10:45 AM - Noon
Session B:
Animation on the Net - The Web's Hottest Entertainment Content
Who would have suspected that animation on the Internet would become its hottest entertainment content segment? In a few short months, animation has gone from being another Internet technology into being the “Coolest Thing on the Net.” The technology is great, the tools are easy to use, the industry’s most creative animators have come on board, and the audience of users measures in the tens of millions. That is a formula for success. In this session, Digital Hollywood brings together the executives who are leading the way in Net animation. Their sites are more than making animation the next hot thing, they are setting the stage for untold expansion into other entertainment mediums.
Fred Angelopoulo, Chief Executive Officer, Pulse Entertainment
Johan Liedgren, CEO, Honkworm
John Evershed, CEO, Mondo Media
Michael Yanover, Vice President and General Manager, Series and Show Content, shockwave.com
Kevin Bermeister, President, Brilliant Digital
Gary Levine, President, IceBox.com
Jeff Fino, Co-founder; Executive Producer, Wild Brain, Inc.
Bob Weis, Head of Creative Content, Z.com, Moderator
Michael Yanover, Vice President and General Manager, Series and Show Content, shockwave.com: Since joining shockwave.com, Yanover has initiated and is overseeing some of its key content, including recently concluded deals with South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone and acclaimed film director Tim Burton. Prior to joining shockwave.com, Yanover was an independent producer and comic book publisher, and won first place at the 1999 Annecy International Animation Festival. Before that, he practiced as a transactional entertainment attorney in Los Angeles, and as a corporate attorney in New York at Stroock, Stroock & Lavan. Mr. Yanover holds an MBA in Finance from the University of Chicago and a Law Degree from the University of Toronto
Fred Angelopoulos, Chief Executive Officer, Pulse Entertainment: Fred Angelopoulos, CEO, came to Pulse Entertainment from Hitachi PC Corporation, where he was Senior Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Support. Mr. Angelopoulos helped the company become the nations fastest growing notebook computer maker, moving from an IDC rank of #99 to #7 in just one year. PC Magazine listed Hitachi PC as one of the top 100 influential companies. Previous to his tenure with Hitachi, Angelopoulos was General Manager with Velocity Inc., in the Electronic Entertainment Division; innovating retail packaging and marketing concepts that are now considered industry standards. A pioneer in the multimedia business, Angelopoulos was Vice President of Sales for Macromedia Inc. Before Macromedia Inc. he served as Director of Sales at Symantec Corporation. During his time with Symantec Mr. Angelopoulos led the company's sales and marketing operations from a 10 million-dollar organization to a 100 million-dollar business. Finally, while working for Wang Labs, Inc. Mr. Angelopoulos served as the youngest Regional Sales Manager in the company's history.
John Evershed, CEO, Mondo Media: John Evershed is CEO of MONDO MEDIA, a leading entertainment distribution company with an unmatched reputation for creating compelling animated content. The company creates and syndicates original serial-based and character-driven digitally animated and interactive Mondo Mini Shows. Their three current web hits are The God & Devil Show (which launched on Entertaindom), Like, News and Thugs on Film. All of the Mondo Mini Shows are satirical and edgy two- to five-minute shorts that parody television and pop culture and are updated on a weekly basis. MONDO MEDIA has built a powerful online network through syndication relationships with many of the leading sites on the Web, such as Entertaindom, Lycos, Netscape Netcenter, Snap, AltaVista, Excite@Home, AtomFilms and shockwave.com. The Mondo Network is a "virtual network" that mirrors the television, newspaper and radio syndication models, and effectively utilizes the unique, viral nature of the web. Evershed was recently chosen by Electronic Media as one of the 10 "Internet Executives Television Cannot Afford to Ignore."
Johan Liedgren, Chief Executive Officer, Founder and Chairman, Honkworm: Originally from Sweden, Johan left his position as Director of Channel Policy at Microsoft after 7 years in 1998. Johan worked and managed all channel contracts, Electronic Software Distribution, reporting systems, and channel Internet migration. He began his Microsoft career in Channel Development at Microsoft's Swedish subsidiary to continue at Microsoft European Headquarters in Paris, France. Before Microsoft, he spent 6 years as a management consultant with different companies working with competitive strategies, advertising and investor relations. Johan studied economics and philosophy at the University of Stockholm and served at the Swedish School of Navy Intelligence. Johan is currently an advisor/investor in several technology companies.
Bob Weis, Head of Creative Content, Z.com: Bob is a respected creative professional whose skills and talents span the entertainment spectrum from filmmaking to conceptual design to Internet media development. He has consulted and worked with the Smithsonian, National Geographic, Sony, DreamWorks, Jim Henson Productions, the National Park Service and the Walt Disney Company. Currently, Bob is head of creative content for the entertainment Internet studio, Z.com, including the production of specific shows such as the popular animated series, Eve & Adam, Lost in Paradise. As a filmmaker and director, Bobs projects include the independent film, Inconceivable, a romantic comedy that debuts this fall on Showtime in the US and in 18 territories worldwide and four national television commercials that aired during SuperBowl 2000. He is currently producing a documentary for the new Smithsonian National Museum of Industrial History. Erik Josowitz, Vice President of Product Strategy for Vignette Corporation, focuses on the direction the company and its products will take to maintain leadership in a fast moving marketplace. Prior to joining Vignette, Josowitz consulted global companies on strategies for building successful online businesses. Before that he held positions as Producer, Art Director, and Creative Director managing business-to-business print and interactive projects for primarily high-tech clients. He holds a B.A. in architecture from the University of Texas.
Kevin Bermeister, President, Brilliant Digital: Mr. Bermeister and his partner, Mar
k Dyne, established Ozisoft Pty. Ltd. in 1982, based in Sydney, Australia, which was one of the first interactive multimedia companies, representing Sega Enterprises Japan in Australia and New Zealand. Ozisoft was later sold to Tech Pacific and First Pacific of Hong Kong. He has served as President of the BDE since October 1996 and as a Director since August 1996 before Brilliant Digital Entertainment went public.Jeff Fino, Co-founder; Executive Producer, Wild Brain, Inc.: Jeff Fino, with partners John Hays and Phil Robinson, founded Wild Brain, Inc. with only $15,000, and the belief that a prosperous, creative community could flourish within a truly collaborative work environment. At Wild Brain, the constant exchange of ideas is at the core of the company’s creativity and originality. Jeff is executive-producer of the studio’s new Internet animation channel, wildbrain.com, its 26-episode co-production of "Poochini’s Yard," and a wide range of projects from LucasArts’ Star Wars Episode I CD-ROM, to work on the feature film production of The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle for Universal, and commercials for clients including Coca-Cola, Nike, KFC and Levi’s. Before launching the company in 1994, Jeff spent four years producing live-action and animated commercials at Colossal Pictures. Jeff also served as the studio’s Unit Production Manager. Previous to his move to San Francisco in 1991, Jeff honed his production skills in Hollywood on what he describes as "some of the worst B-movies ever made." He also worked for Kings Road Entertainment, a large, independent motion picture production company, coordinating production on films such as Creator, The Best of Times, Enemy Mine and The Big Easy. Jeff also worked as a production manager for numerous movies and television shows, including the series’ "Rescue 911" for CBS and "Back to the Future" for Universal Cartoon Studios/Amblin Entertainment.
Gary Levine comes to Icebox with 15 years of prime-time television experience in both comedy and drama-and an impeccable reputation as a true "champion of the writer." Prior to joining the Icebox team, Mr. Levine served as Executive Vice President, Creative Affairs at Warner Brothers Television, where his responsibilities included overseeing the company's prime-time series, including such smash-hits as ER, Friends, The Drew Carey Show and La Femme Nikita. In Mr. Levine's new role at Icebox, he will oversee all aspects of series development and production, forge deals with traditional entertainment outlets and help Icebox expand the scope of its creative partnerships. Throughout his career, Gary Levine has excelled at bringing top-notch talent to the television medium. Most recently, he was responsible for the development of all new Warner Brothers Television series. These shows include NBC's The West Wing, Third Watch and Jesse; ABC's The Norm Show, Jack and Jill for WB and the popular improv comedy game show, Whose Line Is It Anyway, for ABC. Before joining Warner Brothers, Mr. Levine served as President of Witt-Thomas Productions. There, in addition to running the company's development and production, he was Executive Producer of comedy series including: Pearl, Brotherly Love and The John Larroquette Show. Previously, he worked at ABC, where he was in charge of drama series development. In his five years there, he developed such classic television shows as NYPD Blue, Twin Peaks, Life Goes On, Lois and Clark, Homefront and The Commish- just to name a few. In all of these professional capacities-including his earlier work with such distinguished organizations as the Roundabout Theatre and the Williamstown Theatre Festival-Mr. Levine has demonstrated a deep understanding of the writer's pre-eminent place in the creative process. His extensive series experience in comedy and drama has helped him to create and nurture extremely successful relationships with writers, agents and industry executives at every level and in every area of the entertainment business.