MarVista celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2013 and expands its executive team.
Los Angeles, CA -- MarVista Entertainment (MarVista) is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2013. Growing from a commission-based distributor of third party programming in 2003 to a pre-eminent global producer and distributor of a broad range of entertainment content in just ten years, MarVista Entertainment continues to innovate, redefining the role of today’s independent production and distribution company.
“From the moment we launched MarVista, we had a plan that recognized the need for market-driven feedback directly from our buyers,” said Fernando Szew, CEO, MarVista. “Our commitment to producing and acquiring content based on market demands has been, and continues to distinguish our company. It’s a winning game plan for us, our production partners, our program buyers and ultimately the audience.””
With the company’s continued growth and expansion, hiring new executive members of the team has been essential. Most recently, Winny Poon has been named to the post of Vice President and Controller. She will be responsible for the company's financial plans and policies, its accounting practices, the maintenance of its fiscal records, and the preparation of financial reports. Poon reports to Chief Financial Officer Susan J. Young. Additionally, Tony Vassiliadis joins MarVista Entertainment as Director of Strategic Programs. In this capacity, Vassiliadis engages with all areas of the organization to launch and implement strategic initiatives that improve the company’s operations and profitability.
MarVista has also hired a new Creative Executive, former HBO Films development staffer Hannah Pillemer, to oversee projects from early development through final delivery in the film and television market. Responsibilities include development of script, series bibles, treatments and network pitches; providing script analysis and coverage review; supervising all creative aspects involved in the production of multiple features; and providing support in assessing new production partners and international co-production opportunities. She reports to reports to VP of Production & Development, Sharon Bordas.
MarVista’s worldwide distribution division now licenses over 1,500 hours of programming to television broadcasters and other ancillary distribution channels worldwide, a significant increase from the Company’s slate at launch in September 2013, when the catalog featured just over 250 hours of film and television content, including 40 animated features from the former Whamo Entertainment library.
Spurred by the 2011 capital investment from a private investment group led by Brian N. Sheth, MarVista’s growing pipeline of original in-house productions as well as acquisitions from third-party producers boasts a record slate of approximately 24 television and feature film projects in various stages of development this year. ,
Heading into the upcoming MIP-TV 2013 market, MarVista will debut the thrillers Gone Missing and Nightmare Nanny, the teen/family comedy Nicky Deuce and holiday fare such as A Star for Christmas and A Perfect Christmas. The company will also introduce March Sisters at Christmas, a modern take on a holiday favorite, dramas like Twist of Fate, family orientated fare like A Second Chance, supernatural films like Ghoul, thrillers like Bad Behavior and disaster films like Stonados.
And the company continues to set new benchmarks with its worldwide third-party distribution for phenomenal properties, including Saban Brands’ Power Rangers franchise, celebrating 20 years this year; Julius Jr., from the iconic Paul Frank Brand; and the action-adventure Digimon franchise.
Prior to joining MarVista, Poon served as a project specialist for the studio’s finance and human resources groups at Warner Bros. Entertainment. Previously, Poon served as a consultant in the financial reporting and planning division of Princess Cruises and with the Disney Interactive Media Group. She also worked with Warner Bros. Entertainment as Director of Corporate & International Finance for five years, and then for two years served as Executive Director of Financial Compliance & Reporting at the studio.
Vassiliadis joins MarVista from Deloitte Consulting’s strategy and operations division. Prior to his work with Deloitte Consulting, Director of Strategic Programs Vassiliadis was co-founder and COO of karmagoat.com, where he designed the business model and internal processes for a social venture that raises money for non-profits. Previously, he worked as an MBA Graduate Summer Associate with The Walt Disney Company’s worldwide operations and worked his way up from analyst to engagement manager at Corporate Executive Board, SEC Solutions.
Creative Executive Hannah Pillemer joins MarVista Entertainment from HBO Films. While at HBO Films, Pillemer assisted in the development of a large slate of high profile projects, including the Steven Soderbergh helmed Behind the Candelabra, starring Michael Douglas and Matt Damon. Prior to HBO, she honed her creative development skills as the director of commercial production for the lifestyle television network Plum TV where she oversaw all areas of physical production (pre, production, and post).
Source: MarVista Entertainment
Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network, Jennifer Wolfe has worked in the Media & Entertainment industry as a writer and PR professional since 2003.
