks the third production venture for NBCU International following the 2008 acquisition of Carnival Film & Television and the launch earlier this year of WTTV, NBCU’s joint venture with Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner. It is part of NBCU International’s expansion under president Peter Smith as NBCU looks to achieve $5 billion in non-US revenues.
Under the terms of the agreement, NBCU International will acquire 100% of Monkey Kingdom as well as its library rights. Monkey Kingdom was founded in 2001 by veteran producers David Granger and Will Macdonald. The company, whose main focus is in the unscripted area, has produced such series as The Charlotte Church Show, Comedy Roasts, My Kind Of Town, Make My Day, The Passions of Girls Aloud and Newlyweds. In the digital content space, it is behind The Secret World of Sam King, a 60-episode drama for Bebo. Now part of NBCU’
David Janollari And Chris Linn To Take Over For Tony DiSanto At MTV
EXCLUSIVE: I hear MTV is finalizing its succession plans in light of the pending departure of the network’s president of programming Tony DiSanto. DiSanto and his top lieutenant, SVP series development Liz Gateley, are leaving at the end of the year to work on their newly launched production company, in which Ben Silverman’s IAC-owned Electus has a stake.
I hear that the bulk of DiSanto’s responsibilities will be divided between EVP scripted development David Janollari and EVP MTV Production Chris Linn. Janollari will continue to oversee all scripted development for the network and may take over 
some unscripted responsibilities as he is expected to oversee all West Coast development. Chris Linn, who has been the current executive on MTV’s biggest series, Jersey Shore, while also heading development and production of TV movies and production of pilots and series, is expected to take oversight of East Coast development. MTV won’t appoint a direct replacement for the network’s unscripted head Gateley but the network has been preparing for her departure with 2 key appointments in the unscripted area in the past few months: Lauren Dolgen was promoted to SVP of MTV Series Development, West Coast and well-known reality producer Shannon Fitzgerald was hired as VP … Read More
EXCLUSIVE: Michelle Raimo Named New President of Sony Pictures Animation
Sony Pictures will make the announcement tomorrow. Former Miramax and Paramount exec Michelle Raimo (Kouyate) has been recently producing the animated feature film Puss In Boots off the DreamWorks Animation Shrek franchise, with Chris Miller directing. Raimo began her career in the film business 13 years ago when she joined Miramax Films. From 1995 to 2005, she rose through the development and production ranks from an assistant to a SVP of Development and Production. During her tenure at the studio, Michelle was responsible for exec producing and overseeing numerous projects including the Academy Award-nominated Chocolat, as well as The Shipping News, Ella Enchanted, The Great Raid and An Unfinished Life. While at Miramax, Raimos helped start its book- and Talk magazine-based development.
In 2005, she relocated from New York to Los Angeles to serve as SVP of Production at Paramount Pictures where she was responsible for overseeing producer accounts including Nickelodeon, MTV Films, Lynda Obst Productions, and Foxxhole (Jamie Foxx’s production company). During her time at the studio, she worked on DreamWorks’ Dreamgirls, Nickelodeon’s The Spiderwicke Chronicles and Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging. In early 2006, she moved over to Nickelodeon Movies in the same capacity until the end of 2006.
Matt Tolmach Discusses Exit As Sony Pics Prez And Segue To Producing 'Spider-Man'
Talk about a bolt from the blue. The town was surprised today when Matt Tolmach exited from co-president of production at Sony Pictures Entertainment to a producing deal that starts with Tolmach joining the Spider-Man franchise he has managed from day one as an executive. Now, any time a studio production president segues into a producing deal and claims it was his choice, it gets my spider sense tingling. Because most times, it takes a firing, or the Jaws of Life, to pry occupants from these powerful studio president jobs. But 
Tolmach and his longtime co-president partner Doug Belgrad say that SPE’s newest producer actually did make the move voluntarily and that he’s had the itch to do it for some time. He steps into a three-year first look deal and will have to soon transition out of the Thalberg Building (no producers) and take office space elsewhere on the lot. He hasn’t yet thought of a company name to put on the door. All this happens around Thanksgiving, when Hannah Minghella moves from her post at Sony Pictures Animation to become president of production. And Tolmach joins producers Laura Ziskin and Avi Arad in gearing up for a December 6 production start on the Marc Webb-directed 3D Spider-Man reboot with newcomer Andrew Garfield in the title role. Belgrad becomes sole Columbia Pictures president under SPE chairman/CEO Michael Lynton and co-chairman Amy Pascal.
“You’
New Regency's EVP Of Production Exits
EXCLUSIVE: Deadline has just learned that Amy Israel is out as EVP of production at New Regency even though she was known to have excellent taste in material. Israel joined New Regency in 2008 after heading up Paramount Vantage production and acquisitions. She’ll now serve as an executive producer on the company’s Now, director Andrew Niccol’s scifi film (aka I’m Mortal) starring Justin Timberlake, Olivia Wilde, Amanda Seyfried, Cillian Murphy, and Johnny Galecki. She’s produced before and wanted to get back to her filmmaking roots.
Brad Luff New Dimension Production Prez
EXCLUSIVE: I hear he starts on Monday at Dimension Films as President of Production after final details of his exit from Sony are negotiated. 
“Obviously we are on a mission to staff up key parts of the company,” The Weinstein Co’s David Glasser just told me. Since December 2008, Luff has been SVP of production at Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group, manage the development slate, including generating original material for potential theatrical release and identifying studio sequels for the DVD market. He oversaw development there on the upcoming Faster (co-financed with CBS Films), Soul Surfer, Quarantine 2, and Stomp The Yard 2. From 2005-2008, Luff was president of production for The Mayhem Project, a production and financing entity backed by two UK-based hedge funds. In 2003, Luff was named president of production at Morgan Creek Prods and before that had been EVP of production at Neal Moritz’s Sony-based Original Film shingle for six years.
At Dimension, Luff will oversee the completion of production and post production on both Spy Kids 4 and Scream 4 which are both shooting now. Then he will oversee the upcoming productions of American Werewolf in London, Hellraiser, Children of the Corn, Sin City 2, and the upcoming installment of Scary Movie. Also a reboot of both Scanners and Short Circuit. Not to mention he will focus on new productions and acquisitions for the division.
Luke Evans Joins Poe Pic 'The Raven'
Luke Evans has been set to star alongside John Cusack in The Raven, the drama that will be directed by V for Vendetta’
NBC's 'Outlaw' Goes On Production Hiatus
NBC is stopping production on new legal drama Outlaw while keeping the show on the air. Starting tomorrow, the freshman series will go on production hiatus while the network monitors closely its ratings performance. Eight episodes of Outlaw have been produced; 3 of them have already aired, with 5 more in the can. If there is a ratings uptick in the next 2 weeks, production on the show will be restarted. If not, it will become permanent.
The drama pilot starring Jimmy Smits as a Supreme Court justice with a gambling problem who leaves the bench to become a private attorney was a dark horse during the development process and surprised some when it landed a series order in May. It hails from Conan O’Brien’s once NBC-based production company Conaco. NBC gave Outlaw a solid sampling after America’s Got Talent but the series never took hold in its permanent Friday 10 PM time period where it was crushed by CBS’ Blue Bloods, drawing a 1.1 demo ratings and 5 million viewers during premiere week and a 1.0 rating, 4.5 million last Friday. While several new NBC series have performed lower than expected, the network is yet to pull any series off the air though it had been mulling potential scheduling moves.
Chris Ball Hatches Wrekin Hill, Will Release Peter Weir's 'The Way Back'
Exclusive Media Group, owner of specialty film label Newmarket Films, has started a new specialty film production and distribution label, Wrekin Hill Entertainment. Chris Ball, Newmarket’s president and co-founder, will be leaving behind his Exclusive duties to focus on heading up the new distribution label. He will get started by releasing the Peter Weir-directed The Way Back, the harrowing period survival tale that stars Ed Harris, Jim Sturgess, Saoirse Ronan, Mark Strong and Colin Farrell. Wreckin will also release the Billy Joel documentary The Last Play at Shea, as well as Hesher, the Sundance Film Festival acquisition Hesher, starring Joseph Gordon Levitt, Natalie Portman and Rainn Wilson. All three films will be released in tandem by Newmaket and Wrekin Hill, but the latter will be the active shingle.
Ball will be joined at Wrekin Hill by longtime Newmarket colleagues Rene Cogan, who was Newmarket COO-CFO and John Crye, who had been Newmarket’s president of production and acquisitions.
The move comes at a time when Exclusive is building up its US theatrical releasing business. The overall company, funded by Cyrte Investments, is spearheaded by co-chairmen Nigel Sinclair and Guy East. Exclusive’s first production is Weir’s The Way Back, while sister division Hammer Films produced Let Me In, the remake of Let The Right One In. The third production division is Spitfire Pictures, which mostly focuses on documentaries like Last Play at Shea, which … Read More
'Hobbit' Producers Warner Bros, New Line, & MGM Defend Peter Jackson Against Actor Union Allegations: "Baseless And Unfair"
SAG & AFTRA Nix Non-Union ‘The Hobbit’ For Kiwi & Oz Actors
Peter Jackson Slaps Back At Kiwi/Oz Unions
New Line, Warner Bros. Pictures and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures are concerned by the recent allegations of unfair treatment of actors in New Zealand and instructions from the performers’
New Teaser For HBO's 'Game Of Thrones'
HBO ran a second tease promo and a behind-the-scenes featurette for its upcoming fantasy series Game of Thrones before the season finale of True Blood tonight. Production on Game of Thrones began on July 26 in Belfast. The network also released an image from the series, actress Emilia Clarke as Daenerys. Here are the teaser titled Raven and the behind-the-scenes video.
“Raven” Preview
In Production
Roxanne Pallett Bikini Pics From Spain! OW!
These were snapped yesterday afternoon.
Here’s more info about Roxanne:
Roxanne ‘Roxy’ Pallett (born 26 December 1982 in Carlisle, Cumbria) is an English actress most famous for playing the role of Jo Sugden in the ITV soap opera, Emmerdale.[1] In January 2006, she appeared in ITV’s live music show Soapstar Superstar.
In 2010, Pallett has taken roles in the film Lake Placid 3, her Hollywood debut; and filmed a guest role for the BBC’s Casualty. She is currently starring in the UK production of the musical Rock Around The Clock,[17] making her professional stage debut, which is touring the country until September 2010. She will then film a role in British production Billy, playing WPC Hannah Reed opposite Sean Pertwee, and then tour with the Vagina Monologues, opposite Nikki Sanderson and Sue Jenkins. [Source]
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Deb Schindler Transitions Back To NYC
At her own request, Deb Schindler, President of Sony International Motion Picture Production, will transition from London back to New York to be closer to her family. “My position will change to that of a consultant so that I will remain connected to the division and studio I love,” Schindler tells me. She has been with Sony Pictures Entertainment since 2004, when she headed up East Coast motion picture production and development for Columbia Pictures. In April 2007, she was named President of Sony Picture International Motion Picture Group (fka Local Language Production).
Warner Bros TV Signs Dutch Format Deal
Warner Bros has signed an exclusive deal with John de Mol’
Warner/Shed Deal Set For Mid-October
Shed Media, the UK producer which Time Warner has offered £100 million for, has announced a 22% rise in first-half profits to £6.2 million ($4 million). Turnover was also up 27% in the first six months to £59 million. This broke down into £25.5 million from its UK production business, £26.2 million from US production and £7.3 from programmes sales. Chairman Heather Rabbatts singled out the launch of the US version of Who Do You Think You Are? and the continued success of Supernanny in the States as factors behind Shed Media US growth.
Sam Mendes And Kevin Spacey Reunite
Here’s some exciting stage news. Director Sam Mendes and Kevin Spacey, who each won Oscars for American Beauty, have announced they will reunite in a production of William Shakespeare’s Richard III. Mendes will direct and Spacey will star in a production that will open at the Brooklyn Academy of Music’
WME's Julie Weitz To Run Carol Mendelsohn's Production Company
WME literary agent Julie Weitz is joining Carol Mendelsohn’
Ellen Burstyn Rounds Out Someday This Pain Will Be Useful To You Cast
The Italian production starts shooting today in Central Park, New York City. The Oscar-winning actress joins Marcia Gay Harden, Toby Regbo (Harry Potter), Lucy Liu (Charlie’s Angels), Stephen Lang (Avatar) and Deborah Ann Woll (True Blood) in this coming-of-age story. Italian financiers including RAI Cinema are fully financing this adaptation of the teenage novel by New York-based author Peter Cameron, which was a bestseller in Italy. The novel tells a Holden Caufield-ish tale of a teenager working in his mother’