MTV Networks Music/Logo Group Launches New DVD Studio in Partnership With Paramount Home Entertainment
October 17 2005 - 12:30PM
PR Newswire (US)
Featuring Multi-platinum Star Ciara, and Directorial Debut of
'Chappelle's Show' Co-creator Neal Brennan, Original Movies to Use
Innovative Distribution Including Both Theatrical and Network
Premieres NEW YORK, Oct. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- MTV Networks Music,
Logo Enterprise Group and Paramount Home Entertainment have joined
forces to launch a new cross-network DVD studio that will
capitalize on MTV Networks' programming experience, audience
connection and access to rising talent as well as Paramount Home
Entertainment's expertise in the creation of original programming.
Committed to the development, production and promotion of films
across all genres suited for each respective channel, the new DVD
studio will leverage talent already thriving on-camera and
behind-the-camera on all of MTV's networks in music-based, dramatic
and comedic films, as well as documentaries. The new division also
will distribute films acquired in conjunction with Paramount Home
Entertainment, as well as original content. "The creation of this
new DVD studio is in response to our audiences' voraciousness for
movies and quality content," said Jeff Yapp, EVP, MTV Networks
Music and Logo Enterprise Group. "We're looking forward to building
on our partnership with Paramount Home Entertainment to select and
develop top-notch projects, and will support the releases on our
core networks, which already serve as great platforms for
established artists, as well as emerging talent." "Paramount Home
Entertainment has had good success at identifying and producing
original content designed for the home entertainment marketplace,"
said Thomas Lesinski, President, Paramount Pictures, Worldwide Home
Entertainment. "The experience of our team combined with MTV
Networks' unique relationship with its audience gives us a great
opportunity to produce original DVD content that is directly
targeted at the MTV, CMT, VH1 and Logo audiences." "This team is
really shaking up the old model by creating and marketing content
that has the full, multi-faceted support of the entire MTV Networks
arsenal and leveraging that across all of our brands and
platforms," said Rich Eigendorff, COO MTV Networks Music Group and
LOGO. "The launch of this new DVD studio is yet another
illustration of MTV Networks' synergy between more traditional
television entertainment and new, multi-platform opportunities."
The new DVD studio is currently working on developing a full slate
of programming and partnerships that cover a variety of film genres
and serve key niche audiences. Through strategic marketing
partnerships, the studio will market a diverse slate of releases
with extensive audience reach via on-air promotion on MTV, VH1, CMT
and Logo, online sites, wireless applications, outdoor platforms,
and MTV Films, among others. Additionally, the studio will
collaborate on soundtrack development to extend the entertainment
options and maximize the success of each release. The DVD Premiere
titles will be distributed nationwide by Paramount Home
Entertainment. From MTV: The first release under the MTV brand will
be "Rumble," a smart and edgy sports comedy starring Faizon Love
("Animal") and multi-platinum selling star Ciara. Layered with a
hot Latin and Hip Hop influenced soundtrack featuring popular music
from Marques Houston, Frankie J, Lil Rob and Play N Skillz, the
movie follows two former rival high school volleyball squads who
are forced to battle it out both on and off the court, across
racial, socio-economic and romantic lines to truly become one team
and reclaim a championship trophy. Cast includes Adrienne Bailon
("Coach Carter"), Sarah Mason ("Quintuplets"), Doug Savant
("Desperate Housewives") and Efren Ramirez ("Napoleon Dynamite").
The film was written by Karol Ann Hoeffner, directed by Neema
Barnette and produced by Patrick Faulstich, Karen Firestone, Max
Wong and Leslie Belzberg. From VH1: VH1, the network that made
loving the 80's a national pastime, is putting a new spin on the
decade's classic movies with the production of "Totally Awesome."
This irreverent homage was written by "Chappelle's Show" co-creator
Neal Brennan and Michael Schur of "Saturday Night Live" and NBC's
"The Office." The film will be Brennan's directing debut and his
first project after his groundbreaking Comedy Central hit which has
gone on to be one of the top selling TV DVDs of all time with
Season 1 and 2 selling over 5 million units to date. Cast includes
Dominique Swain ("Pumpkin"), Mikey Day ("Nick Cannon Presents: Wild
'N Out"), Brittany Daniel ("Joe Dirt"), Joey Kern ("Super
Troopers"), James Hong ("Blade Runner", "Big Trouble In Little
China") and special appearances by comedy stars such as Tracy
Morgan. The movie is executive produced by 3 Arts Entertainment and
The Weinstein Company. The DVD studio is overseen by Jeff Yapp,
EVP, MTV Networks Music and Logo Enterprise Group and Ellen
Pittleman, SVP, Worldwide Acquisitions and DVD Premieres, Paramount
Home Entertainment. Loretha Jones, SVP, MTV Films and Home
Entertainment, will serve as lead production executive for all MTV
and CMT projects, while Maggie Malina, SVP, VH1 Original Movie and
Scripted Series, will head up all VH1 productions and Matt Bierman,
Vice President Development, will help drive development from the
Paramount Home Entertainment side. Additional projects under the
MTV, VH1, CMT and Logo brands, and partnerships will be announced
at a later date. MTV Networks owns and operates the cable
television programming services MTV: Music Television, MTV2, mtvU,
Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite, TV Land, VH1, CMT, Comedy Central, and
Spike TV, as well as The Digital Suite from MTV Networks, a package
of thirteen digital services, all of which are trademarks of MTV
Networks. MTV Networks also operates and offers joint ventures,
licensing agreements and syndication deals whereby its programming
can be seen worldwide. Paramount Pictures is part of the
entertainment operations of Viacom Inc., one of the world's largest
entertainment and media companies, and a leader in the production,
promotion, and distribution of entertainment, news, sports, and
music. Paramount Home Entertainment is part of the operations of
Paramount Pictures. Visit
http://www.paramount.com/homeentertainment to learn more about
Paramount Home Entertainment's new releases, as well as other
classic Hollywood films, television programs, animated titles and
family and special interest programming. DATASOURCE: MTV Networks
Music CONTACT: Marnie Black, MTV, +1-212-846-7004, , or Brett
Henne, VH1, +1-212-846-6752, , or Cindy McLean, CMT,
+1-615-335-8404, , or Brenda Ciccone, Paramount Home Entertainment,
+1-323-956-8091, Web site: http://www.mtv.com/
http://www.paramount.com/homeentertainment
Copyright