IFILM Increases The Executive Fold

files/pictures/picture-35.jpgIFILM, a leading Internet resource for film fans, filmmakers and film

industry professionals, has increased their fold by three. The company

announced the appointments of Kevin Wendle, a co-founder of CNET and Fox

Broadcasting Company, as chief executive officer; Doug Sylvester, a

co-founder of E! On-line, as president and chief operating officer; and Tom

Harbeck, former head of programming for the Sundance Channel and a senior

Nickelodeon marketing executive, as the company's Senior VP of programming,

marketing and creative director. "As IFILM's first investor, Kevin Wendle

has been actively involved in the vision, development and management of

this business since day one," said Skip Paul, IFILM's chairman of the

board. "It speaks volumes of IFILM's potential that he has agreed to join

the company full-time as my partner." Wendle and Sylvester join the company

directly from The Cottage Group, LLC, an investment organization founded by

Wendle in 1999 to invest in fledgling Internet companies. The pair will

continue to advise The Cottage Group, LLC, but will take on full-time

duties for IFILM. Wendle was one of the six founding members of the team

behind the creation and launch of the Fox Broadcasting Company. As

executive vice president, he led the development of the network's initial

programming including THE SIMPSONS, MARRIED ... WITH CHILDREN, BEVERLY

HILLS 90210, AMERICA'S MOST WANTED, COPS, IN LIVING COLOR and 21 JUMP

STREET. Wendle was one of the earliest prominent entertainment figures to

hop on the on-line bandwagon when he became a co-founder of CNET and a

co-founder of E! On-line. Sylvester created and managed the New Business

Development and Corporate Planning departments at E! before being named

general manager of E! On-line. He structured the initial E! On-line joint

venture with CNET, negotiated a later buyout of CNET's interests, and

created a long-term strategic partnership with CNET. Sylvester helped build

E!'s sister network, Style, E! Latin America, E! Spain (Estilo) and E!

Poland. Prior to E! On-line, Sylvester worked at New Line Cinema in Los

Angeles where he oversaw all west coast business development activities. At

the Sundance Channel as executive vice president of programming and

creative director, Harbeck puppeteered all programming strategies and

acquisitions for the television network. Prior to the Sundance Channel,

Harbeck served as the senior vice president of marketing and on air

promotion/creative director for Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite/TV Land. While at

Nickelodeon, Harbeck set the creative tone and strategic course for

Nickelodeon and its creative brands. While there he directed all marketing

activities and creative design for the network. Under his leadership,

Nickelodeon was inducted into the Marketing Hall of Fame. Since November

1999, IFILM has raised US$35 million from Sony, Eastman Kodak, Paul Allen's

Vulcan Ventures, Shamrock Capital Advisors and Liberty Digital. In

addition, the company has attracted other heavy-weight advisors and

investors such as: GeoCities founder David Bohnett, ICM Chairman Jeff Berg,

UTA Chairman Jim Berkus, Warner Bros. CEO Bob Daly, producer Lauren

Schuler-Donner, writer Nora Ephron, former Warner Bros. Co-President Bill

Gerber, producer Quincy Jones, producers Kathleen Kennedy and Frank

Marshall, director Richard Donner, Brillstein-Grey CEO Brad Grey, VH1

President John Sykes, entertainment attorney Alan Hergott and LA Avengers

owner Casey Wasserman.