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Headline News

Navarre Corp. Promotes Ward Thomas and Joyce Fleck in FUNimation Sales

Navarre Corp., a publisher and distributor of a broad range of home entertainment and multimedia software products, has promoted Ward Thomas to svp of sales and operations for FUNimation, a subsidiary of Navarre Corp., and upped Joyce Fleck to vp of sales & marketing for FUNimation.

While head of sales for Navarre Distribution Services, Thomas is credited for leading and developing the distribution sales team so that the division experienced triple-digit growth.

Visual Headline News

Eric Roth Extends Stint with VES

Eric Roth, exec director of the Visual Effects Society (VES), has signed a three-year contract with the organization. Roth joined the VES a little more than a year ago and is responsible for running the day-to-day operations of the organization including strategic planning, fundraising, membership outreach and communications. Said Carl Rosendahl, chairman of the VES Board, The VES has enjoyed tremendous growth under Erics leadership this past year. Were thrilled to have a long term commitment with him in place and look forward to the future.

Animation Headline News

Lucasfilm Animation Hires Kubsch to Run Singapore Operation

Lucasfilm Animation Ltd. announced that it has hired Christian (Chris) Kubsch, a production and animation exec with more than 20 years of experience, to helm its animation studio in Singapore. As gm of Lucasfilm Animation Co. Singapore B.V., Kubsch will pull together and oversee all elements of the digital animation studio, including recruiting key talent and running its day to day operations. Kubsch will report to Gail Currey, head of animation.

Production Headline News

TV-Loonland Adds Olivier Dumont & Kourtney Kaye to Key Posts

TV-Loonland is filling out its ranks, appointing Olivier Dumont as its new coo and Kourtney Kaye head of creative affairs and development.

Dumont, to be based in Paris and London, will define the strategy for the development, production and distribution of programming targeted at kids and families. He will report directly to the TV-Loonland ceo/chariman Selma Käppel and, with her, will also run the business development strategy for TV-Loonland.

Headline News

Daniel Battsek to Head Miramax Films

Daniel Battsek, a veteran film exec in the Buena Vista International Organization, has been named president, Miramax Films, reporting directly to Dick Cook, chairman The Walt Disney Studios. Battsek, has been serving as evp/md of distribution and production for BVI UK.

Universal Headline News

Leslie Jones To Lead New Universal TV Distribution Original Content Unit

Leslie Jones has been tapped by NBC Universal Television Distribution to lead its just launched new original content unit that will partner with local media companies to develop and create local programming in territories spanning the globe, it was announced by Frederick Huntsberry, evp, NBC Universal TV Dist.. The new international production unit will report in to Jerry Petry, evp, business operations and sales strategy, NBC Universal TV Dist.

Dreamworks Headline News

DreamWorks Makes Changes at the Top

DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. has given chairman Roger Enrico more control over finances and legal matters for the company as the Securities and Exchange Commission conducts an informal probe into financial disclosures and trading of DreamWorks shares, according to BLOOMBERG NEWS.

CFO Kristina Leslie and general counsel Katherine Kendrick will report to Enrico and chief exec Jeffrey Katzenberg. They previously reported to Katzenberg and coo Ann Daly, who will primarily focus now on film production and home video sales, the company said.

Mobile Headline News

Mitch Feinman to Lead Fox Mobile Ent.

Mitch Feinman has been appointed Feinman to the newly created position of vp to lead Fox Mobile Ent., the new unit of 20th Century Fox Television devoted to creating and distributing unique content and marketing to the worldwide wireless market. Feinman will oversee Fox Filmed Ent.s strategic relationship with Glu Mobile for domestic distribution of film content, as well as wireless content creation and marketing across Fox TV business units. Additionally, Feinman handles U.S.

Film Headline News

Colette Scott to Head Kodak Educational Initiatives

Colette Scott has been promoted to worldwide manager of the education Segment of Kodak's Entertainment Imaging Division, where she will guide ambitious programs aimed at developing Kodak's ongoing commitment to providing support for the next generation of filmmakers and their mentors at film schools around the world.

Film Headline News

Michael Mintz Onboard iO Film as Digital Intermediate Colorist

Michael Mintz joins iO Film, a technologically advanced, full-service digital film finishing facility specializing in film and video projects from every sector of the entertainment industry, in the new position of digital intermediate colorist. Mintz will work with clients in the digital grading of feature films.

Headline News

4KIDS Ent. Names Steven M. Grossman EVP/CEO

Steven M. Grossman will become evp/coo of 4Kids Entertainment Inc. starting Sept. 1, 2005 and will report directly to Alfred R. Kahn, 4Kids chairman/ceo.

Grossman has been a director of 4Kids since 2001 and chairman of the Audit Committee since 2003. He has resigned from 4Kids Audit, Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees, but will continue as a director of the company.

Animation Headline News

Stefan Nadelman Joins Curious Pictures

Curious Pictures newest addition to its roster of award-winning directors is Stefan Nadelman. Nadelmans recent animation work for VH1, HBO, ESPN, Panasonic and Nike has established his reputation in the industry, as well as winning a Jury Prize at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival for his short TERMINAL BAR, which also won RESFESTs Audience choice award.

Company Headline News

Marisa Fiechter to Produce for Trollbäck + Co.

Marisa Fiechter has rejoined bicoastal creative studio Trollbäck + Company as a producer and is producing projects for HBO as well as the comprehensive redesign of a TV network.

The combination of Marisas nine years of agency experience and her sense of taste and style make her a perfect match for Trollbäck + Co., said exec producer Elizabeth Kiehner.

Headline News

Paramount Pictures Robert G. Friedman Steps Down

Robert G. Friedman will step down as coo/vice chairman of the Motion Picture Group of Paramount Pictures to pursue other interests, it was announced today (July 12, 2005) by Paramount Chairman and CEO Brad Grey.

Friedman, vice chairman of the Paramount Motion Picture Group since he joined the studio in 1997 when, and later coo in 2002 to oversee all domestic and international marketing, publicity and distribution operations at Paramount, as well as Paramount Home Ent. and specialty division Paramount Classics.

Online Headline News

Composer Laura Karpman Will Tune Up for Sony Online Entertainment

Four-time Emmy award-winning musical composer Laura Karpman has joined Sony Online Entertainment Inc. (SOE), as a full time composer.

Technology and interactivity has always been central to the ways that I think and work in music, Karpman said. It is an enormous opportunity for me to join forces with Sony Online. I believe that together, we can push the envelope of interactive orchestral and electronic music in the world of online gaming.

Headline News

TiVo Names Tom Rogers President/CEO

TiVo appointed veteran media executive Tom Rogers as president/ceo, to replace Mike Ramsay, co-founder of TiVo, who announced his intention to step down as ceo in January after seven years in the position.

Rogers served as vice chairman of TiVos board, on which he has served since September 2003.

Animation Headline News

Animation Vet Frank Gladstone New Artistic Development VP at IDT Ent.

Animation veteran Frank Gladstone has joined IDT Ent. as vp, artistic development, responsible for all artistic training and recruitment issues as well as community outreach and education and also will have creative input on story development and provide assistance with the acquisition of outside projects.

Television Headline News

SPTI Names Rozanne Englehart New VP, Programming and Research

Rozanne Englehart joins Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) as vp, programming and research. Based at SPTI's headquarters in Culver City, California, she will provide research and analysis of feature film and television programming performance worldwide in support of SPTI's three lines of business: distribution, international production and international networks. This includes designing quantitative and qualitative research and managing a team performing analysis to make strategy recommendations.

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