New Form Digital Studios
http://newformdigital.com/
Twitter: @NewFormDigital https://twitter.com/NewFormDigital (no tweet)
Instagram: http://instagram.com/newformdigital (no photo)
Brian Grazer, Ron Howard Launch ‘New Form’ Digital Studio With Discovery
4/2/2014 THR
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/brian-grazer-ron-howard-launch-693189
Discovery Communications is teaming with Imagine’s Brian Grazer and Ron Howard to launch digital studio New Form.
The new studio will be lead by chief creative officer Kathleen Grace, formerly head of creative development at YouTube Space LA, and will make scripted programming for Discovery’s online networks.
The studio will receive less than $5 million in funding a year, according to a report from the New York Times.
Discovery has built up a roster of digital properties. It acquired San Francisco network Revision3 in 2012 for $35 million and launched science-themed TestTube and humor site Animalist in 2013.
“We are excited and proud to have the most accomplished and creative minds in all of film and television investing with us in New Form,” said Discovery Communications president and CEO David Zaslav. “Brian and Ron are best-in-class storytellers, and we look forward to developing compelling programming for today’s digital viewers. This creative powerhouse, coupled with Discovery’s strong programming expertise and our ability to engage viewers across our global platforms, is an unparalleled combination.”
Grazer added, “Technology is rapidly changing the entertainment landscape for studios, producers and audiences, and Ron and I could not think of a better partner to invest with than Discovery to expand beyond film and television and enter into the digital frontier.”
Grazer and Howard noted in the Times report that their involvement in the studio would be limited. Others involved include attorney Craig Jacobson, former Tribune Broadcasting president Ed Wilson, former William Morris CEO Jim Wiatt, Imagine co-chairman Michael Rosenberg and CAA.
Noted Howard, “By investing with Discovery, New Form is poised to re-imagine storytelling and reach new audiences online and beyond.”
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, RON HOWARD AND BRIAN GRAZER FUND ‘NEW FORM’ DIGITAL STUDIO
4/3/2014 Discovery
http://press.discovery.com/us/discovery-digital-media/press-releases/2014/discovery-communications-ron-howard-and-brian-3022/
Based in Los Angeles and helmed by Kathleen Grace, who has been appointed Chief Creative Officer, New Form will focus on developing high-quality, scripted and unscripted programming for today’s digital viewers. Partnering with key distributors and brands, New Form’s series will be available through a series of partnerships, with the possibility of expanded distribution across Discovery and partner platforms globally in the future.
Discovery to Make Scripted Online Videos With Oscar Winners
4/3/2014 The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/04/business/media/discovery-to-make-scripted-online-videos-with-oscar-winners.html
LOS ANGELES — A cable giant that specializes in nonfiction programming is teaming up with two movie superpowers to make scripted online videos.
The new studio will seek to create three- to six-minute episodic video series and stand-alone videos à la Funny or Die, Will Ferrell’s comedy website.
“We want to connect with a scalable amount of people and have an impact on the culture,” said Mr. Grazer, whose recent TV and movie projects have included “Rush,” “Arrested Development” and “Cowboys & Aliens.”
The financial commitment is small. New Form, which will be run by Kathleen Grace, a former YouTube executive, will receive less than $5 million annually in funding, according to a person briefed on the investment who spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss private information.
Lots of production companies have experimented in this arena, but few have had Oscar winners involved: Mr. Howard and Mr. Grazer won multiple Academy Awards for “A Beautiful Mind” in 2002. In an interview, the two men at first said their involvement in New Form would be relatively limited, but in a follow-up call they emphasized deeper creative involvement.
“We’re super excited about exploring this new world,” Mr. Grazer said. “We intend to participate to the extent that we can.”
Mr. Howard noted that he had directed Funny or Die videos. “This is now going to be the place to go and do that,” he said, calling the partnership “creatively exciting.”
Discovery Teams With Ron Howard And Brian Grazer To Create Digital Studio
4/3/2014 Deadline.com
http://www.deadline.com/2014/04/discovery-teams-with-ron-howard-and-brian-grazer-to-create-digital-studio/
Kathleen Grace will be chief creative officer of the LA-based operation. Her mission, the companies say, is to develop “high-quality, scripted and unscripted programming for today’s digital viewers” — and to create alliances with “key distribution partners and brands.” Digital productions typically have low budgets, and generate low revenues on the Internet, but the ones from New Form have a “possibility of expanded distribution across Discovery and partner platforms globally.” The announcement comes ahead of Discovery’s upfront presentation today in NYC, where Ron Howard will appear to introduce the digital JV. “By investing with Discovery, New Form is poised to re-imagine storytelling and reach new audiences online and beyond,” he says.
Ron Howard, Brian Grazer to Launch Digital Studio with Discovery Communications
4/2/2014 Variety
http://variety.com/2014/digital/news/ron-howard-brian-grazer-to-launch-digital-studio-with-discovery-communications-1201151019/
New Form, which will also produce unscripted content, expects to license content to a wide range of digital distributors and will not operate a standalone website. Discovery may take some projects for itself but will be counted on more for its expertise in ad sales, marketing and distribution.
……
New Form isn’t the first time at the digital rodeo for Howard and Grazer. Way back in 1999, they were part of a dream team of Hollywood players including Steven Spielberg, David Geffen and Paul Allen who attempted to launch Pop.com, a digital studio in the pre-broadband era that quickly fizzled. “We were a decade or two early,” joked Howard. “It was fascinating then and entirely exploratory, but it’s even more fascinating now.”
YouTuber Tony Valenzuela on his pitch to Ron Howard venture, New Form
7/9/2014 Stream Daily
http://streamdaily.tv/2014/07/09/tony-valenzuela-on-his-pitch-to-ron-howard-venture-new-form/
New Form Digital announced on Tuesday that it has launched the New Form Incubator to help develop and fund 14 short films produced by top YouTube talent this summer.
Those chosen for the incubator’s inaugural round of projects include 5SecondFilms, Anna Akana, Craig Benzine (WheezyWaiter), Joe Penna (MysteryGuitarMan), Joey Graceffa, Meghan Camarena (Strawburry17), P J Liguori (KickThePJ), POYKPAC, Sawyer Hartman and Tony Valenzuela (BlackBoxTV).
Valenzuela pitched New Form chief creative officer Kathleen Grace a horror mystery titled The Fourth Door that will use YouTube’s clickable annotations to an interactive storytelling experience.
The New Form Incubator shorts will initially be distributed through each creator’s YouTube channel, with the possibility of extending the deals to include additional content and expanded distribution across global platforms.
Ron Howard and Brian Grazer’s New Form Digital to Fund 14 Short Films from YouTube Creators
7/8/2014
http://entertainment.msn.com/news/article.aspx?news=876566
New Form Digital, the studio formed by Discovery, Ron Howard and Brian Grazer, announced on Tuesday that it has launched its first creative venture, New Form Incubator, through which they will develop and fund 14 short films with popular YouTube content creators.
The first 14 shorts will be produced by Youtube personalities 5SecondFilms, Anna Akana, Bertie Gilbert, Chris Riedell and Nick Riedell (The Brothers Riedell), Craig Benzine (WheezyWaiter), Joe Penna (MysteryGuitarMan), Joey Graceffa, Meghan Camarena (Strawburry17), PJ Liguori (KickThePJ), POYKPAC, Sawyer Hartman, Tim Hautekiet, Tony Valenzuela (BlackBoxTV) and Yulin Kuang.
The short films created under New Form Incubator will be distributed through each partner’s YouTube channel, with the possibility of extended content deals and expanded distribution across global platforms if successful.
“The New Form team is excited to be working with some of our favorite online content creators to make films that, while short in nature, are truly unique in today’s multiplatform landscape,” said Kathleen Grace, chief creative officer of New Form Digital. “Our New Form Incubator partners represent not only some of the most successful channels on YouTube, but also a new breed of filmmaker for a new generation.”
Kathleen Grace, Chief Creative Officer at New Form
Personal Website: http://kmgrace.com/ (Her works and reels are on it.)
From the website:
I am a writer / director / producer based in Los Angeles. (Yes, that is a lot of slashes) I am the Chief Creative Officer of New Form Digital.
Prior to New Form Digital I was the head of creative development for the YouTube Space LA, a 41,000 square foot facility where YouTubers make videos for their channels, collaborate with other creators, share their experiences, and learn how to build a YouTube channel. In my life before YouTube I was the Vice President of Production and Programming at Next New Networks (acquired by YouTube in 2011) where I produced original series and worked with emerging YouTube creators through the Next New Creators program. I created the critically acclaimed web series The Burg that got the attention of mainstream media (NY Times, Wired, LA Times, SF Chronicle, Reuters), hipsters, and media moguls alike. I created, produced and directed Michael Eisner’s new media studio Vuguru’s mockumentary The All for Nots. It premiered on HDNet and the Internet.
Email: kathleen.grace@gmail.com
Phone: (424) 259-3463
As a keynote speaker on Cynopsis Digital’s Big Monetization Summit, Kathleen Grace gave a speech “It’s All about the Fans”. Here’s the slides:
http://www.cyndigitalmonetization.com/files/2014/06/cynopsis_monetization_kathleenPDF.pdf
(It Gets Better was mentioned.)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleengrace
Twitter: @kmgrace https://twitter.com/kmgrace (707 followers)
“A writer, director, producer who makes stories for the Internet, TV, and film. I am the manager of creative development for the YouTube Space LA.”
Instagram: http://instagram.com/catillya/
Tumblr: http://kmgrace.tumblr.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/catillya
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2348849/