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Headline News

Cerna Named To Position At qubo

John Cerna has been named Creative Director, On-Air Promotions for qubo, the TV and online entertainment service for children.

The announcement was made today by Rick Rodriguez, president and general manager, qubo, to whom Cerna reports.

In this role, Cerna will oversee all on-air promotion for qubo and bear responsibility for producing new on-air promos, on-air contests, interstitial programming and on-air branding.

He will supervise a team of editors, audio engineers, designers and producers and work closely with qubo's marketing team.

Animation Headline News

Sony Names Osher President of Digital Production and Minghella Animation Head

Following Yair Landaus announcement this week that he is departing as president of Sony Pictures Digital, Sony moved quickly to regroup and proclaim that any contemplated sale of its vfx and animation units is now off the table. Bob Osher has been promoted to president of the newly named Digital Production division (comprised of Sony Pictures Imageworks and Sony Pictures Animation), and Hannah Minghella has been upped to president of production at Animation, replacing SEVP Sandra Rabins, who will continue working with the division as a producer.

Headline News

Landau To Leave Sony

After serving as president of the digital division at Sony Pictures Entertainment for nearly 10 years, Yair Landau is planning to leave the studio in April, it was announced today by Sony Pictures Chairman and CEO Michael Lynton and Co-Chairman Amy Pascal.

Landau, who has been with Sony Pictures for 17 years, is planning a new games and animation venture to develop and produce content for use across all media.

Lynton and Pascal said a replacement for Landau in the studio's digital division will be named soon.

Production Headline News

Warners Promotes Two To VP Of Production

Matt Reilly and Sarah Schechter have been promoted by Warner Bros. Pictures to vp's of production, THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER reports.

Reilly worked recently on WE ARE MARSHALL, TMNT, THE BRAVE ONE and MICHAEL CLAYTON.

He joined Warners in 2004 as a creative executive and was promoted to production executive in March 2006. Prior to Warners, he was head of development at Marcus Nispel's indie production company.

He began his film career as an assistant at CAA and then as an agent trainee at Endeavor.

Licensing Headline News

McLaughlin Appointed To Licensing Manager At Classic

Classic Media, an Entertainment Rights group company, announced today that it has appointed Colin McLaughlin to the position of Licensing Manager, effective immediately.

Based at the company's headquarters in New York, McLaughlin will report to Karyn Schneider, Vice President, Licensing.

McLaughlin brings to Classic Media a proven track record of developing and executing character and brand-driven retail programs.

Headline News

Blue Room Adds Senior Designer

Blue Room, the award-winning creative services agency, continues its expansion with the addition of Senior Designer Chieh Yen to its creative roster.

Yen comes to Blue Room having spent the last three and a half years as Senior Designer at post facility mad.house nyc.

There, he worked on advertising, broadcast and film projects for clients including 2K Games, Advil, Canon, CitiBank, Electrolux, LG Electronics, Red Bull, Subway, Verizon, W Hotels, Macy's, JCPenney, Fisher Price, NFL, HBO, FUSE Network, Food Network, and TV Land.

Home Headline News

Horak Moving Up At Warner Home Video

Mark Horak has been named President, Warner Home Video North America, it was announced Tuesday by Ron Sanders, President, Warner Home Video.

Horak, who most recently served as Executive Vice President and General Manager, Worldwide Operations and New Packaged Media, Warner Home Video, will take charge of the division's North American operations, to include the US, Canada, and Mexico.

In addition, he will continue to oversee worldwide global sales process and category management and will continue to report to Sanders.

Headline News

NewTek Appoints Silber to Senior VP Of Worldwide Sales

NewTek, Inc., manufacturer of industry-leading video and 3D animation products, announced Monday the appointment of Charles Silber to the position of Senior VP, Worldwide Sales.

Most recently the VP of Sales and Service Operations for Avid Technology of Tewksbury, Massachusetts, Chuck is charged with the expansion of NewTek's reseller channel, growing and enhancing its sales organization and increasing revenue in its core video and 3D animation businesses.

He will report directly to NewTek President and CEO Jim Plant.

Headline News

Buck Adds Wiilkinson As VFX Supervisor

Buck, the bi-coastal design-driven creative company specializing in animation, visual effects and live action, recently signed Douglas Wilkinson as VFX Supervisor.

After graduating from Northeastern University in Boston, Wilkinson started his career at Rustmonkey, Inc., serving as Assistant VFX Supervisor. He then joined Digital Domain in 2004 where he worked with heavy hitter directors Brian Beletic, David Fincher and Joseph Kosinski.

Headline News

Promotion for Gareton At Warner Bros.

Marc Gareton has been promoted to Executive Vice President, International, Warner Bros. Digital Distribution, it was announced Monday.

Gareton will report directly to Thomas Gewecke, President, Warner Bros. Digital Distribution.

As Executive Vice President, International, Gareton will continue his oversight of the studio's digital strategy, partnerships in digital services and emerging business activities outside of the US.

Cartoon Headline News

Sci-Fi's Swartz In At Cartoon Network

Sci-Fi Channel executive Robert Swartz has been named vice president of original series for Cartoon Network, it was announced Friday by Robert Sorcher, chief content officer for the network.

Swartz's hiring marks the consolidation of the network's development andcurrent series departments under one roof at Cartoon Network Studios in Burbank.

Swartz will start on March 17, and be based at the studio in Burbank, reporting directly to Sorcher.

Company Headline News

Kofsky Promoted To Partner At Curious

Lewis Kofsky, director of computer graphics and visual effects at Curious Pictures, the animation and mixed media production studio, has been made a partner in the company.

The announcement was made by Steve Oakes, one of Curious Pictures' founding partners and a top director of TV spots, branded content and programs at the shop.

In his role as head of CG/VFX, Kofsky, 36, guides all digital production at the company, whose work encompasses advertising, TV programming, feature films, branded content for marketers and computer games.

Marvel Headline News

Former Disney Marketing Head Goes To Marvel

Geoffrey Ammer, former Sony and Disney marketing head, will now oversee advertising, publicity and promotional campaigns for Marvel Studio's self-produced flicks.

He'll start with IRON MAN (opening May 2) and THE INCREDIBLE HULK (opening June 13), working with studios issuing those releases; Paramount for IRON MAN and Universal for HULK.

Ammer will handle marketing for the home video releases as well, including direct to DVD titles and will report to David Maisel, chairman of Marvel.

Design Headline News

Promotions At Planet Propaganda

Planet Propaganda promoted Nate Theis and David Taylor as associate creative directors in its growing design, advertising and interactive company.

They will work closely with each other and their colleagues to support such clients as Trek Bicycle Corporation, Teva footwear, and Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches.

Theis also was named director for the firm's motion design group.

Nickelodeon Headline News

Linn Named Senior VP At Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group has named Jennifer Goodman Linn to the position of senior vice president of brand marketing.

The announcement was made by Pam Kaufman, Chief Marketing Officer, Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group, to whom Linn will report.

Linn is responsible for implementing both short- and long-term strategies to promote the Nickelodeon brand, its shows and overall company initiatives.

Headline News

Osiecki Joins Haydenburri As Head Of Art Department

Hillary Hayden Burri, President of Oakland-based branded children's product and multi-media company Haydenburri Lane announced today that Lori Osiecki has joined the company to head the art department.

Most recently, Osiecki has been an entrepreneur and illustrator, working with such brands as American Girl, Northland Publishing, Penguin Putnam, Klutz, Sonic, Idexx, Gamewright, Learning Resources, and Young and Rubicam.

From the late 1970s to 1987 she was a designer working with new product development design at Hallmark Cards in Kansas City, Kansas.

Production Headline News

Digieffects Adds Kolb To Company

Tim Kolb, an Emmy, Chicago Film Festival Hugo, and Telly Award-winning director and a 20 year veteran of video and television post production has joined Digieffects as the Chief Product Officer.

In this capacity, Kolb will lead the company's product marketing and management efforts.

Kolb has experience with a wide range of creative initiatives ranging from interactive projects as early as 1986 to broadcast news production and working with HD and 2K RAW acquisition/post production and compositing.

Headline News

Shambroom Moves Up At Crackle

Jonathan Shambroom will now be senior VP and general manager of Sony Picture Entertainment's online video site Crackle, THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER said Thursday.

Shambroom, the former head of product development and marketin, will lead Crackle, apparently taking over for founders Josh Felser and Dave Samuel.

The REPORTER said a spokesman for the company said "their roles are changing and that's still being worked out," when asked if the two would retain a managing role.

Headline News

Jeanne Smith Joins Haydenburri Lane As VP Of Creative

Hillary Hayden Burri, president of Oakland-based branded children's product and multi-media company Haydenburri Lane, announced Tuesday that Jeanne Smith has joined the company as Vice President of Creative.

The position was created specifically for Smith to utilize her multi-talents as an innovator, creator, developer, director, and musician.

Haydenburri Lane continues to grow in 2008 with new additions to be announced shortly.

Smith joins Haydenburri Lane from Arizona-based Beati Productions.

Disney Headline News

Disney Channels Worldwide Expands, Promotes

Disney Channels Worldwide has named six key executive appointments to support its expansion plans in Europe, announced John Hardie, Executive Vice President and Managing Director, Disney Channels Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

The executives are:

Disney Channel veteran Michael Cairns returns to his native U.K. as Vice President and General Manager, Disney Channels U.K. and Ireland;

Lars Wagner joins the company in the new role of Vice President and General Manager, Disney Channel Germany, Switzerland and Austria;

Motion Headline News

Rausch Joins Vicon

Vicon, the developer of Academy Award-winning motion capture systems, today announced that Brian Rausch has joined the company as Vice President of Production for Vicon and Vicon House of Moves.

Rausch comes on board from Sony Computer Entertainment of America, where he most recently served as Senior Manager of the Visual Arts Services Group.

Rausch has more than 10 years of production experience, with a heavy specialization in motion capture and animation.

Directors Headline News

ka-chew! Expands Director Roster

Celebrating 10 years, ka-chew!, the commercial production company owned by multi Emmy Award winning creative giant Klasky Csupo, Inc., is adding directors and directing teams to its roster.

ka-chew! specialties include CGI, 2D, stop motion, motion design and live action combo.

Six Point Harness, Parallex Studio, Seattle-based independent filmmaker David Russo, directing team Paul Cummings and Tony Fiandaca, Elliot M. Bour, Liz Blazer and Carolle-Shelley Abrams were all signed by ka-chew!

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