Bill Schultz Launches Home Plate Ent.

files/pictures/picture-35.jpgPress Release from Home Plate Entertainment (HPE)

With MIPCOM just around the corner, Emmy Award-winning animation producer and industry veteran Bill Schultz announced the formation of his new company, Home Plate Entertainment (HPE). Based in Los Angeles, the company will focus on Animation and Kids & Family opportunities, partnering with Creators, Studios, Co-Producers and Networks around the world to produce and exploit content across all platforms.

“I wanted to create a global company that would allow me to continue to work with world-class partners on great projects, whether as an Executive Producer on one production or consulting Studio Executive.” said Schultz.  “Home Plate Entertainment’s paradigm is flexibility and collaboration.  With a small group of key top level talent, almost as a “virtual” studio, we are positioned to offer a range of top level IP Development, Financing, Producing, and Distribution services to our partners and clients, on a “custom fit” basis.”

As proof of concept, Home Plate unveiled today the brand new relationship with Toronto based Yowza Animation.  “Bill’s keen eye for good projects and experience in working with global partners is complimentary to Yowza’s focus on quality as we expand our co-production business.” said Heather Walker, Yowza’s Head of Business Development.

The partnership will be debuting Yowza’s new comedy series concept to buyers at MIPCOM. Yowza is a world class ‘creator lead’, award-winning boutique animation studio, – best known for its high quality, yet diverse animation services work for clients such as Disney Features on “The Princess and The Frog ” and stunning VFX work on the last five “SAW” horror films for Lionsgate.  The studio boasts a 9,000 square foot state-of-the-art digital facility, loaded with in-house top talent who work in 2d and 3d CGI with theatrical quality results.

Home Plate has already signed several other strong Studio partnerships, which Bill expects to announce before the market and will be showing off the results on the Company iPad.

Home Plate Entertainment’s flexible approach allows IP owners, Studios & Networks alike to tap into Schultz’s unique perspective, experience and talent – from development and production of basic program concepts to full execution of multi-platform Franchise exploitation.  “Because of the realities of the current marketplace you need to be flexible in how you work with people – and not have too many constraints that prevent you from getting involved in some very exciting projects.”  We can structure a deal to suit the specific requirements of the “opportunity”, without having to get “all rights” or control.

Schultz stepped down as Co-CEO of Moonscoop’s US subsidiary earlier this year, after 12 years, of amazing growth, positioning the global studio into one of the leading company’s in the Kids and Family Entertainment in the industry, with successful brands on all the major broadcasters around the world and consumer products with a strong presence at retail.   He will continue his relationship with the company as a shareholder and also serve as Executive Producer on the studio’s “Hero:108” and “Rob Dyrdek’s Wild Grinders” Franchises.

One of the leading executives in the children’s entertainment business, Schultz is an industry veteran well known for producing a wide range of hit programs, from “The Simpsons”, “King of the Hill”, “Garfield & Friends” to “Ed, Edd & Eddy” and “Scholastic’s Clifford the Big Red Dog”, as well as Mattel’s re-launch of “He –Man Masters of the Universe”, Bill has also developed production pipelines and distribution companies associated with some of the most successful brands seen around the world today.