ANDREA-MANUELA SEIBERT has been named VP, European Sales for RIVE GAUCHE INTERNATIONAL TV. Seibert previously served as lead Acquisitions Exec and Special Project Exec at RTL Television in Munich, Germany. Based in Germany, Seibert will head European sales and marketing of Rive Gauche's programming library, handle acquisitions of European-produced specials for worldwide distribution and coordinate European co-productions.
BLUE SKY STUDIOS, a leading animation house, has promoted LINDA ZAZZA to Operations Manager. She will oversee day-to-day operations of the facility and office, including recommending and hiring administrative staff, working with vendors, planning events and budgeting. Zazza began her tour of duty at Blue Sky as an executive administrative assistant.
As was reported [AF 12/21/99], a federal
court jury convicted former Walt Disney Internet executive, 34-year-old
Patrick Naughton, of possessing child pornography, but deadlocked on
charges that he crossed state lines seeking sex with a "13-year-old girl"
which he arranged via the Internet. On Wednesday, December 22, 1999, U.S.
District Judge Edward Rafeedie reversed his own ruling and released
Naughton from jail, saying it was likely that he would win a new trial. On
On Thursday, December 16, 1999, a federal court jury convicted former Walt
Disney Internet executive, 34-year-old Patrick Naughton, of possessing
child pornography, but deadlocked on charges that he crossed state lines
seeking sex with a "13-year-old girl" which he arranged via the Internet.
Naughton's lawyers asked that he remain free on bail awaiting an appeal,
however the request was denied due to the fact that federal law requires
persons convicted of crimes of violence to be jailed upon waiting for an
Charles Schulz, the creator of Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the entirePEANUTS gang, has decided that he will retire in order to concentrate onbeating his newly diagnosed cancer. This desicion will end almost fivedecades of Schulz's world-famous comic. Schulz, who has always refused tolet another artist draw PEANUTS, said he would stop producing new dailypanels as of January 3, 2000 but allow his syndicators to recycle comicstrips from 1974 if newspapers still wanted to run the strip. On a daily
Disney's television animation chief Charles Hirschhorn has been given theboot. The now former head of Walt Disney Television and Walt DisneyTelevision animation officially exited the position on Wednesday, December8, 1999. It's speculated that Hirschhorn's responsibilities at WONDERFULWORLD OF DISNEY will most likely be taken over by ABC movies andmini-series head Susan Lyne, while his duties for TV animation anddirect-to-video flicks will most likely be folded into the feature
Film Roman's Board of Directors has finished their search for a new CEO andpresident with the naming of veteran industry exec John Hyde to theposition. Hyde's expertise ranges from work in television, film, music andnew media. By replacing former CEO/pres. David Pritchard, Hyde steps into aposition with promise and heightened pressure. Besides producing THESIMPSONS and KING OF THE HILL, over seeing various live-action filmproductions, and coddling their infant on-line channel Level13.com, Hyde
KIM MCQUILKEN has been promoted to executive vice president of CARTOONNETWORK sales and marketing. Based in Atlanta, his new responsibilitieswill include sales and marketing for Cartoon Network.com. Formerly seniorvice president and general sales manager for the unit, McQuilken joinedTurner Broadcasting System, Inc., in 1992 as director of marketing forspecial projects for the 1994 Goodwill Games in St. Petersburg, Russia.After the Games, he served as vice president, sports and brand licensing
The Florida-based AARGH! ANIMATION, Inc. has hired JASON TEATE as colordesigner and associate producer. Jason completed color design for AARGH!'srecent series of national spots for Cold-Eeze cold medicine, which are nowairing.
BLUE SKY STUDIOS adds DR. MICHAEL REED as a new member to its research anddevelopment team. He comes to Blue Sky after receiving his Ph.D. inComputer Science from Columbia University and positions at the laboratoriesof IBM, Philips, and Bell Atlantic Corporations. Reed will continue hiswork with geometric surface construction techniques to create new solutionsin rendering and geometry for Blue Sky.
BARRY SCHULER, President of America Online, Inc.'s Interactive Services Group,has joined the Board of Directors of OXYGEN MEDIA. At AOL, Schuler oversees thecompany's online services unit that includes the flagship AOL service,CompuServe, Netscape and AOL Devices. Schuler joins Oxygen's CEO GeraldineLaybourne, Oprah Winfrey, Marcy Carsey, and others on the board of theprivately-held company.
MARVEL ENTERPRISES INC. announced two new Directors have been appointed to the Board. PETER CUNEO, President and CEO, Marvel Enterprises, Inc., andproducer SID GANIS, former Vice Chairman of Columbia Pictures and Presidentof Worldwide Marketing for Columbia/TriStar Motion Pictures Companies, wereeach appointed to the Board of Directors.
HOUSE OF MOVES MOTION CAPTURE STUDIOS, the leader in motion capture services, has promoted JARROD PHILLIPS to Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Phillips also serves as Executive Producer.
FRANK T. CARUSO has been promoted to VP, Creative, at KING FEATURESSYNDICATE, a world leader in distributing comics to newpapers and merchandising licensing. The former Creative Director, Licensing will oversee new King Features licensing properties and all creative aspects of the company's Internet, animation and promotional activities. He will continue to supervise the creative aspects of BETTY BOOP, POPEYE, and other classic King Feature comic properties.
WILD BRAIN, INC. signed Oscar-winning producer NINA RAPPAPORT to head theproduction company's computer graphics endeavors. After joining Wild Brainin May of this year as a freelance producer, Rappaport helped bringtogether the talent needed to produce the company's slate of CG projects.Before coming to Wild Brain, Rappaport was Executive Producer at Blue SkyStudios in New York. Her feature film credits include producing the effectson JOE'S APARTMENT and A SIMPLE WISH and executive producing STAR TREK:INSURRECTION.
Representing a new breed of Japanese animator, Keita Kurosaka and Koji Yamamura, have not chosen the beaten anime path, but rather an independent life. Gigi T. Y. Hu introduces us. Includes a Quicktime movie clip!
If it is imagery, then it is up SimEx's alley. Heather Kenyon interviews specialty venue film veteran Allen Yamashita about SimEx, a company that provides digital image "solutions" for a number of outlets.
Charles Solomon introduces us to Eric and Susan Goldberg, a rare husband and wife team who are integral to the "Rhapsody in Blue" segment of Disney's Fantasia 2000.
Forging a career in the midst of war, Tadahito Mochinaga lived and worked in both China and Japan, completing many cel and puppet animation firsts. Kosei Ono relates this amazing man's life story.
FOX TELEVISION ENTERTAINMENT GROUP has promoted SANDY GRUSHOW to the newlycreated post of chairman. Grushow will be responsible for all entertainmentaspects of Fox Broadcasting Co. as well as the studio's production unit.Previously, Grushow helmed Fox TV.
WALT DISNEY INTERNATIONAL-LATIN AMERICA gets 11 new executives to helpDiego Lerner, president and managing director of Walt DisneyInternational-Latin America, increase the business opportunities for Disneyin Latin America. The new structure for Disney Latin America will consistsof four territory offices. Walt Disney International-Argentina, based inBuenos Aires, will handle Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay and be headed byLerner. Walt Disney International-Andean Region, based in Santiago de
ROBERT DALY is on deck with the DODGERS. The former Warner Bros. CEO andchairman has purchased 10% of the Los Angeles Dodgers from Fox EntertainmentGroup. According to the October 29, 1999 issue of DAILY VARIETY, Daly willtake over complete control of the team, however he has said that he willconsult Fox before making any major moves. We'll all be looking forward to thatfirst Ted Turner-owner Braves and Dodgers match-up for sure.
Charles M. Schulz, creator of Charlie Brown, his dog Snoopy and the rest ofthe PEANUTS gang, has been diagnosed with colon cancer. The cancer wasdiscovered when the 76-year-old Schulz underwent emergency surgery lastTuesday for a blocked abdominal aorta. Schulz' wife Jean said doctors aredetermining the best course of treatment, which can include surgery, radiationand chemotherapy. One concern for doctors is that Schulz, who turns 77 onFriday, is still recuperating from the abdominal surgery. Since being moved
MICHAEL PERIK, the Learning Company's chairman, and its president, KEVINO'LEARY, have moved on from MATTEL, INC. A search has begun for a newperson to helm Mattel Interactive, the division which includes all units ofthe Learning Company, Mattel Media and the company's Intel Play venture. Inrelated news, Mattel has said that FRANCESCA LUZURIAGA will be the newchief operating officer of Mattel Interactive, responsible for finance,information technology and new business development. In addition, the
CINAR CORPORATION, creators of two-time Emmy winning ARTHUR and RICHARDSCARRY, appointed LOUISE SANSREGRET as Vice President of their newlycreated position in Investment Relations. Sansregret will focus her talentson various special corporate and community-based projects, as well asmanaging donations and sponsorships. In addition, SUZAN AYSCOUGH hasreturned to CINAR to take over as Vice President, Communications. Ayscoughwill over see corporate communications and product communications.
