Independent animation studio Mike Young Productions (MYP) is expanding with key hires in areas of development and distribution. Regis Brown joins as VP of international sales, responsible for launching a new distribution arm for the company. His sales slate includes HE-MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE in key international territories, JAKERS! THE ADVENTURES OF PIGGLEY WINKS, a co-production with PBS WLIW and Entara Ltd., and PET ALIEN, a co-production with Antefilms Production, for TF1."The distribution of our shows was the next logical step in the progression of our company," says Mike Young, founder and partner in MYP. "As producers, we obviously know more about our shows than anyone else, so who better to promote, market and sell them to broadcasters?" Brown, a 15-year entertainment vet, was VP of int'l television and video for Film Roman where he built its in-house distribution division for the studios proprietary shows. Brown was also director of international distribution for New World/Trans Atlantic; manager of technical services for MGM/Pathe Communications international film division and a financial analyst for Cannon Films. Veteran Fox Family Channel executive Joshua Fisher has been hired as executive director of development for MYP to manage the companys development/production slate, as well as be involved in the studios proprietary productions. "Josh understands the international collaboration involved in producing successful animation shows," said Bill Schultz, a partner at MYP. "In fact, a number of his references were important broadcasters around the world, which made him all the more attractive to us, given our commitment to international co-productions." Prior to joining MYP, Fisher was director of development and current programming for three years for the Fox Family Channel. He was the executive in charge of production for WHATS WITH ANDY, TOTALLY SPIES, S CLUB 7 and BIG WOLF ON CAMPUS, among others. Before Fox Family, Fisher was manager of creative affairs for Mainframe Entertainment. "Expansion seems to be the watch-word at MYP these days," adds partner Liz Young. "Weve been careful to pace ourselves and grow in ways that make sense not only for our company but for our clients and partners as well." One of the busiest independent animation studios in the U.S. MYP has a completely digital production facility in Woodland Hills, California, where it produces Cartoon Networks HE-MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE, Nickelodeons BUTT-UGLY MARTIANS and Scholastics CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG on PBS. MYP was just nominated for a Daytime Emmy award for CLIFFORD.
