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 cancelled 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.