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Uni's Parent & Stuber Expand Roles to Oversee Animation Production

While NBC awaits final approval of its bid to buy Universal, the studio has promoted Mary Parent and Scott Stuber from production president to vice chairman, worldwide production, for Universal Pictures. In their newly-created positions Parent and Stuber will continue to oversee the worldwide acquisition, creative development and production of all Universal Pictures feature films, and will also oversee Universal's original made-for-video productions as well as the creative development and production of its original animation properties.

Universal Home Entertainment Prods., led by president Louis Feola, distributes the lucrative LAND BEFORE TIME animated franchise produced by Universal Cartoon Studios (THE LAND BEFORE TIME: THE GREAT LONGNECK MIGRATION, the 10th in the franchise, is the latest release).

Parent and Stuber, whose new deal with Universal extends through 2006, will continue to report to Stacey Snider, chairman Universal Pictures. "In the past six years, we've seen a real turnaround in our business, and Mary and Scott have been instrumental in developing the strategies and delivering the films that have brought us consistency and success," said Snider. "Mary and Scott have great taste, deep talent relationships and the skills to plan our films and our slate with fiscal and strategic vision. Their unique partnership, with its blend of sharp creative instincts and rigorous financial responsibility, have made Universal a destination for filmmakers."

The elevation of Parent and Stuber comes just as Universal Pictures has crossed the one billion domestic box office mark for 2003, and is set to become the first studio in history to have six films each grossing more than $100 million in one year (BRUCE ALMIGHTY, 2 FAST 2 FURIOUS, THE HULK, SEABISCUIT, AMERICAN WEDDING, and the still-in-release DR. SEUSS' THE CAT IN THE HAT). Both Parent and Stuber joined Universal as svps, production in August 1997, and rose through the ranks of the studio, with each named president, production in February 2001.

Over the past six years, Parent and Stuber have supervised the development and production of such films as: DR. SEUSS' HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS; SEABISCUIT; GLADIATOR; THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS; 2 FAST 2 FURIOUS; BRUCE ALMIGHTY; THE HULK; DR. SEUSS' THE CAT IN THE HAT; A BEAUTIFUL MIND

Currently, Parent and Stuber are overseeing Universal's upcoming motion picture slate, including: VAN HELSING, written and directed by Stephen Sommers; THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK, starring Vin Diesel and Dame Judi Dench; and KING KONG, to be directed by THE LORD OF THE RINGS' Peter Jackson.

Bill Desowitz's picture

Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.

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