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Film Roman Ousts CEO. North Hollywood-based Film Roman's Board of Directors has decided that David Pritchard will no longer be president and CEO of Film Roman. The company is not yet ready to provide details on the circumstances of Pritchard's leaving. Chief operating officer Bill Shpall and senior vice president Jon Vein will take over Pritchard's responsibilities until a new president is named. David Pritchard was named President and CEO of Film Roman in August 1997. Pritchard had been CEO and partner of Pritchard/Ecclesine, a live-action and animated TV and film production company. Pritchard's appointment as CEO came at a time when Film Roman, a public company, was suffering from downsizing and a decrease in stock prices. Two months after his appointment, UPN canceled its order for 13 episodes of The Blues Brothers, a series for which Film Roman had optioned the rights, part of a plan "to produce proprietary programming," according to John Vein. As the producers of The Simpsons and King Of The Hill, Film Roman had learned that producing even the most successful series is profitable mostly to those who own the merchandising and distribution rights. Recently, Film Roman has announced several projects, but only Doomsday, an animated sci-fi/comedy series created by writer/producer Tracy Torme, and executive produced by Howard Stern, has been picked up for distribution, again by UPN. In February of 1999, Phil Roman resigned from his post as chairman of Film Roman. He quickly set up a new studio, Phil Roman Entertainment, and has recently announced a TV special, The Gaudins, which will be ready for Christmas 2000, and a feature, Cyber Quest, due to be released in 2001.

Mary Pat Ryan.

Musical Chairs. Toronto, Canada-based IMAX Corporation, which operates a chain of large format film theaters, has appointed Mary Pat Ryan to the new post of Executive Vice President of IMAX Ltd. and Network Group President. Ryan will oversee the ongoing development of the Network Group, which is charged with ensuring the success of all theatres in the worldwide network of IMAX theatres and the development of the IMAX brand. Based in New York, Ryan will have responsibility for all areas of the Network Group including brand marketing, customer service, corporate branding and the operation of IMAX's owned and operated theatres. . . Los Angeles-based Chequemate International Inc., doing business as C-3D Digital Inc., a 3D media company that provides broadcasting and entertainment companies with the technology to deliver 3D entertainment to any standard television 24 hours a day, has appointed media marketing expert Daniel R. Thompson to the C-3D Digital Board. Thompson is the founder and head of Hollywood entertainment agency A Creative Group (ACG) which specializes in product placement, promotional advertising, program sponsorships, and distribution. . . Vancouver-based Bardel Animation has added executive producer Carole Ducharme and business affairs executive Deborah Rees-Lee to its business affairs department. Ducharme began her career in the film industry as a lawyer specializing in film financing and as a legal advisor for organizations such as the Quebec Film Classification Board. She moved into the role of producer with the Paris, France-based company Les Production Lazennec, negotiating and drafting agreements for international co-productions for films including Mon Amie Max and La Madre Muerta. In 1996, she entered the world of animation as an associate producer with Vancouver's Network of Animation, producing the series Cybersix. Rees-Lee spent more than a decade in compliance and managing market information services at the Vancouver Stock Exchange before coming to Bardel. . .

Sanford M. (Sandy) Litvack.

Sanford M. (Sandy) Litvack has been named vice chairman of the board of The Walt Disney Company. Litvack joined Disney in April, 1991, as senior vice president and general counsel, and was promoted to executive vice president the following December. In May, 1992, he assumed the additional duties of executive in charge of human resources. Before joining The Walt Disney Company, Litvack was a member of the executive committee and chairman of the litigation department of the international law firm Dewey Ballantine. . . Stuart Oken has been promoted to the position of senior vice president of creative affairs for WALT Disney Theatrical Productions. Oken joined Walt Disney Theatrical Productions in 1995, and has been closely involved with the Tony Award-winning stage show, The Lion King, and Elton John and Tim Rice's new musical, AIDA, set to premiere in Chicago in December 1999. . . Tom Williams, a 29-year company veteran and former president and chief executive officer of Universal Studios Escape in Orlando, Florida, has been promoted to chairman and chief executive officer of Universal Studios Recreation Group. Williams replaces Cathy Nichols, who has resigned to pursue other interests. Prior to being named president and chief executive officer of Universal Studios Escape in April 1997, Williams served as president and chief operating officer of Universal Studios Florida. He joined Universal Studios Florida in 1987 as vice president of operations. . .


Jay Fukoto.	George Evelyn.

North Hollywood, California-based Netter Digital, which provides 3D and special effects animation services, has named Jay Fukuto to the new position of senior vice president of animation. Fukuto has been senior vice president at MGM Animation since 1997, where he oversaw the development and production of MGM's animated theatrical features and direct-to-video movies including The Secret Of NIMH II, An All Dogs Christmas Carol and Tom Sawyer...

Jill Newhouse Calcaterra and Irene Weibel.

San Francisco, California-based Wild Brain, Inc. has added George Evelyn to their directorial staff. Evelyn joins Wild Brain after 17 years at Colossal Pictures where he worked with the Trix Rabbit, Betty Boop, and Gary Larson's Cavemen. . . Toronto-based Nelvana Limited has appointed Irene Weibel and Jill Newhouse Calcaterra as marketing vice presidents of the company's newly-formed corporate sponsorship division. They will be responsible for the creation of national corporate advertising opportunities for Nelvana's animated TV programs. Weible was previously vice president of national sponsorship for WGBH-TV, the Boston PBS affiliate. Calcaterra was previously vice president of marketing, licensing and public relations for Santa Monica, California-based production company, PorchLight Entertainment. . .

Craig Zerouni.

Chicago, Illinois-based commercial production house Tricky Pictures has hired New York-based rep firm Blah Blah Blah to represent the company with East coast clients. Blah, Blah, Blah's Andy Arkin and Mike Eastwood will serve as Tricky Pictures' sales and marketing representatives. . . Hollywood, California-based Silicon Grail, developer of the 2D compositing software Chalice, has hired Craig Zerouni as product manager. Zerouni grew up in California, but began his career in London where he co-founded CFX & Associates, a visual effects house. In 1997, he returned to the US and joined Hollywood-based Side Effects as product manager for its Prism software. . . Sony Pictures Family Entertainment (SPFE) has hired Tamara Y. Woolfork as director of business affairs. Woolfork will be responsible for SPFE's full range of business affairs negotiations for theatrical motion pictures, television and direct-to-video productions. Woolfork joins Sony from Warner Bros. Feature Animation where she served as director of business and legal affairs for the last three years on projects such as Quest For Camelot and The Iron Giant. . . Oxygen Media, Geraldine Laybourne's media company founded to provide content for women, has promoted Lisa Gersh Hall to chief operating officer. She will be responsible for legal matters, finance, human resources, business affairs and e-commerce. Previously, Hall was general counsel and chief administrative officer. Oxygen has also hired Dan Taitz to be general counsel. He was formerly a partner with New York law firm Friedman Kaplan & Seiler. . . James Sommerville, co-founder of The Attik, has relinquished his most recent role as creative director of the New York branch to oversee the development of the company throughout its five offices in Huddersfield (England), London, New York, San Francisco and Sydney. While based in London, Sommerville will continue to direct both commercials and long form projects through The Attik/New York and London. Also, The Attik's executive producer Jim Moran has added managing director to his title and assumed responsibility for the overall management of the New York studio, while UK creative director Aporva Baxi has relocated from the London studio to become creative director of The Attik/New York, taking on the responsibility of the creative vision and entire creative output, including commercial, broadcast, interactive, print and exhibition. . .

Ron Bension.

Sega Gameworks, a location-based entertainment venture formed by Steven Spielberg and DreamWorks SKG, Universal Studios and Sega Enterprises, has named leisure entertainment industry veteran, Ron Bension, as president and CEO. As Chairman and CEO of MCA/Universal Studios Recreation Group from 1992 to 1996, Bension was responsible for running all aspects of Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Florida in addition to developing international theme park joint ventures in the United Kingdom and Japan. Bension also was heavily involved in the planning and development of Universal's new Orlando theme park, Islands of Adventure. Each GameWorks location offers a multitude of games, coupled with a great restaurant and bar. A dozen GameWorks locations are successfully operating, with plans to open two new venues next month in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Irvine, California. . . Disney Publishing Worldwide has named Steve Aster vice president of circulation and global operations, and Lisa Holton has been promoted to senior vice president, group publisher for global children's books. Aster will manage global operations and production services, which includes manufacturing, printing, and co-printing, as well as a wide range of services to Disney Publishing Worldwide's licensees. Aster joined The Walt Disney Company in 1998 as vice president of circulation for Buena Vista Magazines, Inc., a subsidiary of Disney Publishing Worldwide, which publishes Discover, Familyfun, Disney Adventures and Disney Magazine. Holton will set the creative strategy for Disney children's books on a worldwide basis, as well as continue to oversee the North American Disney book imprints: Hyperion Books for Children, Mouseworks, Disney Press and Disney Editions. For both children's books and continuity projects, the editorial and creative teams in the United States, Paris and Milan will take overall publishing direction from Ms. Holton. Holton has been with Disney Publishing Worldwide since 1996 and most recently served as vice president, Group Publisher for Disney Children's Book Group. . . Buena Vista Pictures Marketing has promoted Mae Joyce to vice president of national publicity, and David Singh to vice president of creative film services. Joyce will be responsible for strategizing, coordinating and administrating all aspects of national publicity for films released under the Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone Pictures and Hollywood Pictures banners. Joyce joined Disney in November 1996 after two years as a publicist with Warner Bros. During her tenure at Disney, she has served as director of national publicity. Singh will continue to write, produce and oversee all creative aspects (along with Jim Gallagher) for theatrical trailers, as well as television and radio spots for live-action films released under the Walt Disney, Touchstone and Hollywood Pictures banners. Singh first came to Buena Vista Pictures Marketing in July 1997 as director of creative film services and was involved in creating trailers and advertising spots for such films as Inspector Gadget, Rushmore and The Waterboy. Prior to joining Disney, he served a four-year stint with Craig Murray Productions, where he worked on the campaigns for the live-action Disney films George Of The Jungle and 101 Dalmatians. . .

Jim Hatch.

Kleiser-Walczak Construction Co. which has studios in North Adams, Massachusetts, Manhattan, and Hollywood, has hired Jim Hatch as chief operating officer. Hatch will oversee the company's daily administration, operations, and financial management, working with co-founders and owners Jeff Kleiser and Diana Walczak. Hatch previously worked at American Interactive Media, Inc. where he was chief operating officer and corporate secretary. . . Walt Disney Feature Animation has promoted Bob Bacon to the position of vice president of finance. Bacon will oversee production finance for all of Feature Animation, including both traditional and CGI-based projects at Disney's Burbank, Orlando and Paris animation studios. Most recently, Bacon served as Feature Animation's director of production finance. . . Walt Disney Feature Animation has named Jeffrey Farnath to the post of senior vice president of business development and finance for Walt Disney Feature Animation and Walt Disney Theatrical Productions. In addition to supervising all areas of business development and finance, Farnath will negotiate and manage international licenses for Disney's stage-show business, oversee long-term strategic planning for Disney's animation production units and develop growth strategies for theatrical productions in both the US and international markets. Farnath has been vice president of business development and finance for Buena Vista International and Buena Vista Home Entertainment in Latin America for the past four years, based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. . . Fox Filmed Entertainment has named Steven Bersch President of Fox Interactive, the studio's entertainment and sports computer and video game software unit. Bersch succeeds Fox Interactive's current President, Jon Richmond, who was recently named President of New Digital Media at Fox. In his new position, Bersch will be directly responsible for driving all aspects of the business including the development and production of the division's interactive entertainment and sports games, as well as supervising the marketing, sales and distribution of the products on each platform and through the various sales channels. Bersch most recently served at Executive Vice President of Business Affairs for Fox Filmed Entertainment. . . Disney Publishing Worldwide has made several appointments. Guido Mastropaolo has been named Director of Global Planning and Business Development for Disney Publishing Worldwide. Located in Paris, Mastropaolo's duties will include leading international initiatives to grow revenue by negotiating acquisitions, new business ventures and major licensing deals in order to ensure meeting overall publishing financial goals. In addition, he will co-manage the strategic planning process and global corporate alliances. Mastropaolo has recently been Director, Marketing, Operations and Business Development Publications for Disney Consumer Products, Europe, Africa and Middle East. Karin Render has been named Director of Global Business Development and Planning. Located in New York, Render will be responsible for leading international initiatives to grow revenue by new business ventures and major licensing deals in order to ensure that overall publishing financial goals are met. She will also co-manage the strategic planning process and continue her work on a global basis for new media. Render has been Director of Business Development for Buena Vista Publishing Group, Inc., the US publishing subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, in the US since 1998. Thierry Pedros has been named Director, Global Continuity Publishing for Disney Publishing Worldwide. Pedros will oversee the direct mail and home learning publishing businesses. Pedros has been Director of Publications for "Reference and Continuity Series" for Disney Consumer Products since 1995. Giorgio Stock has been named Director, Global Children's Book Licensing for Disney Publishing Worldwide. Stock will be responsible for the worldwide children's book publishing program, book key licensee account management and the global profit and loss for books. Stock has been Director of Publications for Disney Consumer Products Europe, Middle East and Africa since 1997. Finally, Sten Jorgensen has been named Director, Global Children's Magazine Licensing for Disney Publishing Worldwide. Jorgensen will be responsible for the worldwide children's magazine publishing program and its key licensee account management. Jorgensen has worked for Disney Consumer Products since 1995, and from 1997-1999 he was the Director of Magazines, Europe, Middle East and Africa for Disney Consumer Products. . . The Harvey Entertainment Company has appointed Glenn R. Weisberger as Senior Vice President and General Counsel. Weisberger was most recently the Vice President/Director of Legal Affairs and Business Affairs for Universal Television & Network Group.