Creativity names

EXCLUSIVE : Colin Davis , Head of Scripted Originals for the Roku Channel, is leaving Roku’s free ad-supported streaming service to join Sony as EVP Comedy Development at Sony Pictures Television Studios . Davis, who starts May 1, will oversee development of comedies for all platforms, reporting to Jason Clodfelter, co-president of Sony Pictures Television Studios. Davis succeeds Glenn Adilman, who exited as EVP and head of comedy development in the studio’s November executive restructuring under new Sony Pictures TV Studios president Katherine Pope. Based on the Culver City lot, Davis will lead a team that includes Jennifer Gerstenblatt, Frank Ochoa and Jackie Wertheimer who serve as SVP Comedy Development, VP Animation, and Manager of Comedy Development, respectively. “We are thrilled to have Colin join our Sony Pictures Television Studios family,” said Clodfelter. “His passion and understanding of television are infectious, and he embodies an entrepreneurial … [Read more...] about Roku’s Colin Davis Named Head Of Comedy Development At Sony Pictures Television Studios; Other Recent Hires & Promotions Revealed

Shannon Ryan , who most recently served as chief marketing officer for Fox Television Group, is joining Disney as president of marketing for ABC Entertainment and Disney Television Studios . The move, which had been in the works for months, reunites Ryan with her boss at Fox, Dana Walden, chairman of Disney Television Studios and ABC Entertainment. In her new role, Ryan — who took a short break after leaving Fox earlier this year — will oversee all marketing, publicity and communications strategies for the ABC Television Network. She also will oversee the communications and marketing teams of Disney Television Studios, which include ABC Studios, Fox 21 Television Studios and 20th Century Fox Television. Ryan will report to Karey Burke, president of ABC Entertainment, and Craig Hunegs, president of Disney Television Studios. “I can’t wait for Shannon to get here,” said Burke. “I’ve admired her innovative campaigns and fierce competitive spirit from afar for years, … [Read more...] about Fox Alum Shannon Ryan Named President Of Marketing ABC Entertainment & Disney TV Studios

EXCLUSIVE : Lion Forge Animation, the company behind the Oscar-winning Hair Love , has been rebranded as Lion Forge Entertainment as it is expanding its slate to include live-action in addition to animation. It has named veteran family entertainment executive Stephanie Sperber its President and chief Content Officer. Sperber is joining Lion Forge after recently leaving Imagine , where she was president of Imagine Kids+Family, a division she helped launch. She will report to CEO David Steward II, who founded Lion Forge Animation in 2019, and COO Edward Hamati. “Stephanie’s unparalleled experience, creative instincts, industry relationships, business acumen and work ethos will be a driving force for Lion Forge and pave the way for us to enter exciting new frontiers,” Steward said. “The Lion Forge brand has stood for diversity and representation in animation for the past four years, and I’m thrilled to take that brand and that mission into the live action series and feature … [Read more...] about Stephanie Sperber Named President & CCO Of Lion Forge As Animation Company Expands Into Live-Action

EXCLUSIVE : Aditya Sood has been promoted to President of Lord Miller — the production company of Academy Award-winning filmmakers Phil Lord and Chris Miller ( Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse ) — with Dan Shear joining as EVP and head of Television. These strategic moves are described as a natural evolution for Lord Miller, which has continued to expand in both film and television over the past several years — recently seeing Universal release their Elizabeth Banks -directed comedy Cocaine Bear , with four other projects coming up for release this year. Regarded as having a strong eye for standout original material, Sood has been with Lord Miller as President of Film since 2019, and will now expand his oversight to include all aspects of the company including television, adding to his existing responsibilities for overseeing their film efforts. Shear comes to Lord Miller from Peacock , where he served as EVP of Comedy Development, and will now be … [Read more...] about Lord Miller Ups Aditya Sood To President, Names Dan Shear EVP Of TV

The recently renamed Universal Destinations & Experiences (previously Parks & Resorts) has named two executives to key roles at its growing creative division. In a memo to staff today, Destinations’ chairman-CEO Mark Woodbury said Brian Robinson has been named to the role of EVP, Chief Creative Officer and will lead the division’s Creative Studio, including ATI (Advanced Technology Initiatives), Media, Architecture and Planning, and Attraction Development. Currently EVP, Brand Strategy & Creative at Universal Products & Experiences, he will transition out of that role with a planned move to Orlando later this year. Eric Parr has been promoted to the new role of SVP, Creative Studio, reporting to Robinson and taking on expanded leadership of creative design on new attractions, destinations and experiences worldwide. “Universal Destinations & Experiences has an exciting future with a powerful aspiration, phenomenal product, a differentiated brand … [Read more...] about Universal’s Rebranded Parks Division Taps Brian Robinson & Eric Parr As It Fires Up Creative Unit

Former Directors Guild presidents Paris Barclay and Thomas Schlamme have been named co-chairs of the DGA Outreach Team in advance of what the guild predicts will be “difficult” negotiations for a new film and TV contract, which are set to start May 10 . The guild says that the mission of the Outreach Team, which is which is made up of a broad cross section of DGA members, is to “support increased member engagement and awareness as we prepare for negotiations.” The DGA’s current contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers expires June 30. “With their experience as former presidents of the DGA and their unrivaled knowledge of our industry, Paris and Tommy will serve as incredible representatives of our guild to our members as we prepare to win the best possible contract for our members,” said DGA president Lesli Linka Glatter . “With their guidance, the DGA Outreach Team is ready to unite our 19,000 members to fight for our future.” … [Read more...] about Former DGA Presidents Paris Barclay & Thomas Schlamme Named Co-Chairs Of Guild’s Outreach Team Ahead Of “Difficult” Contract Talks

The Downtown Albuquerque Railyards will serve as the headquarters for the New Mexico Media Academy , a collaborative workforce development program equipping NM residents with the skills they need to build successful film and TV careers, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced on Wednesday. The training hub formerly known as the Next Generation Media Academy will be constructed in the Boiler Room location of the Railyards which have long been a production hotspot, featuring onscreen in projects ranging from Breaking Bad to The Avengers . A companion campus, serving Southern New Mexico, will be built in Las Cruces. Both locations will offer industry-standard, hands-on, and craft-specific workforce training and job competencies for the film, television and digital media industry, with a spotlight on such emerging focus areas as virtual and extended reality and volumetric production. And facilities will therefore feature not only classrooms, offices, lab, post-production and flex … [Read more...] about New Mexico Media Academy Sets Albuquerque Headquarters, Names Chad Burris Executive Director

Oscar-winning screenwriter, playwright and film director Christopher Hampton was on feisty form in a masterclass in Qatar earlier this week as part of the Doha Film Institute ’s Qumra talent incubator event (March 10-16). Hampton, who won Academy Awards for the screenplays of Dangerous Liaisons and The Father and was Oscar-nominated for Atonement , urged aspiring screenwriters in the auditorium to try to retain some sort of control of their work and creative vision. “I would advise anybody to try to get at least some sort of associate producer credit to maintain a grip on the material and you have to fight… fight with a lot of people,” he said. “They don’t want to give it to you. They don’t want to give you those powers, but I’ve always argued that since the writer is the origin of the piece, they deserve to be respected.” “Don’t be unreasonable because there is a very strong possibility that other people’s ideas will be as good as yours but there comes a … [Read more...] about Christopher Hampton Talks Screenwriter Control; ‘Dangerous Liaisons’ Sprint Against Miloš Forman – Qumra Masterclass

EXCLUSIVE: Award-winning documentary producer and film programmer Sara Archambault is joining the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. As the newly-named Documentary Film Project Manager, Archambault will oversee a new initiative on documentary film in the public interest. “The initiative will engage with scholars, filmmakers, journalists, and industry leaders around the major questions facing the documentary film industry today,” according to a release announcing Archambault’s appointment, “and will include activities such as fellowships, screenings, convenings, and new prizes.” Archambault’s most recent producing credits include Riotsville, U.S.A. and A Decent Home , both from 2022, as well as the upcoming Richland . She previously spent a decade as the program director of the LEF Foundation in Cambridge, Mass., and nine years as founder/programmer of the Brattle Theatre’s The DocYard … [Read more...] about Producer Sara Archambault Joins Harvard’s Shorenstein Center, Heading New Initiative On “Documentary Film In The Public Interest”

4x Oscar nominee Willem Dafoe has expressed his willingness to return to the Spider-Man multiverse again, should the right opportunity arise. The actor known for his iconic villain role as Norman Osborne aka Green Goblin, in Sam Raimi’s 2000s Spider-Man trilogy and beyond, said as much in a recent interview with Inverse , telling the outlet he’d gladly reprise the part “if everything was right. “I mean, that’s a great role,” opined Dafoe. “I liked the fact that it’s a double role both times. Twenty years ago, and fairly recently, both times [were] very different experiences, but I had a good time on both.” Dafoe’s Spidey character Osborne is a scientist holding the post of CEO at Oscorp who goes mad in Raimi’s 2002 trilogy opener Spider-Man , coming after the web-slinging superhero of the same name played by Tobey Maguire, after an experiment with strength enhancement goes awry, despite the fact that Spidey is, in his day-to-day life, Peter Parker, the best … [Read more...] about Willem Dafoe Open To Further Returns As ‘Spider-Man’ Villain Green Goblin: “I Mean, That’s A Great Role”