Blueprint Ent., a leading creator, producer and financier of filmed entertainment based in Canada, announced today (May 10, 2007), the formation of Blueprint Kids, a new business unit dedicated to the development, production and rights management of family and children's programming. Industry veteran Frank Saperstein will head the new venture, as svp, animation and children's programming. In this newly created role, Saperstein will head up all of Blueprint's animation and children's development and production, as well as all related ancillary businesses from the company's Los Angeles office.
Saperstein is an award-winning writer, producer, director and development consultant with over 20 years of experience in all aspects of media creation, development, production and distribution. He has worked as a producer/writer/or exec on more than 350 episodes of television, feature films, video, pilots, new media, shorts and commercials. Saperstein was creative director of pasi (Philippine Animation Studio Inc.) where he was responsible for overseeing co-productions, marketing, creative and technical developments for the studio.
Before joining pasi, Saperstein was a producer/director and development consultant for VH1/MTV Networks. Previously, he was at Matinee Ent., where he was producer/writer/director of the award-winning production, KAMPUNG BOY. Other credits include BOB AND MARGARET (Comedy Central/Global TV), KONG: THE ANIMATED SERIES (Fox Kids/TELETOON), CAPTAIN FLAMINGO (YTV/Jetix) and the REN & STIMPY SHOW (Nickelodeon/MTV).
"Frank will be instrumental in launching and building the Blueprint Kids brand," said John Morayniss, chairman/ceo, Blueprint Ent., who Saperstein reports to. "His expertise in developing and creating critically acclaimed popular entertainment, together with his ability to attract top international talent and partners lends itself perfectly to our expanding needs."
Blueprint has produced a number of series, including SHOEBOX ZOO (a co-production with the BBC) and the recently launched animated series, IGGY ARBUCKLE, a co-production with National Geographic, which has been successfully sold to more than 100 territories.
This announcement follows on the heels of blueprint's announcement on May 3 to acquire a significant stake in Oasis International, a prominent worldwide distributor of television and film properties. Oasis International continues to be run by its president Peter Emerson.
Moving into the international distribution business has been part of Blueprint's strategy to continue its global expansion. The company recently secured a significant financial investment from Robert Lantos and Jeff Sagansky, giving the company the financial strength to quickly build a fully integrated television production and distribution company. With this significant stake in Oasis, it creates a major new distribution portal for Blueprint to distribute its own television programming, as well as aggressively pursue distribution rights to third-party properties from producers in the U.S., Canada and around the world.
To ramp up its volume of production and development, Blueprint added Marla Ginsburg and Ellie Hannibal, two talented and seasoned executives, to its team in late March.
Veteran producer/exec Ginsburg is svp, responsible for developing, packaging and managing a slate of content targeting both traditional television platforms and new media platforms. She will continue to expand Blueprint's slate of co-production projects, as well as look at other business opportunities and new business models on behalf of Blueprint. She jointly reports to Morayniss and company co-founder Noreen Halpern.
Hannibal came on board as svp, creative affairs, to primarily focus on development and production of television series for U.S. cable and broadcast networks. Hannibal reports to Halpern.
Hannibal was head of development for STAR TREK guru Rick Berman's Paramount-based small screen shingle, where she developed programming for his self-titled company. Prior to that, she was svp for Jersey Television, where she was involved in all aspects of development and production for Jersey's slate of comedy, drama, reality and longform programming.
Established in January of 2002, Blueprint Ent. (www.blueprint-corp.com) is a Canadian company with offices in Los Angeles, Vancouver and Toronto. Blueprint has an extensive development and production slate that encompasses primetime and children's series, movies and miniseries targeted at a mix of broadcast and cable/satellite networks based in the U.S., Canada and the international marketplace. Recent productions include WHISTLER, TIL DEATH DO US PART (aka LOVE YOU TO DEATH), THE BEST YEARS, KENNY VS SPENNY, EXES AND OH'S, IGGY ARBUCKLE, SHOEBOX ZOO, NOAH'S ARC, INTIMATE STRANGERS, CRADLE OF LIES, CRAZY FOR CHRISTMAS, PLAYING HOUSE, ABSOLUTION, THE ROAD TO CHRISTMAS, GOSPEL OF DECEIT, MAN IN THE MIRROR: THE MICHAEL JACKSON STORY and CHASING FREEDOM.
