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ANIMATION WORLD MAGAZINE - ISSUE 3.12 - March 1999
People
Friedman Appointed Kids WB! Senior VP. Donna L. Freidman has been
named Senior Vice President, Kids WB!, the WB Television Network's children's
programming service. In this newly created position, Friedman will creatively
oversee Kids' WB! on a day-to-day basis, concentrating on current programming
and the development of new series - both animated and live-action. Friedman
joins the WB from a decade-long stint at Nickelodeon where most recently,
she had been Vice President, Marketing/Associate Creative Director, Nickelodeon
Latin America. "Her vast experience at Nickelodeon, creatively, in marketing,
and in launching new networks around the world, make her uniquely qualified
to be my partner," stated Susanne Daniels, President of Entertainment
at the The WB TV Network. "Our goal is to build on the tremendous platform
already established by Jean MacCurdy and others at Kids WB! to make the most
relevant and highly rated kids network in the broadcast business."
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John Lasseter. Photo courtesy of Disney. |
Five Executive Promotions For Pixar. Pixar Animation Studios has
announced the promotion of five Pixar employees to senior executive positions:
* John Lasseter, the director of Toy Story and A Bug's Life,
has been promoted from Vice President of Creative to Executive VP of Creative.
* Sarah McArthur, most recently serving as Vice President of Production, has
been promoted to Executive Vice President of Production.
* Darwyn Peachey, formerly Director of the studio tools group, is now Vice
President of Research & Development.
* Greg Brandeau, Director of Computer Operations since 1996, has been promoted
to Vice President of Computer Operations
* Sarah Flatley, Pixar's corporate controller and director of financial planning,
is now Vice President of Finance.
Get to know Pixar's John Lasseter in "Toon
Story: John Lasseter's Animated Life" from Animation World Magazine's
November `98 issue.
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Alison Brown. Photo courtesy Kleiser-Walczak. |
MUSICAL CHAIRS. Fox Kids Network has promoted Roland Poindexter to Vice President, Head of Programming. In the newly created position, Poindexter will oversee day-to-day management and administration of all programming and development for Fox Kids. He replaces Carol Monroe, Senior VP, Programming and Development, who left the company to pursue new opportunities. "Roland is a dynamic, creative executive who has solid relationships within the creative community and a wealth of experience developing children's entertainment," said Maureen Smith, General Manager of Fox Kids Network. Poindexter, who has been with Fox Kids since 1993, had served as VP, Programming and Development since July 1998 and was responsible for the development of several Fox Kids' series including Godzilla: The Series and Mad Jack the Pirate. . . . New York-based Spontaneous Combustion has hired 3D modeler/animator Brian Austin in a further expansion of the company's CGI capabilities. Austin, who has been freelancing in the New York City area for the past couple years, is an accomplished fine artist as well as a digital artist, and has works in the permanent collection of New York's The Museum of Modern Art. . . . Curious Pictures has added David Kelley to its roster of directors/designers. Kelley, who has freelanced with Curious since its inception six years ago, segued into directing in 1998, helming spots for The Economist and Ricoh Image Communications. "In the past, I worked more as a designer and did a lot of compositing and special effects. Today, I am very comfortable directing - which integrates all the things I do: music, filmmaking and graphic design." . . . Kleiser-Walczak Construction Company (KWCC) has appointed Alison Brown as executive producer of its Manhattan-based commercial unit. Brown joins the company from a 10-year stint at Blue Sky Studios where she played a role in founding the company and most recently had been head of commercial production and vice president of sales and marketing. At Kleiser-Walczak, Brown will oversee new business development and production for the company's commercial production arm. Jeff Kleiser, president of KWCC stated, "Hiring Alison is an important step in our strategy to establish a group of studios serving creative visionaries and artists. She's made important contributions to the digital arts and advertising communities, and will be instrumental in executing our strategic goals for growth and innovation." . . . Phil Roman has resigned from his post as chairman of the animation studio he founded, Film Roman, the company announced on Friday, February 12. Roman founded the company in 1984 which has since produced numerous series including Garfield, Bobby's World, The Simpsons, King of the Hill and Felix the Cat. The company is not ready to provide details on the circumstances of Roman's leaving or whether a replacement has been identified but sources tell Animation World Magazine that Phil Roman isn't leaving to take it easy, and will continue to be a force in the animation industry as he embarks on new endeavors. . . . Director Igor Kovalyov, co-director of Paramount's The Rugrats Movie, has joined Klasky Csupo's ad division, CLASS-KEY CHEW-PO COMMERCIALS. The Ukranian native joined Klasky Csupo in 1991 and has previously directed the TV series Aahh! Real Monsters. . . . Former CAA agent and MGM president and CEO Mike Marcus has joined Will Vinton Studios (WVS) board of directors. According to Marcus, "Will Vinton Studios has the potential of becoming the next Pixar. It is an exciting opportunity to get involved on the ground stages of a potentially enormous company." WVS CEO and president Tom Turpin added, "Mike brings with him a wealth of knowledge of the film business, talent packaging and film industry production management." . . .
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John Bell. Photo courtesy PDI. |
Eric Rollman has been upped to president of production for Fox Family Worldwide, a joint venture between Saban Entertainment and Fox News Corp. His new role puts him in charge of production for Fox Family Channel, Fox Kids Network and Fox Kids International, as well as continuing supervision of on-air promo material production for the various channels. While at Fox, Rollman has been credited with helping establish Saban's co-production alliances with international partners in Europe, China and Korea; as well as collaborating closely with animation studio Saban International Paris, now part of Fox Family Worldwide. "Eric has been the backbone of our production arm from the beginning," stated Mel Woods, Fox Family Worldwide president and COO. . . . Boston-based LoConte Goldman Design has promoted four-time Emmy winner Arne Jensen to Senior Designer. Jensen has worked on numerous projects since joining the company in '96, including the ABC News Nightline redesign and ESPN Speedworld and NFL Draft graphics packages. In addition, Kenneth Shaw has joined LoConte's team of designers. Shaw had most recently been working for Olive Jar as a composite artist. "Ken impressed us with his natural ability to bridge the creative with the technical. It is exciting to see Ken embrace new technology and put it to work for the benefit of the creative product," says Patrice Goldman, LoConte Goldman President/General Manager. . . . PDI (PACIFIC DATA IMAGES) has named Antz Production Designer, John Bell, as the division's Creative Director. Bell's new responsibilities include managing the production design staff, and overseeing the creative direction and design techniques of the rapidly growing commercial and film effects unit as it continues to broaden beyond its present size and scope. "John has contributed to some of the most significant special effects films in the last decade," said Patty Wooton, PDI's Senior VP or Production. Bell's prior credits include conceptual design on Men In Black, Contact and The Lost World: Jurassic Park; art direction on Back To The Future II and storyboard work on Starship Troopers, Mission Impossible and Star Trek IV.
Note: Readers may contact any Animation World Magazine contributor by sending an e-mail to editor@awn.com.
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