Al Roker and his production banner have been sued by Bill Schultz, a former executive producer on an animated kids TV series in development. Schultz (The Simpsons, King of The Hill, Garfield) claims he was fired for objecting to the company’s failure to follow a diversity initiative intended to bring minority writers onto PBS television productions.
The lawsuit, filed in New York federal court on Tuesday, alleges executives at Al Roker Entertainment “callously disregarded” a diversity, equity and inclusion program, commonly called Dei, mandated by PBS, which covered the bulk of the production expenses for animated series Weather Hunters, by attempting to have Black writers touch up scripts written by white scribes to give the appearance of a diverse writers room.
In Hollywood, Dei is seen by some as especially significant in efforts to boost diversity, on and behind the screen. The programs, however, have attracted legal scrutiny by...
The lawsuit, filed in New York federal court on Tuesday, alleges executives at Al Roker Entertainment “callously disregarded” a diversity, equity and inclusion program, commonly called Dei, mandated by PBS, which covered the bulk of the production expenses for animated series Weather Hunters, by attempting to have Black writers touch up scripts written by white scribes to give the appearance of a diverse writers room.
In Hollywood, Dei is seen by some as especially significant in efforts to boost diversity, on and behind the screen. The programs, however, have attracted legal scrutiny by...
- 4/16/2024
- by Winston Cho
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Audacy today announced an expansion of its relationship with Puck and the launch of About a Boy: The Story of Vladimir Putin — a five-part documentary podcast series exploring the forces that shaped Russian President Vladimir Putin’s childhood (and life) and why it's critical to understanding what he might do next in the war against Ukraine.
The series is written and narrated by Julia Ioffe, Founding Partner and Washington Correspondent, Puck, and one of the leading journalists covering Russia and Putin.
As Puck celebrates its second anniversary, “About a Boy” marks its first-ever audio documentary and second series in partnership with Audacy following the March 2022 launch of The Powers That Be: Daily—a daily show bringing listeners inside the four corners of power in America: Wall Street, Washington, Silicon Valley, and Hollywood.
“About a Boy: The Story of Vladimir Putin” will launch with the first two episodes on October 4, 2023, on...
The series is written and narrated by Julia Ioffe, Founding Partner and Washington Correspondent, Puck, and one of the leading journalists covering Russia and Putin.
As Puck celebrates its second anniversary, “About a Boy” marks its first-ever audio documentary and second series in partnership with Audacy following the March 2022 launch of The Powers That Be: Daily—a daily show bringing listeners inside the four corners of power in America: Wall Street, Washington, Silicon Valley, and Hollywood.
“About a Boy: The Story of Vladimir Putin” will launch with the first two episodes on October 4, 2023, on...
- 10/4/2023
- Podnews.net
Robert Downey Jr. and his wife Susan Downey are boarding the podcasting bus.
The duo are moving into the audio medium with an investigative audio series about the Synanon cult.
The Sunshine Place tells the story of the former California-based experimental drug rehab facility and community that morphed into a dangerous and violent cult, led by its messianic founder Charles E. Diedrich.
The series comes from Team Downey and Wink Pictures for Audacy-owned Cadence13.
The Sunshine Place will tell the story of Synanon from the inside out, and by the people who lived it, charting its rise and exploring its decade-long reign over 1960s and ‘70s counterculture through the recollections of members, survivors and dedicated chroniclers. The series will be narrated by Sari Crawford, daughter of a former Synanon leader Bill Crawford.
The eight-part series will launch August 10. Listen to a trailer below.
Synanon was called “the miracle on the beach” in Santa Monica,...
The duo are moving into the audio medium with an investigative audio series about the Synanon cult.
The Sunshine Place tells the story of the former California-based experimental drug rehab facility and community that morphed into a dangerous and violent cult, led by its messianic founder Charles E. Diedrich.
The series comes from Team Downey and Wink Pictures for Audacy-owned Cadence13.
The Sunshine Place will tell the story of Synanon from the inside out, and by the people who lived it, charting its rise and exploring its decade-long reign over 1960s and ‘70s counterculture through the recollections of members, survivors and dedicated chroniclers. The series will be narrated by Sari Crawford, daughter of a former Synanon leader Bill Crawford.
The eight-part series will launch August 10. Listen to a trailer below.
Synanon was called “the miracle on the beach” in Santa Monica,...
- 8/9/2022
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Tish Cyrus, mother to actress and pop star Miley Cyrus and HopeTown Entertainment president, has set her production banner’s executive team and is announcing its initial slate of projects under its recent first-look TV deal with NBCU Television and Streaming. HopeTown Entertainment, known for creating movies such as “The Last Song,” “Lol” and “So Undercover,” has named Dannah Axelrod as head of development, Samantha Green as director of development and Sarah Lieberman as manager of development. Its first two scripted projects include an animated series described as a re-imagining of “The Beverly Hillbillies” and a mother/daughter dramedy written and directed by Courtney Hoffman (“Ruthless”).
“Kentucky Blaze,” the Hoffman-helmed show, follows a country music manager who returns home to Ashland, Kentucky after her estranged father dies, starts a cannabis business and helps revive her mother’s career. The animation project, which remains untitled, is created by Sivert Glarum and Michael Jamin,...
“Kentucky Blaze,” the Hoffman-helmed show, follows a country music manager who returns home to Ashland, Kentucky after her estranged father dies, starts a cannabis business and helps revive her mother’s career. The animation project, which remains untitled, is created by Sivert Glarum and Michael Jamin,...
- 12/2/2021
- by Mónica Marie Zorrilla
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: C13Originals is launching a new podcast that tells the true story of a Hell’s Angel member, murder and the impact it had on his family who went into witness protection.
The Entercom-owned company, which is behind podcast series including Root of Evil, Once Upon A Time In The Valley and Long May The Run, is launching Relative Unknown on August 11.
It tells the story of Jackee Taylor, who was born Jacqueline Crouch, the daughter of Clarence “Butch” Crouch, a member of the Banditos motorcycle gang in Texas in the 1960s who became a Hell’s Angel and subsequently confessed to an unsolved murder.
In exchange for a reduced sentence, he agreed to testify against a number of gang members and his family was placed into Witsec.
Taylor has been hidden in the program for almost 40 years. But after a strange and violent incident reveals secrets about her past,...
The Entercom-owned company, which is behind podcast series including Root of Evil, Once Upon A Time In The Valley and Long May The Run, is launching Relative Unknown on August 11.
It tells the story of Jackee Taylor, who was born Jacqueline Crouch, the daughter of Clarence “Butch” Crouch, a member of the Banditos motorcycle gang in Texas in the 1960s who became a Hell’s Angel and subsequently confessed to an unsolved murder.
In exchange for a reduced sentence, he agreed to testify against a number of gang members and his family was placed into Witsec.
Taylor has been hidden in the program for almost 40 years. But after a strange and violent incident reveals secrets about her past,...
- 8/10/2020
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Mexican animation studio Ánima Estudios produces with UK’s Prime Focus World, Gfm Animation.
Blue Fox Entertainment announced has acquired North American rights to the animated family adventure comedy A Wizard’s Tale featuring a British cast led by Okja star Lily Collins.
Rounding out the key animation cast are Ian McShane and Toby Kebbell.
Mexican animation studio Ánima Estudios – the company behind Top Cat, The Legend Of Chupacabras, and Wicked Flying Monkeys – is producing alongside UK companies Prime Focus World and Gfm Animation.
A Wizard’s Tale is based on the 1960’s NBC animated series Here Comes The Grump...
Blue Fox Entertainment announced has acquired North American rights to the animated family adventure comedy A Wizard’s Tale featuring a British cast led by Okja star Lily Collins.
Rounding out the key animation cast are Ian McShane and Toby Kebbell.
Mexican animation studio Ánima Estudios – the company behind Top Cat, The Legend Of Chupacabras, and Wicked Flying Monkeys – is producing alongside UK companies Prime Focus World and Gfm Animation.
A Wizard’s Tale is based on the 1960’s NBC animated series Here Comes The Grump...
- 8/2/2018
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Prime Focus World and Anima Estudios co-pro written by Ice Age: The Meltdown writer.
Screen can reveal the first-look at Gfm Animation title Here Comes The Grump, currently in production for London based Prime Focus World and Latin American animation kingpin Anima Estudios.
The film will chart the story of a teenage boy who is magically transported to a far-away land where he must ward off a mean-spirited wizard called The Grump.
Based on a script from Ice Age: The Meltdown screenwriter Jim Hecht, with designs by Craig Kellman (character designer on both Madagascar and Hotel Transylvania), the project is adapted from the animated cartoon TV series by Mirisch-Geoffrey Depatie-Freleng Enterprises, makers of the Pink Panther series.
“Animation is well underway and the film will be completed in the first part of 2017. Our artists are pushing the limits to put as much quality and humor into every last frame,” said Greg Gavanski...
Screen can reveal the first-look at Gfm Animation title Here Comes The Grump, currently in production for London based Prime Focus World and Latin American animation kingpin Anima Estudios.
The film will chart the story of a teenage boy who is magically transported to a far-away land where he must ward off a mean-spirited wizard called The Grump.
Based on a script from Ice Age: The Meltdown screenwriter Jim Hecht, with designs by Craig Kellman (character designer on both Madagascar and Hotel Transylvania), the project is adapted from the animated cartoon TV series by Mirisch-Geoffrey Depatie-Freleng Enterprises, makers of the Pink Panther series.
“Animation is well underway and the film will be completed in the first part of 2017. Our artists are pushing the limits to put as much quality and humor into every last frame,” said Greg Gavanski...
- 11/6/2016
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Two titles join previously announced co-pro with former Simpsons animation producer Bill Schultz and China Film Group.
UK sales outfit Gfm Films is to launch Gfm Animation, a dedicated sales and production label for animated films.
Existing Gfm animation development properties such as Hugo and Stonerunner will now fall under the banner of the sister company, which launches with a trio of projects in early stages.
Here Comes The Grump, a joint venture between UK VFX specialists Prime Focus World and Mexican studio Anima, will follow a boy who is transported to a far-away land where he must put a stop to the evil deeds of a mean spirited wizard called The Grump.
Dog’Y’Dog is the story of a teenage dog who longs to be a rock ‘n’roll guitarist but who finds his dreams put on hold when his famous ‘dogynaut’ father goes missing on his latest mission to the moon.
Helsinki based Leningrad Cowboys...
UK sales outfit Gfm Films is to launch Gfm Animation, a dedicated sales and production label for animated films.
Existing Gfm animation development properties such as Hugo and Stonerunner will now fall under the banner of the sister company, which launches with a trio of projects in early stages.
Here Comes The Grump, a joint venture between UK VFX specialists Prime Focus World and Mexican studio Anima, will follow a boy who is transported to a far-away land where he must put a stop to the evil deeds of a mean spirited wizard called The Grump.
Dog’Y’Dog is the story of a teenage dog who longs to be a rock ‘n’roll guitarist but who finds his dreams put on hold when his famous ‘dogynaut’ father goes missing on his latest mission to the moon.
Helsinki based Leningrad Cowboys...
- 11/1/2016
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: London-based Gfm Films and Bill Schultz’s Home Plate Entertainment Company are teaming to develop and produce feature-length stop-motion animated pic, Codename Housewife: The Case Of The Missing Rock Stars (Wt). The fish-out-of-water-meets-secret-agent musical comedy is based on the Korean short film, Code Name: Azumma: The Missing Rock Stars, and will be directed by Oscar-winner Will Vinton and Korean claymation helmer Hong Sukhwa. Jim Cox (FernGully, Oliver…...
- 7/6/2016
- Deadline
In September 2013, Mondo Media distributed a film based on Dick Figures, one of its most popular animated series. The movie was a big success. Mondo released the film across 12 installments, which combined to draw more than 14 million views on YouTube. Encouraged by the success of that film, Mondo is now working on three new films. It will produce a sequel to Dick Figures: The Movie as well as new films based off two of its other hit series: Happy Tree Friends and Deep Space 69. In order to help realize these projects, Mondo has enlisted the help of Bill Schultz, an animation executive who produced several seasons of The Simpsons. Dick Figures: The Movie was funded via a Kickstarter campaign, but Mondo is pledging "bigger budgets and theatrical production values" to the three new features. Those budgets will include large marketing campaigns that will promote each film in advance of their respective release dates.
- 10/10/2014
- by Sam Gutelle
- Tubefilter.com
Moonscoop unveils a re-branding and restructuring plan under which its affiliated companies Taffy Entertainment and Mike young Productions will now operate under the Moonscoop brand banner. To further build the synergy between the Moonscoop divisions, Paris-based CEO Nicolas Atlan will relocate to La this fall to work in tandem with principals and Co-ceos Mike Young and Bill Schultz and President Liz Young. CEO Axel Dauchez will remain in the Paris overseeing operations across the group with Executive Chairmen and Founders Benoit di Sabatino and Christophe di Sabatino. Laurent Billion COO/Europe and Lionel Marty, President/Worldwide Distribution will also remain based in Paris. Additionally, Brigitte Legendre Benloulou is appointed Director/Consumer Products for French-speaking markets. Most recently with TF1, Benloulou will report to Cynthia Money, President/Worldwide Consumer Products and Marketing.
http://enews.cynopsis.com/html.asp?XZY1487989UTF60...
http://enews.cynopsis.com/html.asp?XZY1487989UTF60...
- 3/3/2009
- by gwen@cynopsis.com
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.