Entertainment company Curious Pictures Corporation, producer of the series’ SHEEP IN THE BIG CITY (Cartoon Network) and AVENUE AMY(OXYGEN), has been acquired by its founders, Susan Holden, Steve Oakes, David Starr and Richard Winkler. The transaction includes the acquisition of creative services agency DCode, Inc. Both firms had been subsidiaries of iNTELEFILM Corporation which purchased a controlling interest in Curious Pictures in May 1999 and founded DCode in 2000. The total value of the transaction is approximately $5.1 million, including $2,000,000 in cash, $500,000 in notes and the balance in the extinguishing of certain liabilities. iNTELEFILM has also modified $1.5 million in existing bridge debt financing to allow the continuance of the financing after the sale. Curious Pictures president Steve Oakes commented, "iNTELEFILM offered us great optimism and opportunity but our respective business directions diverged and we agreed that independence was the right path for Curious Pictures." Carl Marks & Co., Inc., a New York-based private equity and venture capital firm, was a partner in the transaction and Rich Dorfman, managing director at Richard Alan Inc., arranged the financing and also participated as an investor. Curious Pictures produces commercials, television series and manufactures and sells toys under the name Curious Toys. Its overseas television production partners include FilmTecknarna (Sweden) and Tomato (UK).
Martin "Dr. Toon" Goodman
interviews Mo Willems, creator/director of SHEEP IN THE BIG CITY, about his career, his inspirations and a small sheep in a big city.
